The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14

according to the means employed
Sometimes men get money by robbery
This takes all forms, from the petty
thieving of the " shop-lifter," to the
malfeasance in office of the bank o.
county official Falsehood has giver
fortunes to some. Misrepresentation
in cases where immense interests are al
stake, occasionally yields large sum
of money to him who deceives. AL
such means, whether they afford favor
able results or not, are illegitimate.
Wealth acquired by honest competi-
tion in business is proper. The man
who invests in land, the value of which
is enhanced while he is the owner gets
his gain honestly. The laborer of eight
or ten hours is entitled to his wages.
All honest means gives wealth which
is legitimate. But any means to any
degree dishonest, yields wealth unbe-
coming true men, unbecoming the
Christian. Such wealth is illegitimate.
Not only is there a limit of means;
there is also limit of uses. Many peo-
pie have riches that come to them in
ways that are proper, but who have
made their property curse to them.
Wealth becomes illegitimate for him
who uses it in an ungodly manner and
for ungodly purposes.
A young man, the only son in the
family, received a small fortune upon
the death of his father. AS soon as he
had taken possession the money was
spent freely. 1t was of little value to
him. He had not earned it. He left
his family and spent nights and days
in state of beastly intoXication. But
not only did he use his means to his
own shame, he took others with him,
others who were weak in similar ways,
and led them into wrong-dOing. Thus
he scattered grief and misery. In this
manner he misused wealth which had
come to him honestly.
There are some men who own prop
erty in the business sections of our great
cities. They are men of wealth. Some
of them who pretend to believe in right
eousness will rent buildings which they
own for saloons and brothels. An i'm
proper and ungodly use of wealth they
may have honestly obtained.
Wealth is legitimate when obtained
properly and used properly. If one
would seek the advancement of his own
honorable enterprises, and would use
what he may possess for righteous
advantage, nobody would condemn the
use. If one uses what he may control
as his own for the happiness and eleva-
tion Of his home everybody ought to
approve his course. For the man who
would protect his home cannot fail to
recognize that its safety depends upon
the establishment of such uplifting
institutions as the school and the
church. He who would best promote
the home will give freely of his means
for the support of these institutions.
Wealth is legitimate when used for
the public good. Grand motives rule
the hearts of those men who furnish
good reading-rooms and libraries, with
Christian associations; who erect build
ings and maintain homes for the out
cast and the unfortunate. In these
ways riches find holy utility, and God
blesses the donor.
Wealth is legitimate when we do not
love it; when it is obtained by honest
methods, and when used for holy pur
pose.
Young people who are striving for an
abundance of this world goods! Strive
to be noble, strive to be godly, endeavor
so to live that it may be said of you,
whether rich or poor, you have been
honorable. Remember that "a good
name is to be chosen rather than great
riches"