The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-20
STEWARDSHIP OFGREATRICHEs

What to do with great wealth seems
to be perplexing question with con-
scientious rich men.-so we must infer,
at least. from the original forms of phi
lanthropy which they invent as q means
of expanding their benevolerce. Most
of these inexperienced methods of
charity geek to benefit the bodies or
the minds of men. The moral character
and spiritual necessities are apt to be
neglected in this materiallstic age. We
have all manner Of schools of applied
science and art and of manual training:
schools that are intended to teach how
to make living. That their benefac-
tors themselves see that schools which
merely teach how to do things, without
forming the motive or elevating the
aims Of life to noble ends, are not ne
cessarily OF the nature of benevolence,
ia shown by the vacillation and some
times by the ultimate failure Of such
benevolent intentions. The form OF the
bequsst is often modified and its execu-
ton deferred. until. as it sometimes
happens. the intending benefactor dies
practically intestate.
Meanwhile, there is one institution
in the world whose sole aim is the
spiritual elevation of men. That is,
the Church of Christ. There are al
way parish churches. dioceses, missions
and missionary societies at hand that
are doing, at given day, a work Of
undoub,ed blessedness in fitting men
for eternal life, which, nevertheless,
may cause their useful, or be sadly
crippled, within generation, unless
those who know their character provide
for their permanent continuance. IL a
man is connected with a parish church
himself he has the means of knowing
in what directions that church is likely
to continue the most effective propaga-
ton Of the Gospel. His knowledge OF
this probability in the spiritual
world is at least as certain
as bis knowledge of any probable
course of events in the social
and financial world, and he may at least
as safely invest for the one cause az for
the other. If, for example, a mans
parish life is anything the same inn
portance TO him as his commercial repu-
tation, his family name or his place of
residence, why should he not take az
much interest in the perpetuatlng OF
the former as in that OF either OF the
other interests In what other way
can he so probably interest his children
and descendants in the parish as by
making it a co-heir Of his property. I'M
less it be by adding to the gift Of
worldly wealth. if possible, the dedica-
ton Of son to the sacred ministry
also?
From parish life it is easy to extend
ones interest and information to the
operations Of the Church at large.
There are always missionary enterprises
afoot Of intense interest to those who
are willing to know them. 1t would be
far better. both FOR the benefactor and
the beneficiary, if the needs OF these
missions were studied in detail, ard if
they were made the object of series OF
direct. fostering gifts rather than that
their character should be endangered
by great and sudden aflluence. But
in case the benefactor is too much en-
crossed with his own affairs thus to
study the details of missions, he should
be reminded that missionary organiza-
tions exist for the very purpose of aid
ing him in thi, respect. Every mis-
sionary board, every bishop Of the
Church is sure to know of sufficient
number of hopeful openings for the ex-
tension of the Gospel prudently to alb
serb the largest benefactions that can be
placed in the missionary treasury
Standard Of Cross.