Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-18
AWORD THE THIEF.
Rev, DR.. w. J. Holland Characterizes
Commercial Larceny
TOGETHER WITH CRIMINALSNEAKS
Business Gamblers and Those Who Adul-
terate Foods are Hit.
SERMON SUGGESTED BY EXPERIENCE

A week ago last evening, while delivering a
sorr,on in which he referred to theft, DR.. w.
j. Holland pastor of the Belleheld Presby-
terian Church, had his hat and overcoat
stolen. When he assembled the pulpit, yes
terdav morning, he caused a ripple of
laughter to spread throughout the congre-
cation by the announcement OF the subject
of his sermon. viz: ''Thou shalt not steal. "
The text was from Deuteronomy V, 19, and
the reverend gentleman said:
The commandment before us demands hon.
esty and uprightness in our dealings, and vir-
tues which found themselves upon that prin-
ciple of human action which our SAVIOR lays
down in the twelfth verse of the seventh chap
ter of the gospel of st. Matthew, Whatsoever
We would that men should do unto you, do ye
even so to them" and which he sets before us
as the sum and epitome of the Scriptures,
when he says this is the law and the proph-
ets."
Itis a little singular that while was dis
coursing to you last Sabbath evening upon this
principle which was against all the infractions
of the Just rights of our neighbors, couple
of young men should have been engaged
in violating it by the abstraction of the
great coat of your precentor, and OF the hat OF
YOUR pastor. Inc u0lOWaTu lnCluOub Has shs
gested TO me that it may not be inappropriate
to take up the thread of my evening discourse
week ago and point out the application OF
the golden rule in matters relating to proper
". Let me, therefore, once again. with all
earnestness, recommend to you to diligently
set the golden rule of Christian charity before
your eyes, and urge you never to do anything to
any man which, were you in his position, you
would be inclined to resent as unjust, and to do
+r,a4 ,fa1a sir an a
neighbor, you would wish others to 40 unto
YOU. This is to act honorably and wisely. This
is TO make self which commonly is the uempter,
and incites to wrong and oppression, at once
the patron and defender of other mems rights
and due.
INHERENT RIGHTS TO PROPERTY.
The most obvious violation of the golden
rule of which have been speaking is found
in the sin of theft, which is prohibited in the
commandment before u.s. Neither shalt thou
steal" This precept of the decalogue forbids
all violations of the right of property directly
or indirectly. The right of property in any
object is the right of its exclusive possession
and use. Without attempting to enumerate
the theories advanced as TO the foundation of
the right of property, l will content myself
with stating, in common with the vast majority
of Christian students that the right of property
POUNDS itself in the will of God, the Creator of
the world and of man. 1t is as much a natural
instinct TO acquire and hold property as 1t is
10 breathe. The lion fights for the possession
of the food which he acquired in the chase the
sparrow indignantly repels all attempts OF other
birds to rob him of the nest under the caves,
and men sympathize with the lion and the
sparrow in their attempts to hold their own.
Dr. Holland then quoted from the distin-
euished German jurist, Stahl, as follows:
Property is especially designed TO enable
man to perform his moral duties. Every man
has duties which belong to him alone ana not
,Go1, +s.f1 1ac ant
vocation and standing. especially such as be-
long to his own family. Therefore he must
have what is exclusively his own. Property is
therefore not intended for mere qualification
or support, nor is it mere objectless mastery
over things external. 1t is the necessary means
to enable man to fulfill his divinely appoint
ed destiny"
To hold that the right of property is founded
on the law OF the land, OF on any contract ex-
pressed or implied among men, is TO fail into
grievous misleading errors. The law of the
land does not create the right of property; it
simply defends it. The right as man to have
and enjoy that which in any righteous way
may become mine antedates in its origin all
kings and legislatures and senators. Ii
After reviewing the question of robbing God
by neglecting to pay Him homage, DR.. Holland
said: 1t would hardly seem necessary Tor me
to speak of the more open forms of theft of
which the law of the land takes cognizance.
While coarse machinery of human law and
Justice does its work upon these things, and
they are hung up to the scornful scrutiny and
reprobation Of men before they get to the church
door. vet it is the duty of the pulpit to show
that the law of man. which condemns theft, is
the law of God also.
SEVERAL CLASSES OF THEFT.
Thou shalt not stear' is a law which Sinai
only reiterates, and which is as old as tire con-
science of the race. Highway robbery burglary,
counterfeitng the obtaining of money by false
pretenses, the fraudulent manipulation of
stocks and securities, gambling. ETC.; these and
a thousand other forms of vice and crime by
which the rights of property are invaded have
been in different lands and ages, assailed by
human law; but it is well to remember that
back of all the human legislation, has been the
mightier and more authoritative voice of God,
saying Thou shalt not steal"
wish to call your attention to the violation
ofthe eighth commandment Irefer to the dispo-
sltion to make false pretense in business where
byan inferior article which is offered for sale
exchange is represented to be other and better
than it is. Here we are confronted by multi
tude Of articles, produced at home, which are
sold as foreign production. and the price asked
and given is determined by this fraudulent
representation. ShawlS of Paris sold as
shawls Of Cashmere: wines made in this coun-
try are sold as the production of France, POr-
Tugal and Madeira. More French" cham
payne is drunk in Russia, it is said, than there
is produced in all the yine-grOwing districts of
France. More cigars are consumed in the
United States alone under the name of
''Havanas" than all Cuba produces. Vast
quantities of the paper sold and made in
the United States bears the stamps of
London, or Bristol, Belfast. There is
scarcely any limit to this kind of fraud. 1t
does not appear to trouble the consciences of
some men. Worse than this is the selling of
things as sound and genuine which are un-
sound and spurious and often worthless. So
widespread is fraud in matters of trade that it
has become a legal maxim. Let the buyer
take care of himself. He should expect to be
cheated. and should always be on his guard.
Business is business" heard man say the
other day. II must try to make the most of
what have and il is yours to try and beat me,
if you can" My inward comment upon hear
ing the colloQuy was: THAT rs certainly a
queer conception of business which reduces it
t. the work of systematically trying to cheat
your neighbor" 1t is to be feared that there
are not few who have no higher conception
of business than this.
Under the head of false pretenses comes the
adulteration of articles of food and medicine
grocers, examined by commission of Parlia-
ment, showed that out of every 100 packages
they had examined, were pure, or what they
were represented to be. The adulteration of
drugs has become so great that governments
have taken into their own hands the prepara-
tion of medicine for their armies and navies.
The subject of gambling was also touched up
by the doctor. He said: Betting. which is
only another name for gambling, is stealing.
To obtain money by gambling is larceny, ac-
cordinC to the Supreme Court of Massachu-
sets. In New York all wagers bets upon
any gaming or any uncertain event pro-
nounced unlawful Similar legislation exists
in this and other States.
BARRY's TRICoPHERoUs, the only
preparation to be depended on to cleanse