The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-06-04
Wealth-.Its Uses and Abuses.

Bishop Potter. of New York. and Ed
ward j. Phelps continue in the May North
American Review the discussion begun
some months since by Mr.. Carnegie's arti-
Gle entitled 1.-THE Gospel of Wealth." and
since taken up by Cardinal Manning. Mr.
Gladstone and other eminent men both in
Europe and America.
Bishop Potter justly says that it is very
easy for those not possessed of wealth to
tell how perilOus possession it is, and to
point out precisely what one should do with
it. It is to the honor of many men of great
wealth that they have not become so hard
ened by the cries of criticism and mendi-
cancy. as to dismiss the whole question of
the stewardship of wealth as one impossi-
BILE of solution. To their misfortune there
are rich men who do this
While vast wealth is great power. it lis
dangerous power. The wealthy are often
stepped in luxury, busy in idleness," care
less and prodgal in every senseless expen-
diture. Their extravaganza is contagious.
It effects those who cannot afford it, and
tempts them to tawdry and vulgar display.
The amiable sOphistry that luxury and ex-
travagance put money in circulation, be-
comes in the face of modern civilization
with its complex problems. simply mon
strOus impertinence.
Ones own life must somehow reach out
into and be qualified by the interests and
struggles of other lives. The rich man
must take care that his sympathies do not
grow cold by vicariOus benevOlence. He
must follow the example of Christ, who
gave himself for all the sad and sOrrowful
brotherhood of man. Wealth has its crosses
and it's scars; it has also it's blessed privi-
leges. 1t may win for its pOssessOr the
deepest joy and the highest happiness of
which the human heart is capable. The
opportunities for such endeavOr are almost
innumerable. Mr.. Phelps says that if great
wealth is enjoyed by comparatively few.
the cheaper luxury of advising them what
to do with it is within the reach of all. Rich
men often give quietly and without display
through thousand channels. So many
are the calls upon them, both for public and
private charity, that it is not easy to dis
criminate. 1t is not easy to say who are
the deserving pOor-the class born so or
overcome by misfortunes beyond their con-
troll. They are too often cOnfOunded with
the idle and the vicious. Those most needy
are oftenest deferred by self respect from
seeking aims. Mr.. Phelps agrees with Mr..
Carnegie that it is better for rich man to
dispense his charities in his life time than
to leave them to be administered in his will;
but does not assent to Mr.. Gladstone's
proposition that rich men enter into a sort
of compact with each other to give away
annually portion of their respective in.
comes. The duty of charity and its objects
must be left to the individual conscience.
One of the best methods of charity open to
a man of liberal means is to spend his in
come. One of the best ways of giving is to
give employment to those who cannot exist
without it. No charity is so wholesome as
helping men to help themselves. 1t en-.
hances the SELF respect of the incipients.
There are many just beginning the world
to whom judicious help is godsend.