Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-12
mTHE ENTITY TIN Royn
The Rev. l.. Il. Barrett Makes it tn.
Subject of a Sermon,

preached from ST. Matthew, XIV, 10.
His subject was "The Empty Tin Box"
In his Introductory he said: "As the
citizen of Delaware read the papers of
the last week, he not only felt the ne
cessity Of prayer, but a spirit Of inquiry
took possession of him, and he ask him
self, whittier are we tending z and
what do these things mean2' What is
the matter with the treasurers of the
states? In the neighboring state Of
Maryland an ex-treasurer is in the pen
itentiary, wearing the garb Of convict;
In some OF the other states the treasurers
have proved defaulters and residence
in Canada is the consequence. In this
little State of Delaware the retiring treas
urer seems to be short in his accounts,
and transfers to his successor an empty
tin box. The tin cup played an import
ant part in the last political campaign,
because of the Mckinley Tariff bill,
which it was charged would so raise the
price of tin that tin cups would jump up
to fabulous prices. The tin box is just
at this time prominent factor in Della
ware politics, not for its intrinsic value,
or what it contains, but for what it does
not contain. When the retiring treas
securities to his successor that official
found an empty tin box, with neither
bank stocks nor securities belonging to
the State. The question as to where are
they, what has become of them, seems
as difficult to answer as the question
who wrote the letter Of "Junius,"
which so stirred the English public
years ago, or the whereabouts of
the lost ten tribes Of Israel.
Inquiry has ELECTED the fact that for
about 20 years the treasurers upon com
ing into office have received merely the
box without examination as to contents.
Without charging any of these officials
with dishonesty, it is to say the least,
neither good financiering nor good poll
tics to take charge of and receipt for a
box supposed to contain valuable Sc
curities without knowing what the con-
tents of the box really are. 1t is time
the people of Delaware were reckoning
little more closely with their public
servants do not mention this case for
the purpose of entering into discussion
of the merits and dement's of the tran
saction. leave thai for the Legislature
and the newspapers. ] believe it to be
the province of the pulpit, however, to
treat public questions and transactions
as to draw from them importat moral
lessons, and TO bring the great law of
God to bear upon the heart and con
science.
Continuing, Mr.. Barrett said the par
able from which the text was selected
is one of the most suggestive to be found
in the teachings of Christ. Man is Gods
trustee. Our lives are filled with mer-
cies and blessings every day; we receive
them as matter of course, and take
them as our personal property, to do
with them as we please. We forget
that they are merely loaned for proper
investment and use. The same is true Of
public office. The man you elect to be
governor or to any office is clothed with
the authority and robes of office as your
trustee. He is to use his office for the
good and welfare of the whole people,
and he is not fit for the position if he
does not thus administer its duties
One of the noblest palitical ma1ims ever
put forth by any one is this: "Public
office is a public trust" This is worthy
to be inscribed over the doorway of
every public office. Public office is a
trust delivered to the officer by the peo-
pie who have elected him, and he is to
administer its duties and one who is to
give account to the sovereign people. 1t
is the duty of each individual to find out
what his talents are-not to receive them
rs the State treasurer received the tin
box, without examination; but we
should examine our gifts and see what
they are, and how they are to be used. |
Take those outside of the church. God |
has given them the gospel privileges and |
talents to use these privileges, the privi- |
lege to forsake and repent of sin, to |
exercise faith in Jesus, to live Cody |
lives and thus to get into the kingdom
of heaven, They are not TO let these |
talents remain secluded in the tin box,
or lay them away and never examine or
use them; if they do when the day of |
reckoning comes, as come it will, there |
will be nothing but the empty box-no
salvation, no Saviour, no heaven.
When the treasurer takes possession
of the State moneys and securities, what
does the State require of him as its
trustee? That he use these trust funds
with fidelity; that he be faithful in the
discharge of his duties. These securities
may not increase in par value; may not
yield the State any more dividends than
formerly, and the treasurer will not be
to blame; he is only required to be
faithful in the use of his trust. But
how can he be faithful without knowl-
edge? He should know what and where
the securities are; should be able at any
time TO tell all about them; something is
needed beside the tin box; there is
neither faithfulness nor dividends in
that. This parable brings out with
striking clearness the great thought that
not success but faithfulness is what the
Lord insists on. How can we expect
state to keep step with the onward march
of progress when her officials are careless
and negligent? Delaware has history
of which her citizens are Justly proud.
Her hardy and independent sons early
took their place beneath the battle flag
of the American revolution; they never
fiinched in the hour Of trial, but through
reverse, encouragement, darkness and
blood they marched to victory. In the
battles for the life of the
republic on sea and on land her brave
and intelligent sons have upheld the
honor of the Diamond State. Her states
men have welded a mighty influence in
cabinet and forum, and she stands upon
the verge of the twentieth century with
eye undimmed and hope undismayed.
Shall her fair record be furnished now
by the incompetence and neglect of
public officials? No; but let her public
servants take the talents entrusted to
their keeping by an intelligent and con-
iiding people, and SO use them that when
the reckoning day comes they may hear
from them who trusted them: ''Well
lone, good and faithful servants |
In conclusion Mr.. Barrett said: The /
in the Legislature is investi-
ratinr the mystery of the amptV hoy | {