The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-11-09
A PRACTICAL TOPIC.
An INTERESTING SERMON BY REV.
W. Il. CHAPMAN SUNDAY
EVENING.
HE ADVISES ms coSGREGATIoS 10
.BE NOT sLoTHFUL I'M BUSINESS
AND PROMPT in DIsCHARGING
THEIR DELEGATIONS.

"BE NOT sLoTHFUL TN BUSINESS
AND PROMPT IN DIsCHARGING
THEIR OBLIGATIONS"
Rev. Mr.. Chapman, Pastor of the
First NJ. E. Church, discoursed to his
congregation on Sunday evening last
on The Requisites to Business Sue
cess" basing his remarks on the scrip
ture passage" Not Slothfal III Basi-
ness The last point in his discourse
was " Promptness Prompt'sess IN The
Discharge Of Obligation" His remarks on
this point were as follows:
+" Nothing is more important tolmen
in the business sphere than promptness.
It gives them position in the conf
dence and regard Of others, which all
other qualities, with this wanting,
fail to command, and which is essential
to success. No engagement should be
entered into, no obligation assumed by
the business man without an intention
and a prospect of discharging the same
at the appointed time. To secure
favor at the hands Of another upon GER
tain conditions, and subsequently mani
fest indifference thereto, indifference to
the obligation in consideration Of which
the favor was conferred, is to act dis
honorably and dishonesty in the view
of the moral law, which is the higher
law, the law by which we are finally to-
be judged.
:. To illustrate this more fully, an in
dividual has reached q point in the con-
dition of his affairs when, without
friendly aid, and speedily rendered, he
must surrender his business and retire
with irretrievable loss from the COM
mercial sphere. A friend, sympathiz-
ing with him in his embarrassment, af-
ter satisfactory interview and with
implicit confidence in the purity of his
moral principle, consents to assume
for time his responsibility and thus
relieve the pressure. The obligation
finally natures, the time when it is to
be met arrives. The sympathizing
friend, in accordance with previous ar
rangements and promises, expects to
be relieved, measurably at least, of his
responsibility The former, however,
fails to appear, perhaps avoidsin every
possible way contact with his surety.
Noexplanation of Neutrality-suspicious.
through disappointment or otherwise,
lis made. He purposely shuns the
very friend to whose generous proffer
and timely aid, he owes his temporal
all, and says by his conduct in the Ian
guage of base ingratitude, will not
meet the demand. What word, think,
will better define the principle and
character of such man than dishonesty
And how much darker and more in
famous the act if the individual be a
protesting Christian
mo matter what freedom from re-
sponsibility the civil law affords, chris
tianity and the law of moral honesty
require the discharge of every obliga-
ton we may have assumed, if change
Of circumstances render it possible. A
beautiful example of fidelity in this re-
gard came under my notice a short
time ago. A gentleman who had been
engaged in business for some years,
was unfortunate and unable to meet
his engagements with his creditors. He
toiled on, however, and after twenty
years of persevering and unremitted
effort, succeeded in acquiring sufficient
to pay the whole amount due to every
creditor. There was one whose resi-
dence he could not find. His mind
was not at rest until he learned that
the party had died several years before.
He found, however, his administrator
and RENTED the whole amount, princi-
pal and interest.
Nov it may sometimes occur that
an individual, in consequence of disap-
pointment or unexpected misfortune, IS
unable for time to meet his indebted
ness. When this is the case, morafa
honesty requires an explanation Of the
circumstances which caused the fail
ure. Such an explanation will satisfy
a reasonable man though he be the
disappointed creditor. A manifest dis
position to do to the extent of personal
ability, is proof Of mans integrity,
proof Of a refined moral principle.
Nothing more can justly be demanded.