Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-26

change of commodities with foreign coun
| tries, we can obtain some faint lcea OF tu'
wonderful strides of American commerce
and the indomitable energy OF oui
people. In this vast movement new ele
ments are constantly being introduceu
raw materials and finished pro
| ducts are multiplied with an ever
VARYING demand and supply; additiona
! trades are established and the currents o.
established ones are altered old marts o.
| commerce become obliterated or different
| in their character and fresh ones sprins
| into existence; the cable. the telegraph,
| the press bring prominently before US the
| status of these events, and he who pre-
| tends 20 be a merchant must keep fnl4l
abreast with the world. or he can occupy
| no important place IN commerce.
WHAT II MEASs.
Commerce. as its name implies, means
| the exchange OF one commodity toi
another: il is the necessary complement
| in the production OF wealth. 1he mer
chant creates no new value; no simply ex,
| changes one commodity for another; Dul
amidst all the exigencIes Of the situation
and all the problems involved, IL IS ms
mission 20 place both where their Llghes
| vaiue will be realized. Unlike the manu-
| factursr. ne does not convert the useless
| raw material and labor into some
| thing useful and yaluable but h,
does give scope and efficiency 20 labor ano
production. and enables indivIduais IL
! their various positions 20 prosecute sucl
| empOyments rs are beet suited TO theil
capacities. He ena blcs the inhabitants OF
! a section specially adapted 10 the produc,
tion OF an article TO devote their time and
thought TO attaining the utmost perfection
IN It's creation, when they can exchange
their surplus with different sections
having other peculiar capabilities OF re'
sources. One section may grow corn III
, great abundance and yet have no iron
while another may produce THIS use
| ful metal and not DO able 10 raise
| the nece5sar!es OF life. lie saves 70
| the manufacturer aud agrlculturis'
| the time which 10 would be impossible for
them to spare from their avoc9tions III
seeking markets for their produce or the
purchase Of their supplies. 1T is the pro
vince Of tho merchant to perform oil OF
| th .se indispensable functions, and theii
perf1rmauce necess,tates all the yariou,
| grades and departments of commerce and
trade from that of the merchant prince
| 10 the cIty retailer or country general
| store.
CONTRIBUTES 10 THE GENERAL GOOD.
| In commercial countries wealth and com.
| fort are generally diffused, the arts anl
sciences flourish, labor Is employed, enter.
prises are projected, and the money spent
IN them IS returned TO the tountaln-heaq
| 10 be reiuyested: all is mutual, reciprocal
and dependent: each man falls into the
! line best suited 10 his capabilities, and
each cooperating with the OTHER to tnt
| best Of his ability contributes TO eXtenc
production, civilization, and happiness.
The merchant hos been found necessary
| and useful as far back as history itself
| Without him the products OF the Woric
| could not be exchanged, aud each tamllN
| or community endcavorlng to produce. al
| that il requires would fail and lapse into
| primeval barbarism the divisions OF labor
| throughout the world would be DESTROYED
and the incentive to improve our condition
| and 10 rise in the scale OF civilization
would decline or utterly disappear as Il
| became more difficult OF impossible to DC
so.
A society without the distinctions of EN-
ploymerts and professions resulting from
| the divisions of labor, dependent upoI
commerce would be devoid OF the arts
| sciences, and comforts of our age. IL Il
| bv the assistance each individual renderi
| 10 and receives from his neighbOr by com
! bining. though probably unintentionally
! his efforts with those of others, that mai
| has been able 70 carry out the designs o
| an Almighty God.
MIR. Robert SOmers, a distinguished
writer on this subject, has said that " com
merce has acquired a security and e1tel
| sion ia all its most essential conditions o
! which IT was void in any previous age. Il
| can hardly ever again exhibit that wander
| ING course from route 70 route and iron
! one solitary centre to another, which wa
| so characteristic of its ancient history, be
cause it is established IN every quarte
| OF the globe, aud all seas and ways are opeI
| 20 il on terms fair and equal to every na
! ton. Commerce will have many centres
| and one may rise, OF relatively fall, Du
! such decay and ruin as have smitten NAM
| once proud seats Of wealth into dust can
! not occur ageIn without such cateClYsin
| OF war. violence. and disorder as the grow
| ing civilization Of mankind and the powel
| of law, right, and common interest iOrolc
| us to anticipate"
| BUsISKss-dTN MUST DE THINKERS.
Happily the safeguards of internationa
| law are now thrown around IL, and every
| nation IS interested in ITS projections; bu
| more than ever does 1t require clear fore
| sight. calm judgment. and close study o.
| All the essential conditions to make tn
! successful merchant. The markets of tn
world. now so closely associated, compe
| us to keep in view all the influences gov
! ernlng them both at home and abroad
| The men of commerce must be thinker
| today, for its ramifcations are widespread
| and universal.
Above all, commerce inculcates th'
| most rigid sense ot the moral obligations
| its basis is prObity and honor, and he wh'
| fails in these essentials Is no merchant
| but sordid huckster, who, sooner o.
| later. must meet the Just condemnation D
! all honest men. The frequent occurrence
Of dishonesty in business IS no fault o
! business or It's principles, It is because 1t
| transactions are dependent on mutua
! good faith that opportunity IS so easll'
! afforded 70 the INSCRIPTIONS. One OF tn
| objects of this chamber is TO inculcat'
! and enforce a spirit of equity and talrnes
| in the transactions which must obtain be
! tween man and man.
Let us therefore push forward, unde
| the banner OF this chamber, the commerce
OF our city and its affiliated interests ie
! each member determine to do his part
and We shall see the good effect OF on
united efforts ere We meet again TO crow
| this noble work with its capstone;
Colonel Purce'lls address made I'm
| impression and was frequently interrupted
| by applause. Both he and Judge Christian
spoGe from the dais at the rear OF the act
| inc grand senior waTden's chair. All tn
! arrangements were admirable and the pro
gramnle was we'll carried out.
The Lunch at the Temple,
At the conclusion of Colonel Purcell
speech she Masons reformed and, accom-
panied by many members of tho chamber
| proceeded to the Masonic Temple, where
| collation. was spread IN honor of the occa
sion by the various lodges participating Il
| the ceremonies.
The interior Of the temple was beauti
| fully decorated. The work was that o
| Messrs. j. II. Harvey and NJ. K. Catlin
and was exceedingly tasteful in its al
rangement and lovely in its effect. In th
| centre of the main promenade was mug
pyramid of eyergreens, palms, and larg
plants. 80,
The Grand-Lodge room was very prettil
! attired, and the tables IN the banquet-ha
were charmingly embellished with. IN
most exquisite buds and flowers of th
| season. The menu consisted Of salad;
sandwiches, relishes, liquid refreshments
&c.
ORDER OF The IRON HALL.
A Meeting Held Last Night-Sult Inst