Middletown transcript., 1894-09-01
AsEnMoN At HOME.

There is a word to be said to young
men; not harsh word, but a word Of
friendly and kindly counsel.
And here is the reason for it-namely,
becase good start goes long way
toward good ending. If the bullet
leaves the rifle barrel with only a
slight divergence from the right di-
rection, it may never hit the target at
all, for the further it-goes the more
wide of the mark it is; but if it leaves
the barrel perfectly aimed fo the GEN.
tire of the target, it is safe equipped
with the right ideas the chances are
in favor of his being of some value to
the world; but if when he stands on
the threshold of life he has no con-
trolling moral principle, he is like a
chip on the surface of a freshet-that
is, he may, if he has rare good for
tune, reach the sea, or he may be
thrown on the bank at any turn Of
the current.
1t is impossible, therefore, to exag-
gerate the necessity of fine equip
ment, because the fate of the soul,
long after this life has ended, may de-
pend on it. While it is possible for
boy with mind full of mistaken ideas
to throw them aside one after the
other as he proceeds on his journey,it
is also true that he runs great risks and
will probably end his career with an
armful of regrets and a handful of
happiness.
Now, there is no subject on which
there are more false notions than on
the subject of money. 1t is good
thing to have money and good thing
to work for it, but you must be care
full not to pay too large a price for it.
AS the servant of noble man money
is exceeding valuable, for it furnishes
opportunities to enlarge the scope of
charity and benevolence. AS the
master of niggardly man it developes
the meaner qualities of humanity and
makes its possessor mere carica-
ture.
The world is all wrong in this mat
ter and you will require IA deal of in
dependence to put yourself right.
There is in the community an over
estimate of wealth which is very de-
moralizing. The Preacher makes
catalogue in which wisdom stands at
the head and money follows as of sec
ondary Importance; but modern So
ciety reverses the order and puts
money first, with wisdom far below it.
We doff our hats to one who has
wealth but no character, and hardly
recognize one who has an honest
character but no money. The result
is that we work too hard for money
and have too light an opinion of
character.
II truth be told it is, after all, the |
men of character and not the men Of
money who have made the world |
what it is. The fact stands in the
foreground of all thoughtful observa-
tion like a towering monument
against the sky. If we were COM
PEELED to do without the one or the
other it would be sheer insanity to
dispense with men of character and
retain the men of money.
Let us be clear on this point The
clergy are apt to talk about 'filthy
lucre." But do not lead astray. Money
is never filthy unless it makes the
soul that seeks it filthy. 1t is your
right to labor for it and your light to
get it if you can You are justified
in laying plans for its acquisition, be-
cause there is a glorious satisfaction
in the thought that you will want |
for nothing in your old age and your
dear ones will be amply provided for. |
But have a care that you do not come |
to think that your happiness depends |
on it, because after all is said, there
are more happy poor men than happy !
rich men. For that matter, it is |
grave error to suppose that money |
can itself make you happy without |
the qualities which will enable you
to enjoy it and do good with it.
The business of the world is closely |
related to the progress of the world.
1t is a noble calling that of the busi-
ness man, and one which God looks
upon with tender regard. Money and
philanthropy are twins, born of the
same good mother, two children of
beauty and grace. The merchants
work is just as Providential as that
of the clergyman, and his mission, if |
he rightly understands it, is just as
important. If the consecrating hands
of the Holy Spirit are laid on the
head of the preacher and he is thus
devoted to a special task, SO are the |
same hands laid in equal conservation
on the head of the young man who
starts on a business career, and he is
laid under obligations to be useful to
his fellows. That is a truth which
cannot be too keenly appreciated.
We cannot get along without money
making, and the one thing we insist
on, therefore, is that the money max
ers shall be honest in their dealing |
and keep their consciences In good i
trim.
More than that, the business man
breaches the gospel of rectitude more
effectively than the clergy can do it.
A noble deed is better than a noble |
word. The word may incite to the |
the deed, but when we get to heaven |
the mel chant who has led pure life |
will occupy as high place as the |
minister who told him to do it. George |
Peabody's life outweighs the sermon
of a century. Such a man talks to |
the whole race, and his voice is not |
hushed when he dies. As the light |
of distant star floods the earth long |
after the star itself has been ex-
tinOuished so the uDrightness and in. |