The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-12-13
ABOUT RICHES.
WHO DIES RICH DIES IN DIS
GRACE.
SO Says Andrew Cornegie, Himself a
Rich Man-Some Wholesome Com
ments on This Remarkable Declara-
tion-It is not the Possession but
the Use or Misuse of Riches That
Counts.
[GastOnia Gazette


In an address recently on the ac
QUESTION and use of wealth, Andrew
Carnegie, the great iron magnate and
millionaire, spoke these remarkable
words: 81 think a man who dies
rich dies dsgraced." Coming from
an immensely rich man, the sentiment
is truly remarkable one. His theory
appears to be that before dying a man
should dispose of all his wealth in
doing good. Somehow, the saying is
repellant. 1t gives the rich man his
choice of a time to die. If the speaker
had dropped dead as he uttered the
sentence, what an awful epitaph would
have fallen from his lips upon his
grave! Again, if it be any truth at
all, it is only half truth. 1t allows
the inference that if a man live rich,
all is we'll enough if he only avoid
dying rich whereas to die rich can be
disgrace only where having lived in
opulence would be disgrace.
The relation of wealth and wealth
getting to that large spiritual-minded
ness which makes men a blessing to
their fellows in this life and takes them
to better world when they die, is one
we'll worth thinking about. We give
thanks for the good things OF this life.
That is right. But the Master said :
aye can not serve God and Nam
mon." Sharing these good things in
love and pity with the unfortunate,
brings men from mammon toward
God. There is true cause for rejoicing
if we are able to help the needy; there
is just cause for thanksgiving that a
benign Providence has blessed us with
the means thus to help.
But there are greater blessings than
material ones. As the life is more
than the meat which sustains it and
the body more than raiment which
clothes and warns it, so is the spiritual
life more than the temporal life which
it uses. Now the distinct teaching of
the Master is, that the boarding of
wealth initiates against the birth and
growth of this spiritual life. "The
care of this world and the deCeitful-
ness of riches choke the word and he
becometh unfruitful'' in good works.
" How hard shall they that have
riches enter into the Kingdom of
Cod" These last words were spoken
just as a young man who had great
possessions was walking slowly and
sorrowfully away from the "Good
Master" and his disciples, grieved
that he must part with his riches and
give to the poor if he would inherit
that "eternal life'' which he had
sought SO long and so well. How
hardly shall they enter into Heaven
who having kept the ten command
ments yet had more joy in their
possessions than in ministering to those
who are poor and who suffer!
Are not the rich truly unfortunate
But who ever prays for them? The
poor are remembered, but few will
present the wealthy at a throne OF
grace. They need the prayers of those
who have the ear Of Heaven their
possessions will never lead them
nearer to righteousness, but the use
they make of their wealth may make
them perfect. Jesus " beholding him
loved" the young man who wanted to
be perfect yet was unwilling to do
that alone which whould make him
perfect. Love the poor, pray fol
them, help them there is equal good
reason why good men should love
pray for, and help the rich. They
need spiritual blessings even as the
poor need temporal.
After all, the heart is the life.
the heart be right the life will be
right. II the heart goes out in love
for ones fellowmen, thither will the
treasure flow also. The Scriptures are
plain. None need "die disgraced,
for they that use their riches Alright viii
never be rich save in good works.