Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-13
GIFTS BEFORE DEATH
THE PHlLANTHRoPIsT SHOULD BE HIS
 OWN ExEcUToR.


 The Beautiful Picture of Benevolent Peter
 Cooper Moving Among the People He
 Loved-Does the Man Who Dies Rich
 Die Disgraced9
 Perhaps it may be too much to say with Andrew Carnegie that n man who dies rich dies disgraced, though we remember that that admirable philanthropist Lewis Tappan, published a pamphlet to prove the same thing. Yet it is evident beyond question that that man is wisest and that man gets tho most comfort out of life who during his lifetime sees that his money goes to the important objects for which he destines it. and who can behold with his own eyes the good done by it 71l rich man narrows and belittles himself if he dovotes his entire thought to the increase of his estate He should devote thought to it's wisest espcndituro. Therein he acquires largeness and breadth of soul which will be the chief comfort of his life He will provo that he is genuine philanthropist, not one who transfers his wealth to char ity on his dcathbed, as If he were then about to make his peace with God and the world, but that he has lived for his fellow men and not simply for himself.
 The rich man whose only ambition is to be rich is not tho friend of humanity and can hardly bo anything else than its en- emy In any conflict against capital he can claim no sympathy nothing more than tho coldest justice. Ho has cast no anchor to tho windward he has sent forth no roots or tendrils which gathered about the hearts of the people. His mammon of unrighteousness has mado him no warm l,- tx,ln lr.. xf,,& .1- good to tho world and they seem to be sort of atonement for his shortcomings. They fail to provo that he possessed q soul that went out lovingly toward God or his fellow men
 Perhaps tho nost beautiful sight which this generation has seen was that of Peter Cooper building his own monumcnt not in tho masonrysof the Cooper Union, but in tho hearts of its pupils and of tho peo- pie of New York Peter Cooper, tho man ufacturer of glue, would have been forgot ten, but Peter Cooper, tho patron of all aspiring youth. their friend and teacher walking about with his benevolent face and his long white hair among the classes of young people for which his bounty made provision and reaping constantly the harvest of their admiration and love- was an exquisite witness not to the pride of wealth, but to the beauty of goodness We are glad of a long list of wealthy men who have founded colleges and universi- ties in their lifetime honored for their largo hearts who give their hearts if not their names to their charities
 Of course it is great deal better for man to give money for benevolent pnr- poses by will than not to give it at all We would not say a word in disparagement of nj been made in that way We know very well that there are men who have the fac-i ulty of making money, and who do not feel that they arc competent to decide for themselves wisely how their wealth should be disposed of or how it's expenditure for benevolent objects should be managed. But tho time will come when they must give up their money, and some one's ad- vice or decision must be followed That advice they can obtain during life, and they can themselves make their gifts safe- ly. It is as easy to do 1t now as it is to se- lect executors or trustees to do it after4 death, except in so far hss man cannot bring himself to loosen tho grasp by which he holds his wealth until death compels him to do sn We would have such people consider, however, tho great danger there is that their wishes will not be carried Oub. Hc Tcpchteu CaSG5 III WHICH WlllS have been declared void and the purposes of the testator have been annullcd ought to make every one who has money to give consider whether be cannot, without in- jury to his own interests and those of his family, give at least part of it during his lifetime
 But whether he does it or not this at least is true-that every man who has ac- quired wealth from the public should con- sider it a privilege, if not duty, to give back to the public some portion of what ho has received They Say that in Boston it is not respectable to die without leaving bequest to Harvard college It ought not to be respectable for any man of wealth to dio without a bequest to some college or benevolent society or hospital or mu- scum or park or public institution. Of course one should provide for his house. hold, and charity should begin at home. but that is not charity which ends at homo. It is cold blooded hard hearted self ishness. To give to the public in this way is something more than a duty. It is privilege. It is a privilege to be con nected in any way with the amelioration of tho evil of the world with tho increase of truth and righteousness, with the devel- opment of Christian civilization in any land on the face of the earth, and the man who gives his possessions to such an object as this is therein partner with our great Exemplar who went about doing good New York Independent.