The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08

According to the Latin derivation the
word honesty means that which liz clothed
or adorned with honor. Real honesty.
therefore. does not need to be bound by
contracts. Its synonymsin the dictionary
are such noble words as equity. integrity
shnss WS Thsrs e wo
esty. one OF them Is candor. For honesty
Is most blunt and homely virtue. found
ed on reality and truth. The other Is fair
never over reaches, never seeks an iota
more than It's own. Instead Of being selfish
II Is righteous. The life blood. then, OF
honesty Is honor, and its essential mani
that is dishonorabIe, false or untruthfui
can possibly be honest. The man who
stakes his succes on tricks in his trade
Will be harrassed not only by his con-
sonaSs to Be T and
at last. Above all We should remember
that. since honesty Is a moral rather than
a legal matter, the individual good con-
science. conformed to Gods word. is it's
no difference IL all others were dishonest.
that never could make dishonesty, for one
instant, right or safe for us. No excuse
ness Of competition. The only competition
we need fear Is the competition Of the
eight commandment at Gods judgment. 1t
Will not do to say that We must be dis
die in honesty rather than to live by steal
ing. The absolute moral necessity every
where In business Is honorable honesty
and righteousness. 1t will pay to be hon.
est just as long as God Is on the throne.
How Is this growing evil of unrighteous-
ness to be corrected? 1t Is q matter to
be dealt with by the pulpit, and by all
religious educators. Training in the prin-
ciples of sound business morality should
inrlllCnta6 vnnth ~
promises between truth and error should
never be looked upon with the least de-
gree of allowance. The times are full Of
temptations in this direction. Solid in
struction in the principles which God has
given us In His word or the government
Of all our relations is urgently required;
and above all is the Importance Of those
examples OF the strictest uprightness in
nized in every community.
COMMERCIAL MORALITY.
I firmly believe that We shall never have
the right kind of commercial morality TN
men take the higher standard suggested
by the Golden Rule" and insist not
only on that Righteousness which no ono
disputes, but also on that love which very
few acknowledge as binding in the ordi-
nary business life 1t Is true, indeed, that
while men in general are sound enough In
theory as to commercial morality. they
are very far from being as universally
sound in practice. You will have observed
how little, comparatively, Christ has to
say directly about common honesty. The
method of Jesus and His apostles was one
which, while assuming and requiring the
broad basis OF Righteousness in all things,
especially urged the law OF love In boeh
its branches as the true leverage by which
even the commonest morality in the busi-
ness Of life could be most effectively Sc
cured: Is the method a sound one? Is
1t still applicable and likely to be effect
i've in all the complexity Of the business
life Of the nineteenth century?
1t Is sadly to be confessed that there
are Christian people-so-called at least
among the number of those who are guilty
OF mean and dishonest practices. But.
without the slightest fear Of contradiction.
/ assert that wherever so-called Chris
tian man is guilty of anything approach
ing to dishonesty he is not one of those
law Of love, but one who. .contenting HIM
self with the ordinary code of morals. has
allowed his passion for money or some
other upgodiy M lust I,,, to master him I'm and and, to
If all this is true 1t Is manifest that the
method which this age still\ needs, and
sorely needs, Is the method OF Christ as
uggested by the Golden Rule" and what
is wanted Is not more homilles on honesty,
as more earnest warnings against covet-
eousness and extravaganza and more
earnest presentation Of that Gospel of d.
vine love which Will touch mems hearts
higher and better things, as that they will
count no sacrifice in lower spheres too
great to make for the sake OF maintain
ing "a conscience void Of offense toward
God and toward men," / do not believe
that things are so bad in the world Of
business as many pesslmists imagine. l
believe that our best men are. in the main.
our most successful men. cannot believe
in any kind of respectable business as
those say who wish to justify their part
in such practices. And / do not believe
nor do think that any thoroughly honest
are necessary in any shape. however
yelled and disguised, for success In any
legitimate business. Yet there Is a grand
field for witnessing for Christ In the
world of business. The ranks Of 1.-The no
BILE army of martyrs" are not yet full.
TAKE UP TILE CROSS.
The demand to take up the cross" for
Christ's sake has not yet been withdrawn.
And though in the eyes of men, there Is
not the same show Of heroism when q
young man gives up good situation.
without any prospect Of another. for the
sake of truth. as II he had gone cheerfully
to burn at the stake, in the same noble
cause, nevertheless there may be quite as
much of the reality Of It,, quite as much
that is noble and admirable and heroic in
the sight of God. Christ needs many wit
nesses in the wide field of business: men
that will witness for Him in the heights Of
success, men also that will witness for
Him not only in the depths of failure, but
by their willingness to fail for His sake;
men that are willing to suffer the loss
of all things" men who are willing to go
through life as poor as Christ Himself,
variance with the will Of God. which finds
expression in the law Of Christ.
The method of Christ not only Is more
effective in securing commercial morality:
but it elevates the life and character or
business to a far higher plane. and gives
it a nobility and grandeur that seldom
enter into the thoughts of those who look
at 1t from the worldly point OF view: and
instead of It's being a hindrance to the de-
velopment OF the Christian life, it is a
fine field for growth to "the measure Of
the stature of the fudness of Christ" II
the law of Christ were faithfully and fully
carried into the ordinary business of life.
we should see on every hand a new ful,
fillment of an old prophecy: THE parched
thirsty land springs of water. In the
habtations of dragons. where each lay:
Then, at last, might all Christian agencies
cease from their lofty labOrs, when the
brotherly love which is inscribed upon the
Christian Endeavorer banner shall have
pervaded not only the church life. but the
ordinary life of thoroughly united Chris
tendon.
lnere was d very eHteItthilhh5 sphS
by the four Misses Joseph, after which
a collection was taken up for the state
work.
Then Rev. w. F. Crafts. of Washing
ton, D. c., delivered his address on
sabbath Dissertation and Public
Wrongs" which he prefaced by calling
attention to the fact that sabbath
Observance" was to be the special pro-
gramme for the year. as agreed upon
at the Washington National conven-
ton.
THE OVERFLOW MEETING. ~