New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
DR.. PETERS SEES A DANGER
HIS VIEWS OF 1.-THE USE AND MISUSE O
WEALTH"

WEALTH"
Dr. Madison c. Peters preached in Bloominsdaic
Reformed Church yesterday morning on THE Use
and Misuse Of Wealth" "Our social problems he
said remain unsolved because the self!nterest OF
Cain rather than the uplifting hand of Christ still
rules our civilization. What this world wants !s
Christs teachings practically applied as the one
solvent for all our social Ills The popular dis
content which resulted In the French Revolution
was a demand for equal rights The popular de-
mand in the United States. a demand consequent
upon popular intelligence Is for a better condition.
The wealth of the United States in 1890 was SOL
i59 100000 This vast wealth is sacred trust, not
to be greedily boarded. lavishly squandercd nor
sefshy to be enjoyed but generously 10 be em-
ployed in the service of humanity.
II thank God for country like ours where the
poor man may become rich. and where the highest
honors open 10 the humbest citizen. but this
blessing is being turned into curse when the
families of these same men use their vast wealth
and their high social position in endeavorinS to
outrival each other. parade themselves before the
public ape the fashions of Europe and marry their
daughters titled mendicants. Our enormous
wealth and its rapid increase are threatening us
with a gross materialism. When the president "
Harvard College gets but $1,000, and the Boston
Baseball Association pays as il did few years
ago. $4,000 in order TO secure single player as
member of their nine. and pile on top OF this an
additional sum Of 5000 as salary. it would seem as
III were going INTO mexcuSaDle ehIdNdbdHcV
and that athletics had gone mad When the am
b!tion for palatlal houses blooded horses. jewels
and diamonds gold and silver plate and dinners
Of a dozen courses pervade nearly all classes. and
people vie with one another in taWdry display.
while thousands ruined in their attempt 10
flourish in a style which is beyond their financial
ability well station in life It's well 10 ask:
What Will be the effect the morals of the Ma
ton? Look at the enormous defacations in
America for 1896 more than so 100000 The un-
rivalled spendor Of which our extremely wealthy
are becoming so extravagantly fond Is rapidly
sorting itself with extraordinary virulence upon
all classes. demoralizng society and injuring our
young men by the contempt which II throws upon
the sober virtues Of industry and economy. SO
the poor young woman, whose mind Is be-
wildered with the applause OF display everywhere.
concludes that the world loves ornament and dis
pay> above all things. and is soon wrapped in
luxury at the expense Of virtue. History tells us
that nations have decayed because Of the luxury
consequent upon vast wealth. So fell Rome. Baby
dsmemberment OF the Israetish Kingdom. Ban
the lap of luxury And just as surely as the prodi
gal extravaganza caused by the profuse magnii-
revolution. Just as surely will history repeat it.
self and our country will have cause 10 regret IN
reckless wicked prodigalities. The claim that the
extravagance OF The rich helps The poor by giving
that is spent for passing pleasure stops with The
spending The money spent by such phil
anthropsts as J. Pierpont Morgan. Cornelius Van
derblt or John ID. Rockefeller. in hospital.
college or decent dwellings, does good and goes
on doing good. ,,,
wealth is an opportunity for doing good | am
not making a crusade against wealth. ] wish
was millionaire myself. ] am seeking TO have you
feel your responsibility TO use your wealth unself
ishly for the welfare of all. speak as Christian
when say that life not fsacrifced In the SER
vice of others is an immoral life You are not TO
deprive Yourself of the luxuries of life. God does
no ask that you shall spend one-Ealf OF your time
I'm hard working and the other half in hard living
If God had intended that Christians should not
have any luxuries. this world would have produced
nothing but plain vegetables If God meant that
Christians should have pleasure In the world, he
would have made a world without flowers. Flowers
answer no practical purpose. They are for pleasure
only There Is nothing in religion which makes
us 20 down through life TO the tune of the Dead
happiness in the world, that we should get pleasure
there are many Christians in IL. There is no viz
neither is wealth barrier The lever which is to
destroy wealth. but would employ II for humanity.
| would have a heart throbbing with love to God
and humanity beneath every banknote God Is
calling for to-day who are willing 10 be hnan-
cally crucihed, in order that the worlds market
may be ruled the basis Of the Sermon on the
Mount The sacred mission Of wealth Is 10 uplift
the fallen extend the friendly hand In sympathy
OF man with man.