Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-04-01
MINISTER
Who Discusses the Rich
Argues From the Bible That
Wealth Is a Crime.

JOURNAL the article printed below.
He calls it a bible exposition of the
rich and the poor and proposes to
print inpamphlet form.
The author IS an old man and thinks
our readers would be much interested
in reading his argument, and that it
will be news to them, "but not pop
ular among the rich. "THE JOURNAL
has some millionaires among its read
ers and believes they will enjoy specu-
lating on their chances in the next
world in the light of these articles.
The old gentleman attempts diff
cult task; he wants the rich to see
thlt they have more than their share
Of money. No one believes he has
more than his share in this world.
THE JOURNAL editor would not object
To haying more than a bare compel,
ence; he would not weep to know that
he was worth million. Nor would
anyone else outside of the asylum.
Still if Rev. Matthews can make any
of our wealthy friends feel badly
enough to part with their riches, he
may do some good. He may put
money in circulation. That is what
the country needs. 1t would help the
ministers, not many Of whom are get
ting their salaries, though they vote
and pray for prosperity under the gold
standard and high tariff. We trust
no rich man will take offence at Rev.
Matthew. 1t is the belief of many
that the money a man has cuts no ice
in the next world. It's the way he
got it, the. means he employed to get
it, and the use he makes of it. There
is no greater responsibility than great
wealth. After all the kingdom re-
ferred to by the Savior was a spiritual
kingdom. 1t was not an outward, |
material wealth, of paper and silver,
jewelled sceptres and golden crowns.
The kingdom is within you. But we
are not going to anticipate Rev. Mat
thews. We have prefaced his paper
TO show the Importance of the subject |
he proposes to discuss, but do not |
vOuch for his application of scripture
or mis- theology:
IS 1T A CRIME TO BE RICH.
Bishop Newman wrote an article
under the aboye caption, which was
published in the Pacific Christian Adj
vocate. He gave the rich much praise:
"Said there was but one sanity beg
gar mentioned in the Bible, where the
sanity rich were like the stars Of
Heaven" l haYe written some seven
articles, which hope to rave pub
lished, in which have proved from
the Bible, that the bishop is very
much mistaken. | write this article
as an introduction to those articles.
The Savior said: clay not up for
yourselves treasure upon earth"
Matthew 6-19. All rich men yio-
late this command. "The rich man
is wise in his own conceit." Prov.
28-l1. "WOe unto you that are rich,
for ye have received your consolation.
Luke 6-24. Labor not to be rich"
Prov. 23-4. "We brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out, and having food
and raiment, let US Herewith be con-
tent" ! Tim. 7-S. We only need a
good comfortable living. The rich
ruler, had kept all the command
ments from hisyouth up. The Savior
said: "Yet lackest thou one thing;sell
all that thou hast and distribute unto
the poor; and thou shalt have treas
ure in Heaven" Luke 1922. He dis
obeyed the Savior and went away sor-
rowful. He had the promise Of
treasure in Heaven, if he would
his riches. He had no treasure in
heaven, only because he was rich.
give the Bible description of rich
man. A man doing business in the
name of his God, and for him as
steward of the manifold grace of God;
and does distribute his wealth accord
ing to Bible directions he is not
rich man; although he holds a large
amount of wealth for his Creator.
But man doing business in his own
name, and for himself, and lays up for
himself treasure upon earth; and says
in his heart"My power and -the might
of my hand hath gotten me this
wealth." Deut. 8-l7. This man as
sumes to have, and own, what does