The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-24
Wealth ana Luxury.

The Rev. DR.. TRANSPORTS remarks on the
subject of personal extravaganza, quoted
yesterday by n reporter Of THE SUN, were
more than mere criticism Of particular
social function, or of social functions In gen.
eral. " base my opposition to lavish displays
OF wealth at the present time" said DIR.
RAISsFoRD, Gin the belief that this is not
a proper time for such affairs" The
rector Of st. Georges thinks of the great
vote last November for the party OF disorder,
aud believes that the ostentation OF riches
Is particularly mex pedient on the heels Of
the Bryanite demonstration. "Such affairs
give demagoRues excuse for attacking the
East, and furnish texts for homilies on
the heartless extravaganza OF the wealthy In
the face OF poverty and restitution, he says.
Numerous colleagues Of DIR. RAINsFoRD,
speaking from the pulpits Of different COM
munions, have talked Of late in the same
strain as to the inopportuneness Of wealth's
manifestinR itself in these days when class
hatred IL said tcube raging fercelv. Even II
wealth be not evil In itself, it's possessors
are warned, for the sake Of public peace and
Individual safety, not to show their money.
since the sight Of it may carry the ex-
ploding spark into the mines OF discon-
tent and bitterness, with which many phil
osophers, those in the pulpit particularly,
say that society is honeycombed.
Before this widespread feeling that the in
stitution Of property Is seriously threatened,
the expenditure Of money upon this or that
gayety or indulgence 10 a mere peccadillo Of
triHinR moment only. And II property. in
stead of being assured and stable, de-
Ponds upon the prudence with which
the show OF 1t is restrained, and upon
tho diplomacy with which It Is used,
the sooner the truth Is demonstrated, the
better; for probably no mental suffering
Is more crushing than the terror Of the
miser who fears that his gold is about to be
taken from him. For our part, we have far
greater confidence in the sobriety OF the
world at large, and in the laws OF nature as
they have been revealed to US. than have
DR.. RAINsFoRD and his fellow preachers I;
and In our opinion the lessons now coming
30 huently from the pulpit are ten times
more melting to the feeling Of envy against
the rich and to the spirit which makes social
disorder than all possible combined exhibit
tions Of expenditure on the part of ow ners
Of money. DIVES was a blameless man,
except for having wealth. That alone sank
him into damnstion. For the kindred rea-
son, LAZARUS, who possessed no virtue
whatsoever outside Of his poverty. rose into
Heaven. Yet, In the modern socialistic pull
pits the clergymen forget this story utterly,
and instead Of preaching the relation 1t
teaches Of wealth to holiness, they are con-
tinually exsltinR wealth rs the most vital
AIaDnent In tha world'a life
The fact is, whether wealth Is wrong or
right, II 10 so at all times, under any cir
cumstanoes, and In all degrees II It be
wrong. Dr. RAIEsFoRp can live as easily on
dollar u day as other men. and doubtless
perform his arduous parish labors a.
successfully as he now docs. II, though,
IL Il not forbidden. in morals, people will
be happier and wiser to learn the prevailing
sentiment conolusively than to continue
huddled mp like rabbits In dread Of 1t.
Meantime, We seriously advise people pos
sessed Of money to enjoy 10 after their own
decent tastes, and 70 choose for It's distribu-
ton mainly the usual channel OF trade
rather than to give II away or to throw it
into the sea.