The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-25
CHRISTIANITY IN BUSINESS.
MEN OF TRADE INCLINING MORE TO
MORAL PRINCIPLES.

Rev. Chas. II. strong Discusses a
Letter From Business Man of
Thirty Years Experience Who
Writes "a Sermon to the Clergy.
business Houses Find Honesty a
Necessity-It Is Also often Profita-
bIe-OppOsitiOn to Night Work and
sunday WOrk-CIergy should Try
to Elevate Everything That Needs
Elevation.
At St. Johns church last night Rev.
Chas. II. Strong begun a series of ser
mons. on the subject Can Business Be
Conducted on Christian Principles?' The
subject of the nights sermon bearing up
on the general topic was "A Layman's
Sermon to the Clergy"
Rev. Mr.. Strong made letter from
| business man of thirty years experience
the basis of his sermon This layman, a
business man, wrote Mr. Strong an able
| and thoughtful letter upon the line of the
subject under discussion, and in his ser
mon he used the greater part of the letter
to bring out the different thoughts to
which the subject naturally gives rise
This letter was somewhat of a sermon
to the clergy, urging them to put away the
! idea that business in these days cannot
be conducted on Christian principles. The
writer made the positive statement that
| there has been a steady increase in moral
ity in business circles. The letter was op-
timistic, Mr.. Strong said. He stated, too,
that in the course of the sermons on this
subject he might have occasion to present
some views on the other side
There were three questions asked of the
writer, first, whether the principles un-
he Af To 4
! opposed to the gospel of Christ that man
could not succeed if he regarded the prin-
ciple OF do unto others as you would have
them do unto you; second, whether if in
order to succeed in business, it is neces-
sary for man to disregard moral laws
TO deceive his neighbor, and to incline to
those actions which the senses of hon
esty and morality, and in third place, as
to whether the pulpit should try to ele-
waite the standard of trade
MIR. Strong spoke of monopoies and the
combinations of similar business interests
into one. lie did not discuss the question
OF the good or harm that monopolies may
do. The fact that men have to deal with
vast combinations make the situation en-
tirely different from what it was TWEEN
ty-five years ago, the writer said. The
impression had gone abroad it was stat
ed, that the men at the head of these
concerns were making money by reduc-
ing wages and destroying competition. He
then went on to show that salaries had
not been decreased within the last TWEEN
ty-five years. and that the purchasing
power of the money was two or three
times as great as it was then. The large
manufacturing establishment, the combi-
nation, if it be so, makes money through
the expansion of business. The amount
of business done is three or four times
as great, and to do this business conf
dence is necessary. and that confidence
must be based on strict moral principles.
The travelling salesman. who is an in
deX of the house he represents, he said.
is not the convivial man he used to be-
but must necessarily conduct his business
on a strict moral basis, or he will fail in
the end to gain the confidence of those
with whom he deals. The consumer, the
writer stated, is better protected to-day
than ever before. He knows the prices
everywhere now, where formerly it was
often possible for manufacturers to quote
different prices according to what they
thought they could get for their goods.
lie called attention, especially, to what
the writer said about night
work and Sunday work. His
firm seldom worked man at
night as it was found that far less salts
factory results were secured from him the
next day. The writer stated also that
Sunday work was altogether a mistake,
as none of the laws of God can be violated
with impunity. 1t was possible TO get
better work out of the men in six days
out of seven. than by working them the
entire seven days. Rev. Mr.. Strong said
he would like to take those words and nail
them up in every Office on the Bay, and
in every railroad office in Savannah.
The writer stated that a successful
| business depends on a strict adherence to
honor. and that he would not have in his
employ a man who would tell anything
! but the strict truth to a customer They
must come up to the standard or lose tneir
! positions.
! In answer to the last question the writer
stated that the pulpit ought to try and
! elevate everything that needs elevating.
! The writer also went on to state that one
! great trouble was that while business
men are improving in morality, and the
| sense of honor, the politicians and so
| called statesmen are many of them degen-
Grating as is witnessed by the many DEM
| agogues. who hold forth in state political
| circles Is well as in the halls of congress.
| Rev. Mr. Strong spoke of having re-
] ceived a number of other letters on the
/ line of the subject, one of which contains
| the statement do your neighbor or he
will do you" So, he said something
| from the other side of the question would
| be brought forth from the other letters.
Under the argument brought to bear by
this business man, Rev. Mr. Strong said
| there was no reason why business men
| should not conduct their business on
| Christian principles, and he appealed for
| the application of Christian PRINCIPLES in
| mans business, in his home. or wherever
| he may be. He will continue this line Of
discussion IN his sermon next Sunday
night.