Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-11

II shrines and dmages that we're car
ried away BY strangers. The coins Of
Ephesus are an evidence Of the CONNER
cial Importance of Diana by the inscrip-
lions thereon. The traffic in these inn
ages and shrines was parallel case
with. that of the liquor traffic OF to-
day. Paul having lived two years in
this city, knew not only of the business
interests, but the danger to Chris
tians.
1T is probable that in this city the
first gospel seed matured after the pen
tecostal baptism. And while it was i'm
portant to the business world and for
money making, it was no less important
to the church. Consequently this
change was intended to guard the
church against its greatest foe within
and without its membership. There
were many persons then as now whose
whole lives were given to the accumu-
lation of money. But it was not to
these that the warning was addressed,
but to the believers. 1t will be remem-
bered that it was not only gold and sill
yer that were included in this charge,
but it was all kinds of traffic or earthly
possession upon which their affections
were likely to be centered. For then,
as now, the great amount of wealth be-
longed to the few, but the danger of
which Paul spoke applied to the poor as
well as the rich.
at is true, as Paul said, They that
will be rich fall into
Temptation and a Snare
and into many foolish and hurtful
lusts which drown men in destruction
and perdition.' This is to say those
who will be rich at all hazards will
suffer these evils. Those who love car
nal things cannot love God with all
their hearts. A man may love God
with all his heart and get rich, but
he cannot love money with all his
heart and be rich toward God. Nor
was it a particular kind of wealth
against which caution was given.
Some men have a fondness for one
trade or branch of business, while
others are equally as earnest in their
desire for acquisition in other de-
partments, and it is to this particular
fondness for certain articles or bust
ness that a man is likely to become a
slave, and makes caution necessary.
1T is true also that some men have
a particular fondness for gold and
silver, and it must be admitted that
coins have attractions. Covetousness
runs in that line of trade or business
which a man enjoys most, and this
principle is seen in household affairs
as well as business. 1t applies to
household furnishings and wearing APP
parel. A lady whose stove is worn
out buys an up-todate range. An
other lady whose stove is not half
worn sees the new range and she must
have one like it or she is the worst
abused woman in the city. A young
man needs and buys new suit, the
latest style, the coat an inch longer or
an inch shorter than the former style.
Another young man whose suit has not
a spot upon it sees the new suit and
must have one exactly like it, al
though he is fully conscious by many
reminders that his former suit is
charged against him.
"This killing love is that upon which
the heart is fixed to the exclusion of
God, when He should come first
Thou shalt have no other God before
me- David said: "A little that is
righteous man hath is better than the
riches of many wicked, for the arms
of the wicked shall be broken. But
the Lord upholdeth the righteous
This does not depend upon quantity,
but
Righteousness and wicLedness
are the contrasts. The attractions of
money are natural and reasonable.
The comforts of life are secured by it.
The power and influence of money no
one can question. This danger has
ruined many good men elected to civil
Offices. A director of public safety in
Columbus, O., said few days ago that
he had refused $500 per month to
permit the slot machine companies to
operate in that city. Should any one
be surprised that there is such a great
demand for them in Wheeling, when
they are so profitable? But this has
not been confined to the present day,