Evening journal., 1899-06-19
UNLAWFUL BUSINESS
Roundly Scored in Eloquent
Sermon BY Pastor Short.
DBPLORED DISHONEST PRACTICES

SCHlllING'S DRY GOODS COM |
PANY-FULL TEXT OF THE DIS
COURSE
Rev. Francis Burgette Short preached |
an eloquent sermon last Sunday at Dp-
worth Methodist Episcopal Church on
'rhe Sin OF Coveaousness." In his SER
mon ne roundly scored all manner Of dis
honest business practices and dwelt par
ticularly on the questionable and unlaw-
fu business methods Of the Schilling |
Dry Goods Company, who are disposlng
Of chances on various articles Of prop
orty.
Rev Mr.. Short took his text from st.
Luke xii, Is: Take heed and beware OF
coveteousness: Cor a mans life consisteth
not In the abundance Of things which he
possesseth."
Covetousness IS the inordinate and ex-
cesslve desire OF the human heart to
possess Of the abundance of this world
This spirit has at times manifested itself
in a national way. as for example Eng
lands desire to possess India, and Africa,
ETC.. Russla's TO get, at least. portion
Of China; and Uncle Sam seems very
anxious to rule not only over our states
and territories, but also over many Of the
islands OF the seas. What Is true of ma
tions Is likewise true of many men as in
dividuals. and therein is found one Of the
principle disturbing forces In all business
life for covetousness Is the very essence
Of wrong doing.
% It causes an abnormal unrest and
dissatisfaction with present possessions.
This spirit was among those whom Jesus
taught. and It Is very evident in the para
BILE from which j take the text that some
one who was dissatisfied with his posses
eions desired Jesus to compel those who
had to divide with him. Thus we see that
the desire to get something for nothing
IS Of no modern origin. This avaricious
desire for gold-this spirit to make money
easily and fast, without giving the proper
amount OF labor or goods therefor has
ruined many a happy home and sent
multltudes to the regions OK darkness.
semiramis wrote: whatever king
wants treasure. II he opens this tomb he
may be satisfied" Darius opened It and
found written therein: IF thou vert not
a wicked person and OF Unsuitable covet-
business. thou wouldst not disturb the
mansions Of the dead" Wrong is IL to rob
the dead? Then infinitely more wrong is
It to rob the living.
CD This eovetous spirit causes man to
forget the true purpose Of life. The real
/ purpose Of life IS not TO accumulate
wealth, but TO multiply good In the inter-
est Of humanity. not to bow before the
god Of gold, but to bow before the Lord
God Almighty. and worship Him "m
whom we live and move, and have our
being" lie who forgets the real aim OF
life-to honor God-and goes In search OF
the weslth or honor Of time alone finds
his Illustration in one Of Esop's fables.
THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.
1T happened that dog had got a piece
OF meat and was carrying 1t home IN hi.
mouth TO eat It in peace. Now on nj,
way home he had to cross plank lyinl
across a running brook. AS he crosset
he looked down and saw his own shadow
reflected IN the water beneath. Thinkini
: It was another dog with another piece o.
meat, he made UP his mind to have tina
also. So he made a snaD at the shadow
IN the water, but as he opened his moutl
the piece OF meat fell out and was neve
seen any more" Moral; Beware les
you lose the substance by grasplng at tn
shadow
Mans FIRST duty IL to God. and II thi
be conscientiously performed his life'
work will be TO bring blessing iunumer
able upon mankind but he who fails Il
this drops the real purpose Of life an'
grasps at a shadow which is mlrrored 81
stream OF inordinate covetousness. 'Be
ware Of covetousness. for a mans IN
conslsteth not in the abundance o
things which he possesseth."
60 Covetousness inspires dishonest an
= unlawful means to be pursued tha
wealth-Eold-may be accumulated Wha
will some men not do for money? Their
are honest. moral and legitimate pursuit
and professlons-many OF them in whic
the teaching Of Jesus Is conscient tiousl
adhered to, by which the world Is bene
8 flied and the laborer honored: but ther
j: are many things engaged IN which ar
A dishonest and unlawful both ia the sigh
Of God and man. And again we are con
strained TO ask: Whist viii some me
not do for money!" For money or galr
J. there arc those who win stealthly ente
the home and 10 needs be murder innc
d cent childhood and defcnseless woman
hood in order to lay hands upon preclou
possessions. Another VIII perjure his ow
10 manhood, and at times cause the rsputa
b, ton Of his friends to unjusuy hang upo
D. the cover OF public criticism. For none
(. there are those who sell their purit,
\, virtue, their honor The love Of th
= worlds gain caused )emas to forsaB
D. Paul and Christ; and caused Judas to bt
tray his Lord and Master.
what viii some men not do Il
"a gold7" It has reversed decisions In oour
. where justice should be unmoved 10y n
glitter of gold; it has both made an
~ stopped legislation; it has driven to de.
as pair and death mmutudes who could n,
n- ride the biilOws OF financial nuotuation
81 and has so paralyzed the human soi
10 that % became miserabiy. niegardly an
mean. Rowland 1nn said: If / had m
% way I would hang all misers; but reverl
the common mode: ] would hang the
all up by the heels. that their none
might run out Of their pockets" TIL
.a4 COVETOUs MANI WHAT WILL ii
NOT DO FOR MONEY? YONDER j
AA WAS ONE nav TffrE r.far.sAfrr a