The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-16


rled tin peddlor's pack, and conse-
qucntly we all grovel more or less in
his presence.
There mus! be some common form by
which We recognize standards of value.
Nkn political economists have differed
as to what is the real basis Of wealth.
| They used to say it was land, afterWard
they decided il To- be labor, but no mat
ter what they or any other body Of
| thinkers may assert, the fact remains
that money represents the standard Of
merit to the average mind and even
. more than the average. The man Of
brain power is estimated by the amount
, his stock in trade is worth lust as
| much as is the merchant in Dun's rec
ord. The minister who can command
$4,000 salary is the minister people
are jOStling each other to hear. The lee
/ turer who receives $lOO night and up
ward is the lecturer vino attracts great
| audiences. The man Of affairs who
con control vast railway systems is the
one who is looked upor with admiriny
awe and whose authority an every
topic from managing kindcrgartcns to
the Philippine policy is accepted. The
Colleg" professor. who has a large SAL
AIRY and whose magazine articles bring
dollars line, is the man whose opin-
ions ar" received with respect We
have To acknowledge some worldly
standard even when We measure souls.
and what is So hauoy as nice round
dollar as q symbol? Conscience. spir-
itualirE self sacrifice purity of
thought. gentleneSs, all these are so
difficult 10 US" in common parlancc as
a medium Of exchange. Everybody
can understand what We mean when
We speak of money. 1t doesn't signify
that we are surdid ana mean and grasp
ing. or scrvi!e and = toady when we
admit q healthy respect for money
and what it brings and buys.
1t is only II natural enough conse-
qu@nce that men Of means are placed
in important official positions in the
church. Their wealth represents sue
cess. Reasonably if they have been
eminently successful in their own af-
fairs, their judgment and guidance will
be valuable IN directing the financial
business of the church, which nOW-a-
days needs cautious financial steering
from the peWS as wei as ludiCiouS
spiritual guidance from the pulpit.
The man who has shown great per-
spicacity in business, may naturally
be expected to have superior adyant-
ages over the one who has been able
TO manage hut little of worldly treas
ure The former pays the bulk Of the
expenses and probably with reason
does receive a certain degree Of defer
cnce on that account. This is likely
to be the case IN rich churches at lepst.
In poor churches tho custom t. not 50
Noticeable.
Perhaps it is audacious to say that
the intensely spiritual man is apt 10
be Il poor financial adviser for a church
but il is q fact which most ministers
admit that the business affairs Of the
church, if lefg solely to their Judgment
as fnancicrs. would come to sorry
| ending. The very poor man in the last
pew may be capable of taking charge
OF the intricate finance affairs of the
church and as trustee or a Vestryman
most wisely direct the same, just as ne
! may be capable Of controlling and
guiding an ocean liner but he hos prob
ably had too lite experience in either
TO be the first one selected for tho post
the trustees find a bin of expenses
for which no provision has been made
! he is scarcely able to dive down i'm his
pocket and make ur the deficit, which
is a frequent privilege of the church
| trustee.
For my part, it is such satisfaction
| 10 escape the responsibility Of running
| a church that am only too happy to
| let the rich men have the glory Of be-
| ing elders, deacuns. trustees, Nesiry-
| men or even the lord high eH-
ecutioner if only they will attend to
| their duties IN a peaccahe and dignifed
| manner modcstly paying for their
privileges by building a beautiful
church and hiring a brilliant preacher
| and a talented choir. Dear mo, why
| not? SAVCN l3tSS,
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup
| Has been used for over FIFTY YEARS
| by MILLIONS Of MOTHERS for their
| C'IIII .nREN WHILE THING WITH