The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-22
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON.
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.

Subject. 'Dishonest Trsnsactions"-one
of the Crying Evils OF Modern Life IL
tho Abuse Of ofTrust-Beuare ofths Web
ofPeculation-Advicot to Business Men.
TEXT: "whose trust shall be spiders
web."-Job wifi. IA.
The etwo most skillful architects in all the
world are the bee and the spider. The one
puts up o sugar mandatory and the other
builds slaughter house for 1les. On a
bright summer morning when the gun
comes out and shines cpon the spiders
web, bedccked with dew, the gossamer
structure seems bright enough for sus-
pension bridge for aerial beings to cross
on. But alas for tho poor fly which in the
latter part ofthat very day ventures on 1t
and is caught and dupgeoned and de-
stroyed The fly was informed that 1t was
a free bridge and would cost nothing. but
at the other end Of the bridge the toll paid
WAS Its own life. The next day there
comes down a strong wind. and away 20
the web and the marauding spider and
the vIctimised hy. So delicate nre the
silken threads Of tho spiders web that
many thousands OF them are put together
before they become visible to the human
eye, and It takes 4, 600, 900 OF them to make
n thread rs large as the human hair. Most
spider. A prisoner In the Bastille, France.
had ono so trained that at the sound OF the
violin Il every day came for its meal OF
flies. Tho author OF my text, who was a
leading scientist Of bis day, had no doubt
watched the voraclous process OF this one
insect with another and saw spider and ny
swept down with the same broom or scat
tered by tho same wind. Alas that tho
world has 20 many designing spiders and
victimlzed fiesi
There has not been a time when the
utter md black responsibility Of many
mon having the financial interests OF
others In charge has been more evident
than In these last few years. The bank.
ruptcy OF banks and disappearance OF ad-
ministrators with the funds OF large estates
and the disordered accounts ofUnited States
oAtriyas have sometimes made pestilence
otrfrlme that solemnizes every thoughtful
Nan and woman and leads every philan-
tbropfst and Christian to ask, What shall
be done to stay the piague9 There is ever
and anon monsoon OF swtndle abroad,
typhoon, O sirocco. I sometimes ask my
self II 1t would not be better for men max
ing wills to bequeath tho property directly
to the executors and officers of the court
and appoint tho widows and orphans
committee to see that the former got all
tbat did not belong to them. The simple
fact is that there are largo number OF
men sailing yachts and driving fast horses
and members OF expensive clubhouses and
controlling country seats who are not
worth a. dollar il they return to others
their just rights. Under some sudden re-
verse they fail, and with afflicted cir seem
to- retire from the world and seem
almost ready for monastIc life, when in two
or three years they blossom out again, hav-
ing compromised with their creditor5-that
Is, paid them nothing but regret. and the
only difference between the ond chap
ter Of prosperity and the first Is that their
pictures are Murillos instend OF Kensetts
and their horses so mile in twenty Sec
onds less than their predecessors, and In
stead OF one county seat they have three.
have watched and have noticed that nine
out OF ten of those who fail in what is called
high life have more means after than be-
fore tho failure, and in many OF the cases
failure Is only stratagem to escape the
payment of honest debts and put the world
of the track while they practice largo
swIndle. There is something woefully
wrong in tho fact that these things are pos
sible.
First OF all, charge the blame on care
less. Indifferent bank directors and boards
having IN charge great financial insritu-
tions. It ought not to be possible for n
president or cashier or prominent Qt1cer
OF banking institution to swlndle 1t year
after year without detection. will under
take to say that II these frauds are carried
on for two or three yenrs without detec-
ton either tho directors are partners in
the infamy and pocket part Of the theft or
they are guilty OF eulpable neglect OF
duty for which God will hold them as re-
sponslble as he holds the acknowledged de-
frauders. What right have prominent
business men to allow their names to be
published as directors In financial tnsti-
tuition go that unsophistioated people arc
thereby Induced to deposit their money In
or buy the scrip thereof when they, the
published directors, are doing moth
Ing for the safety Of the institution?
II Is case OF deception most
reprehensible. Many people with surplus
Of money, not needed for immediate use,
although 1t may be little further on In
dispensable. are without friends competent
to advise them, and they are guided solely
by the character OF the men whose names
are associated with the institution. When
tho crash came and with the overthrow OF
the banks went the small earnings and
limited fortunes OF widows and orphans
and the helplessly aged, the directors
stood with idiotic stare, and to the inquiry
OF the frenzied depositors and stockholders
who had lost their all, and to the arraign-
ment OF On indignant public, had nothing
to say except: "We thought 1t was all
right. We did not know there was any
thing wrong going on" 1t was their duty
deluded the peoplewlth the idea that they
were carefully observant. Calling them
selves directors, they did not direct. Thy
had opportunity OF auditing accounts and
inspecting the books. No time to dc so2
Then they had no business to accept the
position. 1t seems to be the pride OF BONE
moneyed men to be directors In great
many institutions, and oil they know Is
whether or not they get their dividends
regularly, and their names are used as de-
coy ducks to bring others near enough to
be made gamo Of. What first of all Is
needed Is that 500 bank directors and In
surance company directors resign or at
tend to their business rs directors. The
business world will be full OF fraud just as
long as fraud Is so easy. When you arrest
tho president and secretary OF bank for
An embezZlement carried on for many yenrs,
be sure to have plenty OF sheriffS out the
same day to arrest all the directors. They
arc guilty either OF neglect or completely.
We must especially deplore the mlsfor-
tunes OF banks in various parts OF this
country in that they damage the banking
Institution, which is the great convenience
OF the centuries and indispensable to COM
merce and the advance OF nations. With
one hand 1t blesses the lender. and with
tho other it blesses the borrower. On
their shoulders ars the interests OF private
individuals and great corporations. In
them are the great arteries through which
run the currents OF the nations lie. They
have been the resources OF the thousands
OF lnanciers in days Of business e1tgency.
They stand for accommodation, for facil-
ity, for individual, State and national re-
lief. At their head and in their manage
ment there ure US much interest and moral
worth rs In any class OF men, perhaps
more. How nefarlous, then. tho behavior