The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-06
THE SIN OF covEToUSNESS.
REV. CHARLES II. STRONG'S SER
MON on TENTH COMMANDMENT.


MON on TENTH COMMANDMENT.
The Last of His Series of Sermons on
the DecaIOgue-COvetOus Is the
Root of All EviI-The sin Dis
cussed in It's Relation to the Indi-
vidunI, society and the Nation.
The Old Moral Virtues the Basis
of Good Government.
Rev. Charles II. Strong concluded his Sc
ries of sermons upon the decalogue last
night, with stirring and eloquent dis
course upon the sin of eovetousness. HIS
text was from the verse of scripture in
which the commandment against covet-
BUSINESS is contained, Exodus 2017.
Perhaps it seems strange, said Mr..
strong, that the law giver should conclude
a series of special commands with a gem
eral one upon the sin of covetousness, but
when the subject is closely examined this
last sin will be found in truth the root of
all evil. From it all other sins in the dec
alogue naturally flow. the unholy desire
for the property or life of another produc-
ing the crimes condemned by the laws of
God and man.
In the old Anglo-Saxon, wealth had
different meaning from that which il con-
veys to-day. Then it meant whatever
conduced to the veal or well being of the
nation or individual to-day Ii is measur-
ed in dollars and cents. Then il meant
that which made life virtuous and happy;
now it measures the extent of a mans ma
terial belongings. Then it stood for good
ness, happiness and freedom from care;
now it stands for mere worldly prosperity
From ideas and standards Of value such
as these flow the sin of covetousness.
The old political economists define the
riches of nation to be the profits of its
fields and manufactures There was new
er a greater mistake, said Mr.. Strong, for
national riches consist in the virtue and
patriotism of the people. When these de-
generate the honor and glory of country
fall and its prosperity Vanishes 1t is the
nations coVetouSness of new possessions,
its assumption of new theories of govern
ment and its seeking after new gods that
lead il away from the old paths of safety
and peace. There is craven upon stone
in an Italian cemetery this epitaph: Here
lies the body of Sisnor Blank, who was
for thirty years treasurer of Florence
and died a poor man." There Is a world
of meaning to be derived from a study
of the epitaph, and in the light of our
own countrys history one is more and
more convinced that the safety of our
public institutions depends upon a strict
adherence to the old moral laws. From
the virtue of the people springs the virtue
of the state.
In our educational SYSTEMS, Mr.. Strong
said, there is a shoWiness and a straining
for outside effect that are alien to and
apart from the spirit of true scholarship.
Truth and the search for truth are for
gotten and the youth of the land are
gilded with ornamental nothings the while
they lose the basic principles of true learn
ing.
Among what are termed the lower
classes there is a striving to emulate the
rich. The farmer leaves his pillow to
gather, In some city, money with which
10 ape the manners and expenditures of
his wealthy neighbor; the mechanic fans
within his bosom the smoldering embers
of discomfort the maiden, once as fresh
and pure and virtuous as the dawn, slaves
in sweat shop to pay for the tawdry
fnery in which her heart delights and APP
pareled in which she imagines herself
mistaken for some daughter Of luxury and
ease. Covetousness is the moving cause
from which spring these evil Desires
A republic. said Mr.. Strong, is the
noblest form of government created by
man and in 1t every man has an oppor-
iunity to rise to the station to which his
abilities enttle him. Such an ambition
should not be censured nor does ii contra
vene the command of the decalogue. 1t is
the vain striving after effect, the desire
for something not our own, which we
would obtain by whatever means the
wish to appear that which we are not, that
the law condemns.
"If we make the commandments of the
decalogue the measure of our lives and it's
truth the standards of our department"
said NIr. Strong, blessings will come to
us uusought, strength to Withstand
temptation Will be granted us, and
throughout the earth will spring up happi-
ness and peace"