The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-13
recognize in this an cid familiar doc.

Kill recognize in this an old familiar doc
;riDe. for we have been preaching - 10
these many Years. In q. senses eonteht-
mort Is a virtue and to be Scon,aenaca.
But contentment which implies a lack
of ambition Is not to be encouraged. De-
sire IS natural and desire IS always
stimulus to gain. 1t is desire for gain tiiat
causes our indu stries TO hum. our banks
10 operate. our railroad trans TO go l91hs
across the country at the rate OF a 1naie
n minute. the great ships to pioW me
seas and the stores to be filed with ner-
Ct andise In short, it Is the desire ioi
gain that MAKES commerce ana lnous'lts-
If men were content with their lo1'
they cared not to accumulate, they "o'io
not be enterprisng. They would not peho
their energies in this or that direction
they would simply sit down in peace and
quiet and live on their substance IL Is
dc sire for knowledge that makes men
study: it is desire for fame that makes
81 cat orators and politicians and soidlefs'
it is desire for the better things that
makes men religious We cali it desire
because desire is a conservative word
but after ali there is little difference be-
tween desire and greed. Take away de-
sire, take away greed, and you take all
the energy and activity out of a man.
There is no action worthy of the name
tat is not driven by q, motive. and the
motive behind our energies is desire.
we agree Wit, the SUMS correspondent
in the statement also that in these days
there is no more Of greed than there
was in the days of Christ. Men have
learned q great deal since that time and
there are more men who know how TO
accumulate and men generally know how
to accumulate more than in other ages
We have many more very rich men and
a great many more moderately rich men
than in those days. But this does not
necessarily mean that there is more OF
greed. There are undoubtedly more men
with active desires for wealth and pro-
motion because in this free country ops
portu1Tties are more general. We have
10 classes here and one man has The same
right and privilege as another man 10
accumulate and become r.ch.
But we believe that with the increase
in our wealth has come also an increase
in generosity. There never was All age
before when SO much money was given
away, when there were SO many chart
table institutions, wnen 50 much money
was devoted 10 coed and noble purposes.
Think Of the millions OF money expended
every year in the support OF the church
and in the various phases Of church work;
think of the millions OF money expended
every year for public education; think OF
the millions of money expended every
year in the support Of asylrms Tor the
poor, for the insane, for those who are
mentally or physically incapacitated TO
take care Of themselves: think of the mil
lions of money expended every year on
hospitals and for the relief Of distress
We of this generation have received
freely. but it may be fairly claimed that
we have also given freely
Away with the idea that it is an indi-
v;dual sin 10 be rich. Away with the idea
that it is a rational sin for the nation
TO be prosperous and wealthy 1t is all
right TO accumulate wealth in a. fair,
honest and legitimate way, and if our
money be used in such IL way as to de-
velop individual and national character,
| it will always be blessing. The dan
ger is not in the accumulation or the use
| of wealth, but in its abuse.