The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-03


and are easily altered by any clever
penman. The fraudulent changes are
quickly made to the satisfaction Of both
parties. ~. But Nemesis Is still on
the stewards track. The proprietor Is
informed OF the last deal" Of his conf
dental clerk. He can not but admire
the Qulckness and cleverness With
which he has relieved himself from an
awkward situation He has actually
escaped both horns Of the dilemma, has
steered between Scylla and Charybdis.
This VIVID parable Is followed by
some diamond pointed nphorisms. They
are provocative of thought. They are
the challenge OF the Divine Sentinel. He
must be answered. Why should Christ
ians be less skillful In the selection OF
the right means to effect good ends than
worldlngs are to effect evil endsp I.
Is there not right use OF riches?
Fidelity In a small way Is the
advance guard Of fidelity in a larger
way. :. 1nfdelity IN the employ
mcnt OF material wealth marks one as
unworthy OF having spiritual riches In
steward can not become q faithful pro-
impossible rs dual life. -. 1t Is
always God or Mammoth; never God and
Mammon. &
The Study Lamp.
There are several Incidental lessons In
this parable. They are to be noted; but
II undue prominence is given them, the
proportion will be lost. Above all. It is
not to be splritualized or allegorized.f
The main intent Of the parable is to
show that species and degree Of Wis
dom is necessary to success in religion.
One OF the faults OF current religion
happily not now SO great as It has been
lis to think OF the sphere Of Christian
experience as hap-hazard region
where ends come without means. and
effects without causes-where even the
effects Of violation OF law can be set
aside In some supernatural way. tts
Drummond gave us an epoch-making
phrase: Natural law in the spiritual;
world"
We succeed in religion exactly as In
other things. In proportion to the skill
and constancy with which we use the
means which produce success.
How much planning. scheming, and
devlsing there Is in things material and
temporal. Men are not only giving as
much attention as the case demands,
but In many instances more. H.
The children Of light" should in their
generation show more wisdom than the
children OF this world Too often they
do not Hence Jesus condemnation.
II the things for which men strive
were arranged In the order OF their rel
alive Importance. things relating to the
soul would certainly come first. Hence
the philosophy OF Jesus command:
Seek first the kingdom OF God"
This parable has given commentators
n heap OF trouble. They have even
tried to foist negative In order to
make Jesus say the opposite Of what he
is recorded MS saying. Julian the Apos-
tate asserts that Jesus praised an i'm
moral act. He says he "commcnds and
sanctions cheating" Nothing like 1t!
For example, pra!s!ag thee builders
for their ingenuity does not involve APP
probation OF the theatre. Canon Farrar
says: The Lesson conveyed b. this
parable IS enforced by tho principle of
contrast Qille that OF the unjust Judge,
and involves no commentator of the
party whose conduct conveys tho les
son."
The affairs OF large establishment.
commercial, manufacturing or other.
,can not be conducted without trusted
officers OF various grades. To take adj
vantage OF this necessity Is contempu-
BILE. Yet 1t Is almost characteristic OF
current commercial history. It's the
era OF ''ralse-offs," false entries. and
what not. Happy is the firm that has
such Jewel as Abraham had In El!ezer.
The Bible abounds In short sentences
that stick In memory like arrows In q
target I'VE can not serve God and
Mammon." is one OF them. II Is math-
ematicaly true that lines divergent. in
tlnitely extended. can not parallel.
Write on one ideal line God" on the
other "Mammon," and you have &C.
ometrical figure OF tho impossIbllity OF
the double service.