The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-06
oNE-TENTH FOR THE CHURCH.
REV. ED. F. COOK ON THE POWER
OF MONEY.

Scripture-The World Not Conquer
ed for Christ, Because Christians
Have Not Complied With Scrip
turaI Requirements in Devoting
Their Means to the Work of the
on Money-Its Immense Powers for
Good and EVIL.
large congregation for midsummer
worshiped at Wesley Monumental Church
Yesterday. The sermon was preached by
Rev. Ed. F. Cook, the pastor. His theme
M" His text was from Proverbs SO:
Honor the Lord with thy substance"
In introducing his theme, Mr.. Cook said:
Gods claim upon our possessions is we'll
established in Scripture One of the very
first lessons taught the human family was
Gods claim upon proportionate part of
mans time and possessions This lesson
God has taken pains to keep ever before
his people. 1t was emphasized in build
ing the Tabernacle in the wilderness. in
rearing the magnificent temple of King
Solomon, and God projected the Kingdom
of Christ in this world, with its great
scheme of redemption for the race. upon
the supposition that his people would pay
him one-tenth of all they possessed, and
beyond that find ample scope for the ex.
pressions Of love and gratitude in free-will
offerings. If Gods plan had been carried
out by his people this world would long
ago have been brought to Christ.
stAI rosSor hla fSI,riStiap adYoit -
is the Lord who giveth power to get
wealth, and that possessions are talents
for which, as stewards, we must give ac-
count to the Lord. Yet, with these unde-
niabe truths ever present with us. the
church is crippled in all her operations for
want of financial means to carry forward
her enterprises. We are doing little more
for the evangelization of the heather
world than playing at missions; destitute
portions of the home-ield are left with
out suitable places of worship and the
means of grace; educational institutions
anguish or die, all for want OF money
and this occurs al a time when the church
is rich and increased in goods as never
before Things will be no better, but
rather worse until there is more liberal
and systematic paying by all classes of
Christians. Just at this point there is
imperative need of a revival of practical
wisdom. We must understand Gods esti-
mate of money in its rela ton to the king
dom of Christ. There are but three sources
of power in Christs kingdom: First, the
purchase power of consecrated money;
second, the evangelisuc power of Chris
tian character; third, the supernatural
power of the Holy Spirit. We have ever
placed an exalted estimate upon
the influence of truly good and beautiful
character. We are coming better to I'M
derstand the doctrine of The Holy Spirit.
But the selfish world is slow to learn of
Gods need of money and slower to I'M
derstand the unreasonable power of dol
lars in the Kingdom Of Christ
Money rightly obtained is vital force
in the kingdom of Christ II takes money
to run anything. 1t takes money to main
tain a town, city, state or nation. 1t
takes money to run a bank, or lodge, or
school. 1t takes money to run a small
family. 1t takes money to run the COM
merce of the world. AS money is in
dispensable to every movement of com
merce or of nations, so likewise it is an
indispensable force in the onward move
ment of the kingdom of Christi
Mr. Cook then said: Money is a lat
ent power like stored-up electricity. Elec-
tricity is a great power for the benefit of
man when understood and rightly used;
but great danger when in the hands of
the ignorant or vicious. Money is
great power for good in the hands of the
good but a tremendous evil in the hands
of the ignorant and vicious.
Money is an active power ever pres
ent with the man who possesses it. With
So l have power to purchase hat; with
$4,000 l have power 70 purchase a home;
with many millions have power to own
and operate railroads or manufacture
goods for the use of nations. Transfer
this money to the kingdom of Christ and
1t loses none of its power. 1t is still
the power that brings things to pass.
With s. 1 can send out few Bibles and
tracts; with $4,000 l can easily support
ten missionaries in the field; with mil
lions of dollars an army of missionaries
could be equipped and sent forth to take
the world for Christ The poverty of the
church explains the delay in the evange-
lization of the world. The poverty of the
church is caused by our disregard of
Gods plan for providing revenue for His
kingdom"
Mr. Cook referred to the frequent mis-
quotation and misapplication of the ia
miiar passage, 1.-THE love of money is
the root of all evil" He said not money
but the love of money is the root OF
evil Money is one of the greatest bless
ings on earth, and one of the greatest
forces in the kingdom of Christ. But
the inOrdinate love OF money, tne BTeeu
of gain is destructive to character and
ruinous TO the nation. | once heard
Bishop Haygood say, in substance, in one
of his magnificent addresses:
"T am not about to commit the folly
Of denouncing money; that having money
and moneys worth make for any human
soul the chief good of life. 1 do utterly
deny. In itself it is not good at all; per-
verted II is a curse. Making money as
the end and aim of life is foolish and
unmanly thing; making money as a means
to an end may be very wise, and also
very noble, occupation. The power that
Is in money to do good is the one quality
in II that gives ID worth, that entities II
TO respect, that lifts it above dirt and
corruption. Measuring men by mere money
gauges is heathenism. Making money
having the chief end, and money-getting
the chief occupation of life, works out
the most deplorable results in the
thoughts and lives of men. When the
richest becomes the foremost man, ana
one richer than the richest the ideal man,
we forget why q man is sent into this
world, and cease to know what man
really is. Confusion enters into all our
conceptions of human life. We apply
false tests to ourselves as well as to others,
we call evil good and good evil;' con-
science loses it's polarity. and virtue dies
al the root When men choose occupa-
lions simply to make money; seek ofi1ce
only for salaries. perquisites and, above
all opportunities; in word, when money