Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-13
A COMMON ERROR.

In Law Notes, a paper published for
the special benefit " the legal fra
ternlty. we noticed an article recently
based on this propositions I'VE know
that money IS the root Of evil" That
Is very common error We are sur
prised however 10 see It repeated In a
public Journal devoted 10 law and log
ic. We do not know anything OF the
kind. We know to the contrary There
Is nothing lntrinslcally evil In money
whether Il be gold or silver CON- or pa
per currency, EVIL sometimes attends
lts use, 50 does good. II evil Is wrought
win money that Is another thing.
Think OF the immense amount Of good
that IS done by the proper use Of mon
cyl The great enterprises IN which so
many millions Of our fellow creatures
find employment, are founded and car
rled on with money. without II scarce
" anything can be accomplished In
these times, when a circulating medium
Is essential 10 the interchange Of
products end manufactures, and every
kind Of commercial relation entered IN
10 between men and nations. II Is true
that some men and women may be
bought with money and induced to per-
form acts that are reprehenslble. but
there Is no power for good that cannot
be turned 10 evil. The wrong. however
IL not In the instrument but In the In
diwdual or individuals that use Il with
improper motive
But. IL may be asked, does not the
Scripture say that money is the root OF
all eyll2 No, It does not, II says:
The love OF money Is the root Of all
evil" Il Tim, vi. l0) That Is true as
sertion. Covetousness, the inordinate
desire for wealth, the craving after
riches. IS the demoralizlng appetite
which urges mortals 20 sin and lnfamy.
II Is that which Is 20 be condemned II
"a because Of II that II Is hard for a
rich man to enter the kingdom Of hea-
ven" Lust after money increases often
with its accumulation. until the soul
Of the aggrandizer is warped
and saturated with the unholy desire.
10 the stunning II not extinction Of the
higher qualities OF the spiritual nature.
and the shutting out Of those influences
which lead TO things above.
But It does not follow that the ac-
QUESTION or inheritance Of money must
80 possess or deteriorate the possessor.
On the contrary. It may and often does
place IN his hands the power 10 accom-
plish great things both for himself ana
his fellows lie may build a mill a
factory, n railroad. or other beneficial
thing by which his fellow creatures
may obtain a livelihood. He may
found a college, a hospital. an asylum.
a public library, an art museum "a
home for the INDECENT, the orphan. the
distressed. He may aid struggling
humanity TO LIT itself out OF the
sloughs Of misery and despair. He
may scatter seeds OF kindness by It's use
which viii bring forth fruits Of Soy and
flowers Of prosperity in generations ia
come.
Despise not wealth. Decry no,
money. No one loves poverty: Il As
not desirable In any sense. Grear
wealth means great possibilities 10 d.
good or evil. Money itself contains n,
element OF sin. IL Is BY the right OF
wrSng use Of II that those who posses,
It are tested among men and belor.
heaven. Riches fairly gained an,
rightfuuy used are blessing. tn.
love Of money and It's perverslon, foru
the evil against which mankind ar,
Warued