The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-16
BUSINESS AND
 RELIGIOUS LIFE The Rev. Or, Curry Explains the Relationship Between the Two ONE HELPFUL 10 THE OTHER Disputes the Prevailing Opinion That an Up-to-Date Successful BusI-
 ness Man Cannot be Very
 Religious.
ONE HELPFUL 10 THE OTHER

Lord"
 pr. Curry held that legitimate business was in no way antagonistic to religion and that a man could serve the Lord in honestly selling goods over counter better, perhaps, than he could by shutting himself up in a monastery.
 There is an opinion prevalent" said l Dr. Curry. that a man cannot be thor oughly and earnestly religious and at the same time emnently successful in business Men say strict religious prin- ciples cannot be carried successfully into modern business; competition is so close l there are so many deceptions. so many tricks of trade that the business man who does not fall Into line will be left behind, if he does not go down in the | fierce commercial struggle.
 "On the other hand the same class Of persons maintain that an up-to-date, sue cessful business man cannot be very reii- gious. Hence arose the old notion that 1 if a man would be really holy he must separate himself from all secular busi- ness, as 1t was called; hence the religious hermit, the anchorite, the monk and the nun. But God joints the two closely to- gether. Not slothful in business. fer vent in Spirit serving the Lord" The lesson is this, In Gods plan, religion al business intermingle and are mu tually helpful to each other.
 Helpful to Business.
 Business is Helpful to Religion in the individual, because 1t gives opportunity for the exercise of the graces of religion, It developes character brings into play patience, charity, faith sympathy. for bearance, hope, love. Thus 1t keeps one from idleness, which is the devils oppor- tunty. It is as true now as in the days of pr. Matts: Satin finds some mis- chief still, for idle hands to do."
 Did you ever know a good, practical, earnest religious person, who never had a business whose life was spent In idle ness? On the other hand, If you would reform an outcast, sunk in sin, among other things, you must give him employ ment; you cannot reform him in idleness. When God created man sinless and holy, He gave him work to do; He put him in garden to dress and to keep it. If Adam needed business for his highest happi- ness, how much more we of today7 Not that business alone will make a man good but he will be a better man with than without It. When the working man loses his work or ceases his work, it Is a critical test of his character, test which many fail to stand. When men become so rich they need not to follow busi- ness, and relapse into an idle life. their morals are In danger; sin, in the form of pride, luxury and vice. 'lieth at the door. David dld not fall into his great sin till he had quit his business as a warrior and was living in luxury and idleness In an age in England, when great loose- ness of morals prevailed among the mo- bility Bishop Burnet writes: As for the men of trade and business, they are generally speaking, the best body in the nation; generous sober, charitable.' And so God says to us: Not slothful in busr- ness.' because He desires our spiritual weil-being.
 Again, business is helpful to religion in the church at large. It furnishes the means to support the ordinances of reli- zion and to propagate it. Religion must have business men and busy women, just as truly as 1t must have preachers and teachers and evangelists, A man may not be called to preach or be able to conduct a prayer meeting, but he may be called to run a successful business for God. A New England merchant wanted to preach and consulted his pastor about It. The latter said to him: Go back to your store an be a christian over your counter. Sell goods for Christ, and let 1t be seen that a man can be chris tian in trade" He did so, and became more useful than he would have been as a preacher.
 In the first place, it keeps a man out of bad business. Some kinds of business are hateful to God and hurtful to men. They are very tempting, because often there is much money in them. But the curse of God and of ruined souls Is on htose businesses and those who run them. It is a pity for a man, a valuable man, to go into them. Religion will keep him out. I knew a man who for years kept sa- loon. He gave 1t up and became church member. Times went hard with him. An old saloon friend offered him s5OOO a year to go into that business with him again. He refused: it was his relig- ion that saved him.
 Makes Business Good.
 Religion keeps a good man from con- ducting a good business in bad way. business in itself good may become bad by reason of its methods and results. Bad principles and practices may come Into it. merchant may deceive his customers and make his clerks work on Sunday and do 1t himself An artisan may do shoddy work; professional man may resort to trickery; a railroad com pany may trample Gods Sunday law un- der foot, not out of benevolence to the public but simply for the money 1t may bring; a great corporation may oppress and wrong other men, and grind the faces of the poor, while the latter try to hit back and thus produce strikes and la bor troubles.
 "Now, religion. not mere church mem- bership, but true heart religion, that makes a man like Jesus Christ, would remedy all this. For 1t says to the mer- chant. the artisan.the lawyer, the doc- tor. the minister, the railroad company. the corporation, the labor union, to all: Love your neighbor as yourself Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' The religion of Jesus Christ is the hope of the business world, for it alone can properly regulate business.
 Religion inculcates those qualities which bring success in business, for ex- ample, honesty, diligence. industry. econ omy, perseverance. Religion requires these and inspires them and they lead to business success.
 Should Not Conflict.