New-York tribune., 1902-01-27
VOCATION MEANS OF UPLIFTING
PROFESSOR ADLER POINTS OUT THE
POWER HELD BY EMPLOYERS
OF LABOR

Wealth getting and wealth spending IN their re-
lation to the spiritual life discussed by Pro-
fessor Felix Adler yesterday a lecture before the
Society for Ethical Culture at Carnegie Hail. en-
titled The Spiritual Life OF the Rich" The lecture
was one in series on Fundamentals OF the New
Morality. Professor Adler will end the series next
Sunday with lecture THE Spiritual Life of the
Poor
I'VE remember the story of the rich young man
who came to Jesus and asked him what he should
do In order to get saved" said Professor Adler
The great Teacher told him TO sell all that he had
give the proceeds 10 the and take up his cross
and follow Him.
IF young man came to me with the same aues-
tion my answer would be somewhat different
would say to him: 1t is not necessary for you to
give up your wealth your position will show
you way in which you can keep your wealth. stay
where you are and still lead the highest most
spiritual life' But the wealthy who will keep his
wealth and lead the highest kind OF a life must ask
himself one question: What right have got to
these privileges. this position I occupy a world so
full of misery and poverty No one can answer the
question OF the young man. imagine. without drs
having answered that question for himself"
He continued in part as follows:
You are not the intellectual class We do not
Us Ire1uertiy m said that any poor man work his
poor man IN cam 1ne ST %Grd 6 e. lies frsud No
ne De an exceptional genius. No. not what
we are because society has not as vet discovered a
system by which true merit can unfailingly work
cate? By no means. Those occupying positions OF
say, because they are necessary TO the
lnaRce OF certain functions until better and
more perfect system has been evolved But you
merely for the performance of those ftnctions Ths
acquisition of wealth must be an incident. not an
n this f9 ThsthfP gfG the employer OF labor for perform
ate share of the pro he receive Sc the
t otner question Morally speaking. don't think he
Should But there will come a change in this The
disproportionate rewards come as a result OF ex-
ceptional business capacity. executive ability and
eral through better education the disproportonats
The question is then. Shall the young man go
INTO business; shall he become employer OF
positions life can offer him there is none tha. con-
slider more hopeful. ethically. than that of a large
workingmen, for there is position which gives
none that yields larger opportunities Tor Spiritual
life in the highest sense OF that word. I define as
spiritual the life that tends 70 awaken in others the
sumbering mental and spiritual possibilities.
why should not in the future employees be brought
together and have the rules OF the factory in which
they work explained to them and discussed so that
OF Aristotle. who says that those only are free
who both direct and obey. There is nothing which
firm beliefs OF the latter age in infexbility OF
human nature and character Of the stationary
the world. The aneients believed that the world
be slave and another to be a noble and that
nothing could change this. This idea was RESPONSE
is anything which characterizes our age 1t is the
movement that has come not only into the world
but into our conception Of the world the things
In II.
When you look at the workingman, do not look
at him through the eyes OF the Brahmin or through
the eyes Of Aristotle. but look him through
modern eyes. Do not look at his blurred eyes his
dull cOuntenance his crooked and bent form as at
the hallmark of a lower order. II you were a.
bigger man than you are. with bigger heart and
a broader intellect, you could have Strengthened
that bent form and made those dull features as
clear as the monday sun. and 1T is to your ever
lasting shame that you have not done 1t.
You may perceive that / am trying to bring horns
to you distinct type Of social reform. Instead OF
fndtvtdualism. which concerns itself about the de-
velopment Of the individual the highest good IN
stead of socialism. which aims collective good
contend that IL we could come to look upon social
evolution reconstruction OF the entire scheme
OF vocatfons with the object of making each voc0r
ton a blessing to the who follows IL. -
should have accomplished our end.
am animated by the idea that the vocation of
every man should be such that il would uplift and
bless him The mistake OF social reforms up TO the
present time has been that we have sought to upft
and educate and enlighten the workingInan IN his
leisure hours after his work is done The work Itself
should be the means OF uplifting and culture
II you ask how rich man should spend hfs
wealth, would answer. Just at a banquet a
self-respecting man will take only what is seeuly
and salubrious. so at the banquet Of wealth the
sehrespecting rich will take only what is seernIy
The very rich should live he would do II he was
not very rich.