The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-21
OUR BUSINESS SYSTEM.

Mr.. Editor: It has been now two
weeks since I asked the question,
"How can man serve God and do
business under our present business
system at the same timer There has
been no response in words, but there
has been response of silence, more .
significant than many words would |
have been. Now, sir, ask little |
space in your columns to reply to some
of the suggestions that the silence |
brings to my mind. Shortly after DR.. |
- became pastor of one of the |
leading churches of this city, I called |
at his study to make his acquaintance. |
During our conversation, asked the
DR.. how a man could do business and
serve God at the same tire. The DIR.
looked quite surprised for moment,
as though he did not know what
answer to make. Presently he turned
towards me and said. "Will you kneel
down here with me and let me pray
for your" I was not conscious at the
time that 1 stood in any particular
need of the DR.. g intercession in my
behalf, but out of courtesy to the DR..
I readily consented The DR.. made a
The purport if it was that the Lord
would illuminate my blinded under
standing to that degree that [ would
not ask such foolish questions. Now
it is no doubt true that the large ma
jority Of protesting Christians con-
slider my question as foolish question
and one that is not worthy of consider
alton. For the benefit of all such, [
will give the views of few men who
have asked tie question, Chow can
man serve God and do business at
the same timer" One of the editors
and proprietors of the UNCONVENTIONAL
paper of the Baptist church, l asked
how the theological teachers, writer's
and those that had the public ear
reconciled our present business system
with the teaching Of Christ. His
answer was: "They do not reconcile
it at all. They do not try to reconcile
it. They simply ignore it, say
nothing about it and let it go at
that. :" Dean somebody, l do not
recollect his name. he is connected with
the university of Chicago-the theo-
logical department-his business is to
prepare young men TO preach the
I 10 hna t,,r hry dc
of preachers. When l asked him the
question he said, "That is hard
thing to do, but think it can be done.
l know one man that 1 think is doing
business on Christian principles. He
is carriage merchant
Some time ago pastor from one Of
the largest churches in Minneapolis
was helping a pastor in this city il
revival meetings. I asked him the
question. He said: "That is HARD
thing to do, but l think it can be done.
1 have two members of my church
who 1 think are doing business Oh
Christian principles. They are two
tailors. >" Not long ago there was ar
evangelist holding revival meetings
in this city. The first night he told
something about himself. He had
been at the head of several theological
institutions in different states. There
had several hundred young men fitted
to preach the gospel under his instruc
ton, and he had worked as al
evangelist for many years, and he haC
been the instrument under God G.
bring many Thousand souls to Christ
, A few days after that asked hin
the question. He answered: "rha
is hard thing to do. think know
! one man that is doing business o
+ Christian principles - l suppose
good many of the business men of thi
;, city remember the evangelist Muir
hall who held meetings in the Presby
= terian church few years ago. Whe
l asked him how man could do bust
ness and serve God at the same time
he answered: "It can't be done.
Now, did Mr.. Munhall tell the trut
when he said it can't be done2 If b
D did J., that accounts for the silenc
maintained in regard TO my question
If a thing cannot be done, then {
;. course no one can tell ho'
to do it. But there are just as goo
people as those mentioned above VIII
8 hold different view of the question
q Dr. Ford of the Owatonna universit
y sees nothing in the way of Christia
Is doing business under our present bus
% ness system. President Cooper thinl
D. the same. S. D. Works thinks tt
. same. Mr.. Funk thinks it a hal
!, thing to do, but thinks it can be don
:. Now these men are practical busine
% men and they are also teachers of I'll
gospel. Surely they ought to be alb
o to show US plain path that we Ca
d follow according to the teaching
70 Christ in regard to business.
. D. A. THAYER.