The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-11-21
REV. DR. NEWMAN SMITH
ON ''A THANKSGIVING TEST FOR THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES"

or be Destroyed as They Fulhin or
 Defy the Divine Law. ...
 The following is an abstract of Rev. Dr.. smyth's sermon at Center church yesterday morning on "A Thanksgiving test for the privileged classes" from the text, Genesis xii, 2: And I will bless the and be thou a bless ing"
 Three things mark the beginning of Abraham's career; he received the promise of a blessing, he built an altar to the Lord, and then he went on and did things. A promised blessing, a profound sense of dependence upon a higher power, and then achievement. Abraham" he read, ''journeyed. going on still towards the south" I speak this morning of the first of these three. Observe that there was given him law of blessing. He could be blest only as he became blessing. Divine blessings are not scattered with acci-. dental prodigaiity; Gods law blossoms into blessing. This condition of being prosperous is simple, as the law of gravitation may prove to be, and 1t is as universal. No, privilege. power, or 1 dynasty can escape it. No privilege of the few can last unless it becomes also the blessing of the many. Whenever any power or inheritance becomes an oppressive wrong, history knows of but one alternative; sooner or later, either reform or revolution. Men may be l R4 Tas,s s,F Ia when fulfilments of it are hastening on. Among many historic illustrations of this was cited the university life of Bordeau in Gaul in the last century of the western empire In land of vlne- yards, yellow corn fields, palatial coun- try residences and peace, the scholars In that famous school of rhetoric in all their letters and literature give no hint or sign of apprehension of "those dim hordes, already mastering for the ad- vance, who within twenty years would be established on the banks of the Sa- rome"
 This fundamental law, which 1t is . moral surprise to find, revealed at tho beginning of so ancient history, cannot fail. No prosperity of man can endure unless it become itself a blessing.
 Passing to the applications of this law of blessing Dr. Smyth declared that 1t holds true broadly and general fly for every institution, vested interest or protected property which any man or class of men may possess. He said: I shall pass by without discussion here, or expression Of personal opinion, the applications, which may at once sug- Igest themselves to me, of this divine principle or prosperity to governmental lpolicies, or to corporations. Its econ on1ic or political applications may re- quire to be made by men Of special studies or of large practical business experience; but it is the high prophetic obligation of the pulpit to affirm this divine law of prosperity before all these interests; it is Fan authoritative moral law for your political programmes, your corporations and banks, your trusts and your tariffs. judge none of these, but by this work of the living God challenge them all. They are good or bad corporations. trusts, tariffs, they are to abide or to be destroyed, as they fulfll Or defy this divine law, as you shall be blest only as you be- come a blessing. Dr. Smyth remarked in passing that he was not holding up any socialistic fear; we cannot hope to frighten men into honest ways merely by putting up scarecrows in the fields; the fundamental unit of all social we'll being Is the righteousness and efficien- cy of the individual man: any schemes of reform, practical or visionary, may be tested by Carlyle's sarcastic conun- drum which he put to the enocoinists: Given a community of fools and knaves how to produce efficiency and honesty by their combination?' But every inheritance or institution shall be searched and judged by this clear prin- ciple of blessing. It is time to proclaim it with fearless persistency from the pulpit.
 pr. Smyth dwelt upon the application of it as the ultimate test for any indi, vidual career. Abraham prospered be- cause he greeted this promise and kept this charge. No man can ultimately prosper in any other way. He cannot be personally and forever successful
 unless he makes his success boon tc others.
 As Gods heavens above are honest l as this is Gods world and not the devils world; as there must be beneath some place or process In which mer shall receive what they ought to re. ceive for their deeds; so sure is 1t thai no man can be finally and forever bless. ed who has not first himself become q blessing. This searching principle ap. plies minutely; microscopically even tc everything within us, or which per, sonally may be ours; it is moral law fol the possession of your homes, youl books, your pictures, your faculties ant , talents, for skill of hand, music oi voice, even for a beautiful face. That may be 8 blessing to the possessor ot 1t only as through it there shines fortt for others this transf1guring light. A human reason, turned in upon itself may become as dark cave, haunted by abysmal doubts. Or mind dwell. l ing habitually in itself may be as "a closet filled with stuffy memories. A heart living upon itself may become tc itself as consuming fire. A mans fortune may be made the sepulchre O.
 his soul.
 Dr. Smyth remarked that he hat been dwelling upon the more punitive aspects of this eternal principle ot blessing; but he turned to the preciou,