The Irish standard., 1904-03-05

belongs to others. The man who
makes light Of paying his debts will
make light Of other obligations. There
is nothing that pains man of good
principles more than to find his wife
wasteful and extravaganza, and letting
bills overdue run on for months.
There is streak of dishonor in the
makeup of people who owe debts all
around. while they spend their money
for other purposes. So many people
nowadays are in the habit OF living
beyond their means, at the expense of
Others, that religion is constantly
brought into odiuln. \ so-called
Christian who culpabl. 2 fuses to pay
| his debts is a constant scandal to the
Church and to all around him. Patch
es and old clothes are honorable when
the wearer can face the world and
| say: They are my own; owe no man
anything" No matter how fine the
Dress no matter how brilliant the ac-
complishments of men and women,
both wear the badge of disgrace in the
eyes of all right thinking people if
they refuse to pay their just debts
There are two classes who iniure
others. First, those who defer from
time to time the payment of debts
overdue and thereby cause disappoint-
ments and losses to their creditors.
When requests are made for the paw
ment of debts long due TRADE of
virulent abuse is frequently the only
response the indulgent creditor gets.
If storekeepers, owners of houses, doc
tors, undertakers, newspaper men,
dressnakers, tailors and others were
asked: 'Are your bills paid promptly
according to agreements" must they
not answer: Our books show many
debts months and even years overdue.
Some who owe us old debts deal in
other places. They become indignant
If we ask payment of our accounts.
Others who owed us bills moved
away without even calling to see
u.s." People get indignant and
abusive when asked to pay their
just debts long overdue! Is not
such conduct reprehensible and I'M
Christian? If such people call them
selves Christians, how great the odium
and disgrace their dishonesty heaps on
the Church! There is another class
who contract debts without any inten-
ton of paying them. They go from
one store to another, getting credit as
long as they can; they borrow money
from this one and that one; they owe
bills here and there and pass their
creditors by as if they did not owe
cent. The thief takes your property
stealthily and carries it away. This
class cooily asks you to give up your
goods and deliver them, too, What
disgrace to the Church if such dishon-
est people call themselves Christians!
Who does greater injury on COM
munity than the so-called Christian
who culpably refuses to pay his debts?
Never do to others what you would
not wish to have done to yourself.
Observe this divine law when buying,
borrowing, trading and paying your
bills. BE strictly honest and prompt
in paying your debts, no matter what
others do. Let your rule of business
hn (SnI'S low
secures esteem and confidence. Dis
honesty brings evils sooner or later.
Debts must be paid or all hope of
salvation Abandoned. Tears of re-
pentence are unavailing unless all law
full debts are paid. ST. Augustine
says: mo sin is forgiven until You
have restored what you appropriated
fraudulently." Our Lord declares:
1.-The unjust shall not possess the
kingdom of God" q. Cor. vi, 81 The
conscientious Christian breads the
least sin of dishonesty. Shun foolish
expenses, live. within your income and
don't contract debts that YOU can have
no hope of paying when due. In near
ly every instance of people who owe
debts here and there and do not pay
them, mismanagcmcnt, spendthrift
habits. living beyond their means. or
Incidence is largely the cause. Hun
dreds of people have the same work.
receive about the same wages derive
the same income from business and
vet meet their obligations promptly.
Where there is IL will to be honest
there is Il way to be honest.