Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-02-04
el eialism = found in a wrong emphasis.

wealth Is good fairly won and nobly used
that is the root Of -al evil. Business !:
good. commerce is good and necessary, in-
dustrlalism is good and brings forth .
goodly progeny OF virtues; zeal, activity.
perseverance, cleverness in affairs, are all
praiseworthy.. Material success is desir-
able. The blessing of the Lord it maketh
rich.'' Yes, but to put these things first.
TO rush after them so eagerly as to forget
other and higher things, in word, to sink
IN them ones life with it's possibilities OF
growth and beauty and usefulness, that is
to have caught the spirit Of the CONNER
clalism OF the day and the age.
Who can look abroad without seeing
how this spirit tends to invade and even
to dominate every sphere of human activ-
ity. We read of commercialism in politics.
in art, in literature, in education, in the So
cal world; even in religion, and though we
we have fairly clear idea of what Is
meant. The place holder In nation or city
or State whose main thought is what he
can make and not what he can do; the art
lst who listens not to the voice of his ideals
but to the bids of the market, and paints
or earves simply for the money to be got;s
the author who writes simply what will
sell and forgets the truth for which he
ought to stand and the service in the way
OF instruction, or comfort, or amusement
which he might minister to his fellows, is
II.
has crept even into our universities, tempt
ing boards Of trustees and faculties to bow
too subsequently to those who can furnish
endowments, tempting the young man to
turn from courses that cultivate the mind
to those which prepare for business. Our
more Of pieces which will draw than of
those which will elevate as we'll as amuse
and recreate those who see and hear
Yea, it is conceivable that even the
cnurch may not escape The ministry
that sets gain above usefulness has caught
the contagion. Put me into the priesthood
that may eat piece Of bread!" So cried
one of old. The very thought was desc
Grafton. The ministry that is sought for
the sake Of ':the pieces Of bread for live
hhood, whether it be large or small, is =
ministry not to God, not to those among
holds it. The clergy who are in orders
chiefly for what they can win in the way
| Of comfort. or respectability or income are
| unfit for their place They serve not God
or their fellows, but themselves. And SO
| the church whose chief aim is large pew
| getting the while that the Masters boast
was that to the poor the gospel was
| preached, is tarred with the same stick.
| Yes, commercialism is in the air. It is
! the splrlt~that now works-that stealthily
penetrates every denartment of modern ac-
1
dominant motive There is no line of work,
| no business, no profession safe against lts
insldious influence. It invades law and
medicine, even divinity, as we have seen.
It is felt in halls of legislation and seats Of
government. Yea, It pervades even so:
ring and the large bank account more po--
tent to open doors than gentle birth and
| fine breeding.
How are wg tn resist this influences
cape this spirit? just as we resist the con-
tagion of an epidemic, the depression of a
malaria, by fortifying the powers Of life.
A man in whom the tide of life is full and
strong will walk unscathed through the
plague laden air. The health that is in
him resists the disease that rushes upon
him. The bacteria that floats into throat
or lung. or stomach finds no indus and
dies. It must be thus, then, that we es-
cape the spiritual danger. Fortify the life
within. Remember that life is more than
meat; that the kingdom of God and His
righteousness are infinitely worthy of our
seeking. Do not forget the possibilities OF
your life, what you can make of it in the
way Of growth, what you can make of it in
the way of usefulness. Keep your eye on
the Master In Him see what you may be
in Him see what you may do. Yea, not
only keep your eye on Him, but keep in
living touch with Him, that the tides Of
His life may flow into your soul, and carry
you on and up to the measure Of the stat
ure of the perfect man in Christ Jesus.
Finally, my brethren, whatsoever thingi
are honest - whatsoever things are just
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are o
good report, think on these things" Turr
your thought and your eyes away from ths
dazzling bait of the age. Escape it's snare
Seek first the kingdom Of God. Determin,
to be man, mentally, morally, spiritually
determine to be brother to your fellow
man, and do for him brothers part; de
termine to be a child of the heavenly
Il Father and obey His will, so far as yo,
know it; resolve that in you the splendid
, possibilities hidden in the gift of life shal
be realized, and you shall have Learned
how to use this world without abusing it
> Then commerce. business, success shal
! minister to you but not enslave you; shall
: embellish your life but not absorb it; shall
! bring you, perchance, an abundance. Q
things to possess, but leave the whil
a strong and pure within you the life o
q God. Then shall you an very deed posses
the abundance of the things which ar
| yours. Let them once get the bettlf o
you, climb into the throne of your hear
:. and life. and then they possess you ant
> you are their slave and their victim; naile.
and incoffined in your own strong bo,
which has, alas, with your treasure, shu
: in your soul also. -
c| The Poor Mans Day.