The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-14
OFT TEMPTED
ARE RUINED.
DR.. E. N. Caliscl, Speaks OF the
Frequent Moral Over
strain" in Business.
APPEALS TO EMPLOYERS
Eloquent Speaker Bcgs That
They Will Not Lead Into
Temptation.

Rabbi E. n. Calsch delivered a dis
course of more than usual power and
interest at Beth Ahaba Synagogue last
night The theme was 1.-The Moral Overs
strain suggested by the text. Thou
shalt not put stumbling block before
the blind"
DR.. Calsch began by saying the title
and the theme we're given to him BY an
article in a magazine. but the thought
was so useful and practical that lie felt
no hcsitancy in making use Of 1t here
He said In part:
III building bridges or large edlfices
in which great deal Of iron or steel
is used. 1t Is part Of the engineers duty
to know how much weight each beam
or grder can stand. No competent en-
gineer or architect would place a great
or strain upon any piece of metal or
wood than 1t can endure. The resistant
strength OF steel or wood Is mathemat-
icaly known. and a builder or engineer
or architect Is held crninally liable "
he wilfuly or Willingly overstrains
beam or girder and disaster ensues.
True it is that occasionally. through
some unforeseeable contingency. hidden
defect in the material or the like. acct
dents do occur. but this fact does not
lessen the confidence of the engineer
in his mathematical formulate, nor his
care to prevent overstrain.
True it is again, that human beings
are not like dead material like wood
or metal, that thousand varying cir
cumstances and conditions enter into
the character and are the determining
factors in human conduct yet no less
true 1t is that those who are making
use Of human material in the building
or the transa ction Of n business, or Of
a commercial or industrial enterprise,
should exercise tho same care and eau
ton as does the engineer with his IN
sensible matter.
The continual tragedy OF our CONNER
cial age is the number Of lives that are
ruined and the homes that are wrecked
by thcfts. defalcations. forgeries. short
ages etc. Sometimes we are shocked.
sometimes We take 1t more philosophl-
cally when we hear OF a cashier or
booilteepcr or teller running away with
the funds Of a bank or a corporation,
or when we learn OF some clerk or mes
scnger or collector who has taken some
of his employers money
These are simply cases OF moral over
strain, OF breakdown on tho part Of
the guilty one, in the face OF tcmpta-
tion too great. or If not too great, too
often repeated. Tragic and pltiful as
arr these Instances, there Is g, deeper
patlos in them. because many, If not,
indeed, most of them. could have been
avoided, It employers would only take
the same prccaution against the moral
overstraln OF their employees ns m en-
gineer or architect does aghtast the.
physical overstrain OF his dead matcrial'
] am not the one 10 preach AGAINST
confidence in one another. or trust In
-. 90.
men. | have faith In my neighbors I
believe that the average man or wo-
man, take them they come. are hon.
est and truthful. and mean to he so.
What is more. ] believe that placing
confidence IN the integrity of any one,
putting him on his honor, will do more
to create and maintain honesty than the
closest espionage could possible effect.
But the average human being is liable
to break down under moral overstrain.
precisely as n beam that has more
weight than 1t can hear. There are
some people whose moral strength Is
proof against every temptation, some
whose moral weakness will sliccumb to
the slightest allurement. Between these
extremes is the great throng OF the aver
age man or woman who arc honest, VINO
try to remain honest, but some of whom
give way when the strain Is too great
APPEAL. TO EMPLOYERS,
"Thou shalt not put stumbling block
befort the blind ] appeal to you who
are employers, either In your business
or at home, to consider the resistant
moral strength Of your employees and |
your servants IT you conduct your es-
so that there is a constant
to your clerk Or your book.
Ilceper or your servant. SO that there Is
, continuous strain upon their moral |