Evening star., 1905-09-18
DEPENDS UPON USE
MONEY NOT TAINTED IF PROPER
LY EMPLOYED.
Rev. r. p. Williams Discusses This
Theme and Also Age Limits
and Efficiency.


mons preached yesterday by Rev. r. P.
Williams, rector of Trinity Episcopal
Church. at Sd street and Indiana avenue.
In handling the first subject DR.. Williams
declared that wealth becomes what its pos
SCISSOR makes 1t, an influence either for
good or bad. When used for good pur-
poses. even IL 1t has been acquired in un-
satisfactory ways. money, according to the
pastor, is not tainted" and In his opin-
ion should be accepted by religious or edu-
cational institutions. In defense of this
attitude, he said:
Public opinion is quickly aroused to as
sert itself, If some prominent person gives
tremendous publicity to the rejection Of
what Ia called tainted money and con-
demns with the customary vigor Of public
opinion the holder Of such so-called tainted
money, without knowing anything what
ever about the questions involved in such
at once, or even after long deliberation.
what Is tainted money What method of
becoming rich is wrong outside the we'll
known methods of the hghwayman, the
pirate and the petty thief?''
Without Distinctive Character.
From the foregoing the speaker led to
one Of the chief points OF his sermon. that
money itself has no character for good or
bad, any more than any other inanimate
thing, but that, on the contrary, money
gained in questionable ways can very read
fly be employed for uses beneficial to man.
He declared:
'The considerations which 1 have placed
before you would seem to indicate that
there Is no moral value to money. 1t be-
comes what people make 1t. And very
often money which is accumulated in a
very unsatisfactory manner, becomes, when
properly applied, a source of inestmable
blessing. 1t Is not necessary to enter into
discussion of this truism which has been
considerably obscured of late. Many of the
great cathedrals owe their foundation to
/ the gifts of men who gathered their wealth
by most ungodly conduct.
Barons and other middle-age robbers
transferred their fll-gotten gains the fruit
Of oppression and tyranny, to the priests,
hoping that they might in future escape
the penalty of their brigandage. And hos
pitfalls and schools. which have for long
years been scattering countless bless. ngS
throughout the human race, have owed
their origin to the newly awakened desire
of dishonest men to leave some good in the
world before their decease.
" 'Honi soft Qui mai pense' might be
borne in mind by those VINO scent some
contamination to the church, If some one
astonishes the authorities by an unexpected
oner OF financial aid And far more harm
Is done to the cause Of true religion by the
widespread publication of refusals of gifts
than by quietly accepting them and sancti-
flying them to the service of Aim .ghty God.
by adopting the course, Dy re-
naming silent as to the giver. we may be
the means Of bringing him to better mind,
II he needs one. We do not know If God
himself has not inspired the donor with bet
ter thoughts and aspirations. This may be
the time when quiet reception of what may
be peace offering will touch the soul OF a
hardened sinner and make him feel SO good
that all he had made by wrong-doing will
be turned into channels to neutralize the
pernicious effects of former sin.
"1f on the contrary, we are going to con-
stitute ourselves inquisitors as to the origin
Of all the money which comes into the
undertaken an impossible task. the result
Of which can only develop hypocrites."
Custom Deplored.
In discussing the subject "Age Limits and
Efficiency DR.. Williams said that there is
tendency, particularly in the government
departments, to discharge employees who
have passed a certain age. regardless of
their individual efficiency. This he dep,ored.
"A great many men, said he, do not
reach their full efficiency until after forty.
/ might mention a number of great men
they had passed. the age of forty most
notable of which were Gladstone Bishop
Creighton of London and Archbishop Tenn
pie of Canterbury. The notion that because
a man has failed to get rich, to make for
tune, by forty, he is that account a
failure, Is not just, and works hardship
on those who are more efficient at fifty than
at twenty-five. 1t will not do to draw any
hard and fast line of this sort, for while
young men deserve chance in this world,
there are some rights to which the old are
alc led