Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-29
TAINTED MONEY

This subject has been under discus
sion by the Christian people from the
lowest layman to the foremost thinker
of the day, and seems about covered
in all it's phases. By Tainted
Money" it is understood to be that
money or wealth accumulated by dis
honest methods from the standpoint
OF Christian principles. And the is
sue is; whether or not Christian Or
CARNATIONS should accept any portion
of it for use in carrying on Christian
work or for the support of Missions.
1t seems from positions taken by the
different preachers of the Gospel that
those who have been considered mar
row in their views and very orthodox
are assembled on the side of accep-
lance of any and all gifts of money
from whatsoever source; and those
broad thinkers who have posed before
the world as liberal in their creeds
have taken the stand against the &C
ceptance of those gifts of money that
come from individuals who through
this grinding method of business. that
partakes of dishonesty and corruption,
have made great accumulatiOnS of
wealth. The attitude assumed to-
ward this question by the great div
iSions in the Christian world 1.-THE
narrowiStS'' and 1.-THE LiberatiStS'
seems to the writer very inconsistent.
When we think of preacher being
very orthodox and narrow in his views
we would believe him to be opposed to
the acceptance of any assistance in his
work that smacks the least of corrup-
tiOn or dishonesty; while on the other
hand we would expect of the liberal,
so called broad minded non-orthodox
preacher to overlook the source.
Now this discussion does not refer
at all to the actual money itself but
rather to the manner in which it was
obtained by the giver. If we look
deep into the methods used to accumu-
late even meager salary we find them
filled with dishonesty and corruption.
The average laboring man who hires
out for $3.50 per day and fails to per-
form fair days work is just as guilty
of dishonesty and corruption as the
man who through his methods of close
business energy and push has accum
ulated his millions. II this be true,
as many can yeuch it is; then to whom
and from what source are we to look
for the soppOrt and maintenance of
our Christian work and who cdn stand
up and say am eligible to contribute
to that greatest of all good work
Soul saving. or the pointing out the
Better Way to life of JOY and SER
vice. If we grant that certain por-
tion of days wage or of millionair's
accumulations have been squarely or
honestly earned, which the writer be-
lieveS to be true: then all that need be
said is that the amount contributed
for the cause is that portion which
has been thus earned or accumulated.
There is another side to this question
which seems to have been sorely neg
lected ia the arguments as put forth
by both the eSItending parties.
If we are Christian believers we
must concede that every possession of
any nature whatsoever comes from
God and belongs to God, and is held
by US finite beings in trust only, and
we will on that great day when the
"Bo0kS and Books shall be opened, be
held accountable for our use of it;
Then when men of wealth tell the
story of how they desired out of the
better nature that was in them to
place some of this wealth ia the hands
of Gods laborers for use in the spread
ing of good tidings of the Risen Christ
and assist in relieving the .poor and
distressed, and that it was scoffed at
and refused, who then shall be held
accountable for the work that was not
done or the missionaries that were
not sent because the necessary money
was not on hand. We find also that it
is psychological fact that It is "More
blessed to give than receive" and if
the wealthy are cut off from giving to
organizations that are laboring to
benefit mankind and are thereby cut
off from receiving q blessing from an
inner thought that they have ds-
sisted Gods work and are for the tiRe
being at least. raised to higher and
nobler thought OF life and its priyi-
leges, who then would like to be held
responsible for having SO barred them?
There is false notion prevailing
among people of all walks of life that
the acceptance of gift Of money by a
Christian organization from one who
has received it by dishonest methods
influences in some unforeseen way the
relationship between the giver and
God, and that taaey are in way buy
ing forgiveness OF sin. We should
disabuse our minds OF that idea.
Daniel Webster once said THAI the
greatest thought that he ever had was
AHis personal responsibility to the |
Almighty God" and this responsibility
Is ia nc way affected by mere money
contributions; although it is reason
able to believe that they Will receive |