Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-09-07
Calnnase
Sermon
By Rev.
frank De Witt Talmasc, ID. d.

Il
Los Angeles, Cal, Sept. 1.-The temp
tations. burdens and responsibilities OF
great wealth form the theme OF this
timely sermon. the text for which is
taken from Ecclesiastes ". 10. He that
loveth silver shall not be satisfied with
silver, nor he that ioyeth abundance
with increase"
i have no sympathy with the dema-
gogues who are trying to antagonize
the masses against the classes have
utter contempt for the false agitators
who preach the Infamous doctrine that
every person who dresses In broadclosh
or in silk Is an enemy OF his race, and
that the insignia of all human .perfec-
tons can only be found In the laborer's
soiled garments and In the futtering
rags of filthy. unkemp tramp. The
outward appearance Of man does not
always portray his true character.
Thus we find some OF the blacklist
sheep feeding among the iocSs brows-
Ing in all pasture lands. The wealth of
man or the poverty OF man cannot
be used as criterion by which to Judge
whether the nature Of that man Is pure
or impure. There have been many rich
men with true hearts and noble i'm
pulses. men OF simple lives and benefi-
cent deeds. The world remembers with
reverence such men as Sir Moses
Montefore, whose life was consecrated
to charity; Baron Hirsch, who built and
endowed homes for the shelter Of per-
secuted Jews: Peter Cooper whose
splendid institution Is still developing
the genius OF the poor. and William E.
Dodge, whose benefactions extended to
the poor and struggling. OF his day.
Who would dream OF placing the por-
traits Of Robert Morris and Jay Cooke
In the rogues' gallery, The patrietie
banker who risked his fortune in the
support Of Washington and the million
aire who stood by the side OF Secretary
Chase during the darkest days Of the
civil war Were true patriots. Robert
Morris money and Jay Cookies money
were just as essential to American lib
critics as were the soldiers who carried
the muskets and fired the cannon
All palaces are not the walled in cas-
ties of buccaneers and thieves. I go
further than this. 1 assert and have
right to assert this from the highest
socialistic standards that men OF cap
ital are as necessary to the develop
ment OF the country and to the success
OF Tn enterprise as are men OF muscle
and brains. 1t is unadulterated nom
sense to say that the capital of this
country rests entirely In the brain and
muscles OF laborers aud the mechan-
les. The iaborers and tho mechanics
of this country could accomplish very
little for the true development Of this
county were II not organized and d.
rected by skilled engineers and by the
resources OF money. Some time ago 1
walked through miles and miles of
sagebrush and OF desert. This desert
extends from San Bernardino TO Eta
wanda. In all that desert there were
not any living creatures but snakes, q
few birds and leaplng jack rabbits.
Then / climbed the San Bernardino
mountains and travelled into those
hills for many miles. There I came to
where the engineers and the ina nciers
were building great dam which
would collect all the waters from an
Immense area OF land into one great
lake What are you going TO do with
this water?" 1 asked the chief engi-
neer. AFTER we collect the water
said he, 1--WE are going to send it by
tunnels under the mountains. where II
Will be scattered over the arid lands,
extending between Eta wanda and
San Demanding apd that ,,water svill.
make that desert blossom as the rose"
Do you mean 10 tell me that the igno-
rant Mexican laborers who were dig,
ging the tunnels and erecting the dana
OF Little Bear valley coul1 work tkak
miracle without the plauria3e OF sltise,l3
engineers and tho Reimbursement OF
capital, any more than jeapitkI could
make that reservoir wtthevt the CO.
operation Of labor. Oh yes, even In
the widest dreams Of the disseminated
classes there must be demarcations be.
tween man and man. There Is a place
for capital ~ well. 1Capifai4and labor
are two strong arns OF the social body.
Their two hands must Hft together and
work together and live together and
die together. -t-e
A Pebble Trust
But It makes q great deal of differ
ence whether the capitalist looks upon
his fortune as public trust or whether
he plots to make money and 70 squeeze
the last dollar he can out OF his suffer
Ing employees. 1t makes great deal
OF difference whether capitalists are
living for others or whether they be-
lieve that God has selected them as
his special favorites and. expects oil
those with whom they come 10 contact
TO live for their benefit. And yet that
Is the way many OF our moneyed Do
fentates act. They squeeze, they gouge.
they do everything which. as misers,
they can TO hoard their gold. Aud the
strange fact is the more they gee tie
more they want and the mOre.theys are.
dissatisfied with what they have Ec-
ciesiastes well DISORDER the Unsuitable
spirit Of some money seekers who are
about us when be says He thatloyeth
silver shall not be satisfied, with sill.
yer, nor he that loveth abundance with
Increase" rfc~rg-s, .s.s
In the first place, I learn from this
text that when a man makes money his
idol he il incapable OF loving Christ.
The two loves are antagonistio. They
are In mortal combat. They can no
more, live together than q dove cos.d
nest with buzzard or the light and
the darkness could together fill the
same room. The love Of silver IL from
the devil The love Of Christ In of
God. The Bible distinctly says it. eye
cannot serve God and Mammon." Ya.
cannot serve two masters, For either