The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-01-17

truth is plainly taught in the Bible and illustrated
IN human history Could one ''change all the peb-
bles on the beach into mnted money or conure into
bank-notes all the leaves of the forest; could one
transmute the solid earth into single lump of gold
ana drop 1t into the gaping mouth OF avarice, it
would only be crumb of transient comfort cordial
drop enabling it to cry little louder, Give give"
III Is competency rather than wealth that should
actuate ones desiresin the labors and empoyments
which occupy ones time and talents Far happier
are those who are satisfied with competency those
who have never allowed the accommodating passion to
terminate i'll their hearts, those who subsist without
the convulsive effort of avarice.
Who can tell the reflex influence which it incessant-
~ eXerts upon life and character? Let the feeling
ones possess man that money answereth all
things and what is the result? 1t dispenses with
Cod 1t leads to false estimate of life 1t deter
lorates and hardens and brutaizes 1t destroys the
desire for the higher and enrolling things of life
poetry, music, art and religion. 1t STILES the i'm
pulses of the soul to Interior impressions and dries
up the springs OF sympathy. 1t degrades to the lev
ell OF the material, Tor becomes like what one
loves, and with which is habituaIly associated
Aye, 1T conducts to cunniny villiany and inhumane
treatment of ones fellowmen. 1t measures man by
the dollar mark. 1t and serves the man
with money. Scarcely any sin Is more DEGRADING
and loathsome.
Several years ago physician of reputation was
called to the bedside of old who lived in a
rural district His surroundings indicated poverty
and Strengthened circumstances. The physician en-
tered the humble abode with no little manifestation
OF embarrassment. He felt of the old mans pulse
prescribed for him and said: "There is much the
matter with you. Suppose you send for Doctor -
who lives about a mile down the road" As the ply
slclan was preparing to leave the old drew from
beneath his pillow soiled bag, filled with golden
coins and asked, 'What are your charges doctor?"
With eyes beaming with avarice, the doctor said:
Let me feel your pulse again. Ah you are a sicker
man than L thought. Take the medicine which |
have left, and will be back in the morning" Here
IS an instance in which noble profession sunk
for money Here is instance in which mans
lie was of less value than the patry dollar. Alas
the sin of mans inhumanity to for filthy lucre.
Like this physician, there lawyers who practice
Tor gain; there ministers who divine for silver;
there statesmen who gold; these are no.
BILE callings and offices which exist for service but
which are employed the instruments of personal
enrichment with all the iniquty of oppression and
defalcation and perjuries and nhumanities.
What shall be said of the needless cares and an
xietes, the wretched elfdebilitatons which follow
upon the heels of late hours and false excitements
and heart palpitatiOns fanced losses and the
wrecked families which sundered by distractions
and discontents where the heart is set principally
upon silver and gold? What shall be said of the
numbers who are actually selling their peace and
honor and soul for wealth which indeed ministers to
the lust OF the eye and the lust of the mesh and the
pride of life but which, at last ruins and consigns
the soul to that eternal existence "where the worm
dieth not and the fire is not quenched.' The fault
OF money getting is great sin. And yet poverty is
not Christian grace. 1t is not any more a virtue
to be poor than it is sin to be rich In some cases
1T is any thing else than virtue. The medium be-
tween the extremes, in which strives to get all
one can, to save all can, to give all one can for
the uplifting of mankind in their practical education
and evangeizaton, is the true course. 1t delivers
from the needless mental strain and physical agita
ton, on the one hand and from the wreckless Gala
mitous improvidence the other hand, which IS OBJ
served in providing useless luxuries and bric-a bracs
IN the fever OF unnecessary travel and costly enter
anments all of which leads to false dealing to keep
up, and which brings its sting and biting sor-
row either in public humiliation imprisonment or