Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-01
Is Life Insurance Rigbt ?
1CYTgVS191lSJC2JrSeJCSS
bitter woes of poverty"
= CD r
40 vs.
BERGSTROM
BERLIN, WISCONSIN, RECENTLY.
FROM BERLIN COURANTl

Beecher spoke not word in Opposi-
tion to the Bible which he so etfec-
lively preached for long period OF
years. He simply enunciated, with
pliiication. the words of greater
teacher than himself, which says:
"fIe that provided not for his own,
and especially those of his own
household is worse than an iniidel'
How true the language of DR.. Talm-
age, when he declares: after the
certificate of death has been made
out, and the officer of the life insur-
ance company comes into the beretit
household and pays down the hard
cash on an insurance policy, that
officer of the company is performing
a positively religious rite, according
to the Apostle James, who says:
pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father is this--to visit
the fatherless and the widows in their
af1liction:"
The fact that the leaders Of indus
trial enterprises invest in life insur-
ance is testimony to the monetary
value of it not TO be despised Hon.
John Wanamaker, the merchant
prince, and man OF recognized
Christian character, is one of the larg-
est life insurers in America, carrying
sixty-two policies. SO strong was
:. nf in Of T.
that at one time he gave every
man in his employ policy, paid for
one year, as Christmas present. 1t
is interesting to note the reasons OF
a man with such rare business Judge
ment as Mr.. anamaker for inSur-
ing himself so heavily. He says: 81
simply worked out five conclusions
as the result of my own thinking,
without any moving cause except
my own Judgement. Ffrst-That at
that time | knew | was inSurable,
and | could not be certain of immu-
nifty from accident or ill-health, and
it might be that at some future time
/ would not be insurable. That was
the first step to the building of sixty
two policies. Second That Life In
surance was one of the best forms OF
investment, because from the mo-
ment it was made it was good for all
it cost and carried with it a guaran-
tee that there was protection in that
investment that / could not get in
any other Third-That Life 1nsur-
ance in the long run was a saving
fund, that not only saved, but took
average care OF my deposits and
took me in partnership into possible
profits, that not infrequently return
ed principal and interest and profit.
Fourth-That Life Insurance regard
ed from the standpoint of quick de-
termination, was more profitable
than any other investment | could
make. Fifth That it enabled a
man to give away all he wished dur
ing his lifetime and still make such
an estate as he cared to leave"
Frank Hutchinson Peavey, known
as the Elevator King" carried no
less than sl,025, ,OO9 life insurance.
Some one may suggest that those
men were differently situated from
most men in that they had large
business interest to protect. | want
to say that no business interest of
whatever magnitude is for moment
to be compared to the comfort and
of those whom a man is
by duty and solemn oath bound to
love, cherish and protect. If you
ask me for my strongest argument
why you ought to insure your life, |
point not to your business, but to
your dependent wife, child, mother,
who, if unprovided for after your
decease, will have to grind out the
remaining years of their existence at
hard labor for the bread that perish
eth, or live in humiliation upon the
charity of friends, or 'go over the
hill to the poor house"
There are other reasons, such as
a mortgaged farm or house, the pro-
lection of creditors, protection in
old age, education fund for your
boys and girls.
Aside from all this, life insurance
benefits the man himself, making
him economical, methodical and
frugal iii his expenditure; it will cur.
tail many unnecessary indulgences
which would waste his means; it
has decidedly beneficient infiu-
ence upon his life; it is Of educa-
tional value to him in his business
and morals.
Let me say to the man who ex-
poets so take out his life Insurance.
Look first to the security of the com.
pany: having done this consider the
profit.
! have spoken to you of earthly
things: but / would not for nom
ent think of addressing congrega.
tion of immortal men and womer
from this pulpit upon sunday even
ing without directing your thought.
to heavenly things. That ] believe
in life-insurance is evidenced by the
fact that ] have, at the cost of pos
sible and probable criticism from