Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-01

| 5:S Mark 5: 80, 81.
Texts: But if any provide not
for his own and especially for his
own household he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an unbe-
lever l Tim. G:S. For what doth
it profit man TO gain the whole
world and forfeit his life. Marks 8:
| Sc.
| This is a practical age; men are
asking themselves practical, bust
ness like questions. / do not know
to what extent men are looking to
the christian pulpit for light upon
some of these questions. Some men
consider these matters to be decided
upon the basis of personal judgment,
and altogether outside the domain OF
the counsels of the church. | do
know that some men in certain
churches are guided by their eccleSi-
astical leaders in the matter of in
surance. | am persuaded that many
their people a positive injury in for
bidding them to partake of the bene-
fits which accrue to the faithful poll
cy-holders in reliable life-insurance
companies, and if any word of mine
shall dispel any doubt in some mind
relative to this question, and induce
some young man to invest in good
endowment policy ! shall not have
spoken in vain.
1t is the business of the christian
pulpit to help men, and | do not
think it our-side my legitimate sphere
of duty and privilege as a christian
minister to throw some light upon
the query which forms the subject Of
my address.
Men of no less note than Henry
Ward Beecher, Dewitt Talmage
Phillip Brooks and Bishop Frederic
Huntington, have from pulpit and
press spoken upon the subject of life
insurance in the most cordial and
friendly terms.
When MI Beecher was contribu-
tor to the SUNDAY World" in which
he discussed things in general, he
asked his readers to submit ques-
tions they desired answered. A per-
picked husband and father submitted
to him the following letter:
Dear Sir:
A question which has troubled my
mind for long time | take liberty
to lay before you, and beg you very
much not to refuse to answer me, If
it is in the shortest way possible. /
am earning a fair living as carpen-
ter, and support my family OF wife
and four children well, but cannot
save anything. In case of my death
my family would be without dol
lar, perhaps, and / have often
thought of taking out a policy in
some good life insurance company.
But my church, the Lutheran, OBJ
secret societies, and our pastor told
me that by insuring my life | would
lose my membership in the church.
| would not like this on account of
my children. My pastor says God
forbids any one no sell his body. and
if anything should happen to me,
God would take care of my family.
My belief is, that God don't help
those that don't try to help them
selves. ! would like for you to give
me advice in this natter
] quote q brief extract from Mr..
Beecher's reply: "Life insurance is
not only not wrong, but it is duty.
No one has any right to leave those
who are dependent upon his love and
care to the chances of industrial
paralysis aad poverty. There is a
superstition on the part of many
women who shudder at having their
husbands lives insured, as if it
would bring on death sooner. This
absurd fear belongs to the supersti-
tion about Fridays; as if Providence
took care of only six days in the
week and left Friday to ill-luck or
the devil, God takes care of one day
as much as another, and of all days
alike. And God takes care of wise
foresight for the sake of fulfilling the
duties of love and humanity to ones
heirs His pastor tells him that ''if
anything should happen to him, God
| would take care of his family Does
God, then, take care of the improvi-
dent, the indolent and the negligent.
This would be premium on lazi-
ness Should this doctrine be ap-
piled to human life at large, it would
strike at the very life of enterprise
foresight and industry.
No doubt the good pastor thinks
he is honoring God by such views OF
Providence and Divine Sovereignty. !"
On the contrary, they dishonor God,
and would prove ruinous fatalism
among men.
Yes, my friend. you are right. In
all industrial affairs "God takes care
of those who take care of them.
selves Take out, then a good
policy i'm sound life insurance com.
pany-a non-forfeitable policy-as
large as you can afford and as years
roll on. think God, that, should you