The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-01-01
NOTICES ON MONEY.
France Ahead Of Roosevelt III Erasiuo
Words of Piety.-Maxims Used on
Papal Coins.
(FrOm the New York Tribune


motto on the coin of his country. The
men who are ruling France in the
earlier part Of this year decreed that
the eXhortation "Dieu protege la
France!" God protect France) shall
not appear on the coins of the French
Republic to be minted henceforrl, as
1T does on the present coins. The eX.
planatiOn for Frances action in the
matter may be found in the fact that
the European republic is at present
under the absolute regime Of radicals
and anti-relig who have reie-
gated everything pertaining to the
Bible or religion to the background.
President Roosevelt's action, accord
Ing to statement given out at the
White House was inspired by feelings
OF reverence for the words "In God
We Trust and his opinion that the
placing of the same on coins tends to
cheaper it.
In this connection it may be of in
terest to know that for centuries the
Popes expressed in Biblical phrases or
moral sentences, Lessons Of charity
or kindness in the legends stamped on
their coins. These coins have been
out of circulation for a long time, but
the Popes evidently believed that the
Instruments Of charity should be re-
garded as preaching a sermon on
charity.
1t would be impossible to relate here
more than a few of these brief SER
mons which the Popes preached to
the people over whom they ruled and
which undoubtedly contributed to the
exercise Of the virtue of charity which
was thus so universally inculcated.
The inscriptions are all in Latin. and
each almost fills the reverse side of
the pieces, whether gold or silver.
There is Nd one wickeder than the
miser," is the pronouncement made
by gold scudo Cor crown) of Pope In
nocent XI, who filled the Papal chair
from 1876 to 1889.
Another coin Of the same Pontiff a
half scudo in value, says, 1.-The miser
will not be filled" and still another
bears the phrase, "The things pre-
served perish
And OF how little use money will be
when the curtain falls Oh life is
brought home to the minds Of most
men by the warning that speaks from
coins Of innocent XI: "They will not
profit thee in the day Of Judgment"
The pontificate of Innocent XI, though
only 1S years in duration. seems to
have been rich in the variety and
beauty OF the sayings on the coins is
sued. "He that loves gold will not be
saved" is the motto on a golden crown
and another reads, He who trusts in
riches will fail" The same Pontiff
asks: What Goth it avail q man:
What doth 1t avail a fool:" and the
question, meeting you on a coin, has q
avoid.
innocent XII speaks touchingly to
those whose hearts are fixed on the
accumulation OF wealth when, on a
coin of about two francs nominal
value he says, Let it not be to thy
perdition." And the effect Of avarice
on the mind is admirably suggested
by the words Of another coin OF the
same Pope. Money has no color for
the avaricious.' The money grabber
Is universally denounced. "Who is
poor? The miser," is the question
and answer which another coin gives.
What 1 have I give to thee" is the
phrase on another coin on which is
represented St. Peter healing the lame
man. The bearer of the coin may not
be able to heal otherwise than by CIV
Ing what he has. Another pertinent
question is asked on one Of these
pieces of money, But these things
which thou hast gathered, whose will
they De!' Such question must raise
serious considerations in the minds of
thoughtful men.
But the owners OF money are rec
commended to bestow it we'll Glenn
ent XI on a golden julius says, Let
1t abound to the glory of God" When
rightly employed money may do much
good. and this is declared by Clement
x on the coin which bears this pro-
nouncement, 'It diminishes evil and
increases good.'
And on another coin a generous
giver is described. HE hath opened
his hand to the needy" do not for
get the poor" is the recommendation