The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-09-18

Drawing from the life Of T. il. Harri-
man, the late railroad king, a lesson il
lUstrativc OF the negative answer 10 the
question WAS 1t Worth While"
which the little wizard asked himself
in the waning days OF his career, Fa-
ther H. L. McMenamiD, pastor Of The
cathedral preached a powerful sermon
last Sunday morning at the last two
masses in Logan avenue chapel
Father McMenamin spoke first Of
Harriman's own doubts as to whether
or not he should have thrown his whole
soul into huge enterprises that gave
him no time for the shades and rest, and
then appealing to the wealthy members
OF his congregation. asked them if they
considered it worth while to worship in
2 cellar while they amassed fortunes
for their heirs. He declared that in
herited wealth is a handicap upon the
youth of the country, and pleaded for a
wise distribution of income over and
above necessary expenditures. He
classed the building of a cathedral as a
worthy object upon which fortunes
might be spent
dramatic sentence culled from Fa-
ther McMenamin's sermon gives an idea
ef the heart he threw into his words:
Rather, said he would / take my
man who went from this chapel two
weeks ago today with her rosary in a
worn hand bag, to die in ygnder build
ing. than with this man who. while he
DUilded empires, went to his grave with
the curses Of unfed thousands upon his
brow"
Father McMenamin emphasized the
fact that he was not indulging in a til
r1de on the wealthy, hut that he sought
to impress upon his auditors the evils
Of predatory wealth and the necessity
of complying with their obligations to
afford a suitable temple for their God.
In part, Father McMenamin said:
A man before whom kings bowed
down, multi-millionaire, who linked
the Atlantic TO the Pacific and Canada
TO the Gulf of Mexico with bands of
steel, has just died. His last words
were used, it is said, in asking a ques-
ton, Was il worth whlle?'
The only success in life that is worth |
while is TO do your duty to your God /
and your fellow man. While it is 10 sin |
10 be rich. yet Christ in a parable de- |
ciared that it was mere difficult for q |
rich man to enter heaven than for a |
camel to pass through the eve of a |
needle. 1t is the misuse of riches that /
makes the wrong.
1Lc railroad. KING mad devoted his !
life to the attainment Of material sue
cess, to the Sarnering of millions to
great achievements and he went down .
10 his grave with the curse of starving
millions on him.
1T is not wrong to be rich. but II is
OF the wrong misuse Of riches I would
speak The humblest workingman
along the line Of the Union Pacific. do
ing his work well and living a lust life.
is more in the sight of God than The
president of the road sweeping by in
his private car, who is not living right.
The only thing worth while is to live
right. Every man should strive TO
leave the world little better than he
found it; to live well. laugh often and
ove much. He should love the poor and
distressed, and if he be rich not neglect
the afflicted.
Hartman has gone where his mil
ions viii be Of no avail where charity.
purity, forbearance, patience and hu-
niity win count Cor more than all of
ms masterfGi achievements
The "beggar woman Of whom the
pastor spoke was never Identifies. She
was found dead back Of the chapel. and
4 week later buried in an unmarked
grave. her hearse followed by none For
years she had existed on the small
'hange she begged from persons leav- j
ng the early morning masses. although
some knew her. The requiem mass was
.alG IN Logan aNenUe chanel :