Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19

! Most OF the wrinkles on mems face
were pencilled there by money. a
lawyer says that more than half TN
divorce cases have their rise in money
troubles. Avowedly, the corruption O
politics Is due to money. Sport, the
! drama, literature, and art, have all fel'
| the same blighting touch. There are
more people concerned today, l fear
over the high price Of living than over
the coming of the kingdom Of heaven
1t is no stereotyped hyperbole to cal
the money question a burning ques
ton" 1t is fundamental and abiding
Everybody Is affected by it: the com
mon wish, "Oh, IL only I didn't have
| to think about money" is vain: every
body has to think about money, and II
makes more trouble for the man who
thinks in terms OF millions than rex
the one who thinks in dollars and
dimes. Surely, then there should be
some basis for dealing with money:
permanent platform and principle
| for the Christian.
Here is the Bible law: Money has a
place in life, but it is not first place.
| Money may not properly be made n
supreme objective Or supreme re-
lance. It is vain prop. But money
may be made to minister to all the
higher needs of self and neighbor,
and so may not be despised or disre-
garded
Given the chance between char
acter and money, between usefulness
and prosperity. between wealth ana
happiness, vote instantly against
money.
While money may buy many desir-
able things it cannot purchase the
best 1T is literally true that the SUI
preme possessions OF l!fe-honof.
health. love, happiness, usefulness
are not dependent upon the size OF
ones bank account.
The "biood atonement" idea of the
Old Testament has given way IN
these times, to sort Of money atone
ment." Money is supposed to make
all things right. No matter how I'M
scrupulously great fortunes may be-
acquired. if they are used in part tand
it may be but an infinitestimal part)
for works of religion and philanthropy,
there is at once shown disposition on
the part of many persons to condone
the past and to treat the donor as hon
orable and praisewortl1y. This Is the
pernicious modern form Of the old
doctrine of good works. Men openly
expect to buy their way into favor IN
two worlds. When brought into the
clear light of the teachings OF Jesus
the error of this becomes stralghtWay
apparent. The snare Of the rich men
in his riches. That is why the Teacher
used the superlative expression about
it's being harder for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven than Tor
a camel to go through a needles eye
God not only may not be bribed, but
he also does not look kindly upon the
one who attempts it.
When a Christian has money It is
WE'LL when money has a Christian 1t
is Ill.
Money is the best servant in the
world; and the worst master.
A great deal is said about the Amer
can love of money. Americans do love
money: so do the English and French |
and Germans and Japanese. and pretty |
much every other nation. Doubtless
t is true, though. that Americans are
more outspoken and cross than other
nations in applying the money test 10
all values. We are rightly ridicHled
and scorned for this The money !
standard is absurdly inadequate and |
improper, in most matters. To care
or person because Of his money, to |
tx social position by money, to assume
hat money can buy everything-that
S to betray a lack of the essential
spirit of culture and refinement.
Thank God, man may be rich in
eternal wealth, and possessed Of a
,eace which millions of money can
lot purchase, even though he has not
| dollar in his pocket.
The world can get along without it's
nillionaries more easily than without
is penniless prophets, poets and
aints.
There is something wrong in a per-
on's conception of values when he
kinks more about money than about
Tod. What we think about rules us:
lappy they who make Jehovah .1elr
Meditation day and night
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ELDON
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Jeff Carter and wife have returned
rom a visit with his son William near