Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-17
SHOP TALK AT CUTLERY
BY REV. P. C. WRIGHT
How Much Are You Worth? Was His
Topic.

At the local branch of the Inter
rational Silver company on Friday an
other shop talk was given by Rev. P.
C. Wright, whose subject was How
Much Are You Worth? He said:
A long time ago the Master said "a
mans life consistent not in the abund-
ance of the things which he possess
eth" The world does not believe that
statement. Men do not act as If they
believed it. Doubtless when you saw
the statement of the topic for today
YOUR first thought was about the
amount of money or property which
YOU own or fail to own. So general
has become the idea that when we
speak of how much man is worth
We at once think Of his money or it's
equivalent.
Three Standards.
The world has come to estimate q
mans worth by three standards.
Money is one of them.
Money gives men power. They can
have influence in the business world.
They will be sought after by certain
social circles. They can acquire many
prominent positions. This is al Itrue,
and SO far it is all good. In spite Of
the fact, however, money does not de-
termine whether the man Is a curse
or a blessing While it may give him
power in the business world, it may be
to the total detriment Of society.
While it may give him social stand
ing Of certain sort, it may be to the
tearing down Of all virtue. While it
may give him position of prominence
1t may be to corruption of society.
Money does not determine the worth
Of a man.
Position is another standard by
which men are judged. When we hear
Of people we generally hear that they
fill such and such q position. They
are hOnored because of the position
they occupy. But you and I know
that mans worth is not determined
questions are: How did he come to
his position? Is he filing his posi-
ton? Is the result Of his being in his
position to the public good or i'll? To
Judge by position is to judge by
false standard.
Again, a common standard of judg-
ment Is What man may have
achieved This is more likely to be a
higher standard than the previous
ones. Yet it is not the best. Some
men achieve because they are great;
some achieve because they are knaves.
Mere achievement does not determine
worth.
World Full of Common People.
Judged by any of these standards,
where does the common man come in?
You remember the great Lincoln said
the Lord must have loved the COM
mon people, because he made SO many
OF them" The world is full of com
mon people. The upbuilding Of the
" orld depends upon the common peO-
PIE. No nation can be greater than
its common people America is what
she is because she mas had great com
mon people.
Now, Judge the common people by
the STANDARDS mentioned above and
where does the individual stand? The
average vase of the common people
is less than $500 q year, SO it is said.
To be sure we are within bounds, let
us double it and say their average
wage is $1,000 year. Judge them
on he basis Of money and they are
not worth much.
Estimate their work by the stand
ard of prominence and we are not
much,
Judged according to the ordinary
STANDARDS ana the common people are
not much. Ask yourself the question
why this so when the fact we men
toned few minutes ago is also true,
namely, that the strength Of any ma
ton lepenus upon its common people,
The two Ideas seem to conflict. Let
me tell you the reason. The stand