South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-11
POINTS PERILS IN
BUSINESS LIFE
Rev. John M. Alexander Scores
MateriaIlStlC Spirit
of the Age.

In sermon in which he scored
the materialisuc spirit Of the age
and pointed out the danger in bus
mess of contracting the soul until
Il fits within the circumference OF
the dollar" Rev. John NJ Alexander.
pastor Of the First Christian church.
told the business men Of his audi
ence some plain truths about right
standards in business and in life I'm
his sermon OF the "Perils OF Bust
ness" Sunday.
II aid in part.
Modern business breaches "a
mighty sermon az the glory. nobility
and dignity of work. All men glad
~ award he need Of praise 10 the
business that is high toned. that
contributes and ministers to the bet-
tering Of mankind. that encoura yes
t!os- traits Of character and excel
lence which form the glory Of man
kind.
Temptations Of Business.
Business has it's temptations.
therefore its dangers ON the fields
of traffic and the marts of trade
the souls Of mer are sorely tried
In the chamber or the market place
men are truly weighed in the bal
auces. In the money kingdom the
revelation Of the souls of men is
surely made The sage Of wisdom
uuly wrote 1T is here that the
strength Of ones religion is tested,
the capacity OF ones faitbfuIness is
ascertained. the quality of ones .em-
per is defined
We have gone stark mad on the
speed question. Speed is the slogan
whether we speak OF a typewriter
COT steam yacht Like the haSty
Dutchman. we are all in a hurry to
get there so 5ve can start back This
spirit of the goth century is every
where manifest Quick travel. quick
methods. quick speech, quick results
and other like SCI iments are woven
into the very fabric OF Ife's activi-
ties. Many men are growing enor-
mously. dangerously and tremend-
ously r.ch But it is a part of their
uncomfortable inclination and abil-
ity IL is as perfectly natural for
them as for a Shakespeare to write
Hamlet. or a Beethoven TO com
pose his symphonies, or Raphael TO
paint IA. pictures. others. seeking
. 20 follow IN the footsteps of such
men do not hesitate 20 use methods
not unlike those 1T the bandit only
under legal shelter. stock gambling
and other unscru puIous business
methods like tine Cornering OF food
supplies canOnt be justified at the
bar Of honest business
Naturalization ~
A second frowninE c.. whose
shadow is cast over the entire bust
ness world is the NATURALIZATION OF
life It's fearsome results are seen
i'm men of exceptional integrity It's
existence is compatible with legal
honesty. Many see its shadow and
escape. while others are crushed
The pride OF the materialized mind
IS to meet the opposition. crush it,
put il over. All these things must
bc considered by the man of bust
ness. Money, property notes. goods
do mean food. shelter. clothing.
Money is necessary. It lies right at
the very unkling nerve center OF the
worlds life Money is indispensable.
But this Is not all The danger of
II
tracing the soul until il hts within
the cirCumference of business. The
uon-recoguition of the world of
thought, feeling. imagination and
beauty. A materialism which closes
me windows of the soul Leaving no
doors by which men may pass into
the realm Of fancy No windows
through which men can look up in
10 the face Of the Infinite Leaving
NO couch upon which its possessor
may lie and look and watch the
angels ascend and descend on lad
ders OF hrht.
.astly-tbe more than serious
business peril which. so absorbed
with things, forgets the high obliga-
ton We owe To our felloWmen Be
cause of this spirit we have the
breach between capital and labor.
TIE non-reCognition of the rights of
the employed by those who employ
them The spirit which discharges
its obligation 10y the payment OF
the covenant wage Tie only S0lu-
ton of the problem is close sympa-
thy. real appreciation. friendly rec
oguitiOu and announcement We
are our brothers keepers every
where In professional. social. bust
ness and All other avenues OF Hfe's
manifestations
Money is a marvellous power TN
der certain ceGditionS MS does buy
life. It can almost work miracles.
We mist reSosuize the bond of union
between man and man Money can
never satisfy the soul of man nor
nav the high obligation which We
owe our fellowmen Gradually the
better day Is da~uinG- Instead OF
antagonism genuine fellowship will
prevail"
ESliF c WHlTCOMB