The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-01
WORTH OF MAN
SERMON THEME.
Standard Of Measurements
Laid Down In Discourse
by Preacher.
SERMON BY DR.. TAYLOR

the Aixth or his series OF eermonb OF
"Americanism' Sunday morning. hi
standards Of Measurement
"There are many ways Of evaluatinI
mans worth. First. by the cost o
his creation. The whole creation hal
suffered and groaned In travil PAIN
untl now In giving him birth. Second
his potential value, the possibilities
wrapped w In him. Third, his powel
TO satisfy affection and crafty love-
None OF these worths can be meas
ured by economic standards: they car
only be estimated by the poet philoro'
pher or rellgionist. The problem Tie,
In the embodiment OF these potentiaii'
ties. The founders OF our government
undertook to work out eystem undel
which all the people may live ana de-
velop their potential qualities 20 th'
master OF himself without politicn
constrnint or oppression. They recoE.
nlzed the fact that the development
and use OF these highest values depend
upon the economic state, ana the eco
nomic question Involves social justice
The higher sentiments must be rooted
in social justice. else they are evil and
injurious In their application to life.
Our Shame.
"rhe shame OF an men today H.
that In spite OF no much fine sentiment,
working poor ana 20 many idle rich
This In the problem which demands so-
luton before we pass on to revei IN
sentimental values which cannot be es-
timated by economic standards.
before there can be any just distri-
button OF wealth IN America there must
be some recognized standard OF mans
economic value 70 society.
Four Views.
'There are four principal views con-
corning the right OF individuals TO own
.'fSrst---rhat possession 10 nine points
OF law regardless OF how one gets what
he holds,
.Second--That God has a chosen peo-
pie or elect class which has n prior
claim 20 all the resources OF earth and
all the products OF industry.
'sThird--That wealth should he dis
tributod according to need. that he
who needs most should have most
'Fourth--That our nation 10 an open
road TO talent, that only those who
work should eat. that each should be
allowed TO possess In proportion a. his
production exceeds his consumption.
THE fourth Ia the democratic theory
adopted ny the founders OF our nation.
WHO neiu TINT WoaitH must ue uthtFiu~
uted according TO productiveness. use-
fulness. worth
'"rhis means that such opportunities
as naturally exist for earning a living
or acquiring wealth ehail be open alike
to all no far as leEal and social re-
straint are concerned. but II does not
mean that the individual 10 TO be freed
from the limitations OF his own ma
"I,.,,e. mean. .o,.NN, =, .,na-,,,.
nifty. equality means liberty to compete
in iife's struggles. II means also lib
erty TO fenHt or starve, to survive or
perish. Freedom from restraint always.
involves the possibility of danger and
SINCE liberty docs not FREQ
man from natslfp'a laws. Here 10 the
place where Charity may do it's work.
OF Justice. which must be iirst. Tho
sociaistic theofE, Let every one pro.
uuce according 10 his ability ana con.
sumo according 10 his heed,' IL not
based on justice. II has no stimulus
for production except desire for social
esteem. II Ia necessary 10 enforce II
by system OF slavery or a despotic
poor ana unintellgent because the ad.
yancoment OF the worker depends upon
The good will OF the administrative OF.
hcers who arc not interested In the
Intelligence OF tho woriter nor the prod
hct, but IN their own political stand
Ing
"our government stands for oompeti.
live production. II recognizes the de-
fectivenees OF our system: yet, no other
system has been found TO be 30 just
Ind so free from suffering and no sure
y and effectively stimulates industry
~ that OF leaving zach free 20 pursue
MS own interestg when those intereats
10 not conflict with the interests of so
,lety. This system also Introduces into
iseful industry a degree OF energy. inl-
'intive. spontnnelty and originality
which no other system has.
our Things For Government TO DO.
.hingsI
"IrIrst--Ths suppression OF harmful
Methods OF preserving ones own inter-
''seoond-The guarantee Of yrseaon
II individuals IN pursuit OF self-inter-
'sts IN servlCeabIe ways.
"Thlrd--The holding OF the individual |
esnonslhle for his own well-belng.
'Foufth-rhe distribution Of wealth |
recording. 10 individual worth. In or
Ter 10 distribute wealth according to
mans worth, there has TO be some
tandard for measuring his economic |
'alue. How much is 4 man worth
,ot what Ia mans cost value. nor his
potential value, nor HIS sentimental
ihlue, but his economic value, In which
Justice u reduced 10 mathematical
erms. Man has net value and he
"Flrat--The net value OF man IL his
PRODUCTION less his consumption. A
nan who consumes more than he pro-
Iuees, either directly or indirectly. In 4
'urden to the state and his death will
e 2 net financial gain TO society. A
mans value Ia exactly nothing who
onaumes exactly what he produces.
man who produces more than he
oneumes IL Of value TO society and
10 IN entitled 10 own the margin Of his
aving. since he Ia best fitted to use
70 serve others. prosperous ma.
lus over and abovs consumption and
decadent country ia one which con-
umes more than II produces,
The state calculates the average
et value OF It's citlsens In order to
etermino how much II can justly spend
or sanitary and other llfe-s saving meas
res. America has 10000 ono popula-
lon. IL the net gain IL 400 00n 600
hen the average net value OF each
erson II 81 therefore. 81 per caplia
all that the government can Justly
ay out for the protection Of life. Any
Jrther expenditure would be on SEN
nent or charity.
"Second--Ths gross value OF man In
In gross production without subtract
~ his consumption. How much Hai-
~ or wage man should get must
Q based upon his gross production,
ustioe demands th.. acquisition must
1uai production and production must
lual acquisition.
Law OF ProportlonaiIty.
u siry In based on a physiological
n he world IN made up 81 simple
ems n. Man ia complex and cannot
tiiiEh directly the elementary sub
snees. The simple elements must be
,mpounfed before man can anrro-
rlaie them 20 his use. Business and ,
ldnatry consist solely IN moving and
materials. The COM
1unding Of materials must be accord
~ tn the law ~ balance or Of pronor- !
unality. No arbitrary method wiz an !
yer. Market conditions are not ar
trary social ARRANGEMENTS but n re-
ec'lon Of actual physical fact.