New Britain herald., 1926-01-18
SAYS JACOB WAS
 FIRST T|GHTWAD
Rev, Samuel FiSse Objects to
 Designation aS Salesman

That Jecob, the nrst 'gh'"ad in all history would get a run for his money lf he were able to lo business with certain Connclicu. Yankees and members of the Christian church was intimotcd by Ee,, samuel A.. fiske, who spoke yesterday 10 the Eycrymgn's Bible class,
 Rev Mr. Flskr said: "l have known gool Connccticul Yankees wlp could give old Jacob close run for his money and am not at all sure but that they could boat him at his own game. l have scou some of them within thc doors Of the church, and many of them were of- ficorI Of inc Christian church."
 AIr. Fiskc told of Jacobs life ard his acquisitive nature, manifested early in life, that prompted him to conquer in the things of the material ream. At the very outset of his career, Jacob was prone to take ad- vantage Of Esau. the weak man. "Somo one has raid that is what isaus are for" Mr. Fiske said. "There are many Of us here this morning who have manipulated weak man 10 our own satisfaction, We are not so far removed from those who think that Esaus exist in this world for men of stronger character 10 take advantage of their weakness"
 A period in Jacobs life found him on his way toward Bethel to assume the leadership of his people. He was returning 10 tell the old home folks how to conduct the things of religion. As a successful business man he is going to tell the folks how to sell religion. I have had various men come to me in the last few years and tell me how to sell religion" the speaker said. "I want 10 say that the whole thing is obnoxious to me. do not sell religion. and I cannot conceive of myself as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ taking the commercial term of a salesman in relation to the product that I am trying to dispose of in the life of the souls of men. The church Of the Lord Jesus Christ has been suffering for generations from just that kind of man, successful In the material issues of life and because of that feeling that he knew how 10 con- duet the affairs of the kingdom Of God.
 AS there were in Schechem some very fertile plains for the feeding of his flocks, Jacob fingered just A while, and there the awful reward of the mans sins is visited upon him. One of the most dreadful things the record of the Bible gives 10 us is that catastrophe that comes into the home of Jacob in the ruin of his daughter. Dinah. AS I come hack into the life of the modern home where the reading of the Bible is no longer, and the father and mother are doing everything under 'he gun, moon and stars 10 give r'nir daughter training In social ''inuctte and social opportunities "- position SO she can go out and "'n rorial prominence, I think back to the story Of Dinah, and I wonder today ir our American life how rrnny successful men are selling their souls in order that their chil- dren may h.ve social preferences, md oftentires social preference means disaster of the direst sort.
 "Jacob was the first tightwad; he was the first self-madc man. and very soon he needed making over by tho grace of God. The man who says he is q self-mado man and glories in it doesn't realize how oD- vlously he is sclf-made to the man who has keen perceptions of the real values of life. I charge you 10 study the record of this old character and analyzo for yourselves the conflicting qualities of his life, and see how by inc grace of God hc was made 10 he useful in the progress of the worlds history"