Year: 1870

The True View and Right Use of Property


Tho Human and the Divine Title to Pro-


perty-The Apparent Waste of GODS


Bounty-Christ Knocking Rt the Door Of


the Human Heart.


NEwBURG, August 21, 1870.


Al the American Reformed church this morning
Rev. William II. Gleason chose for his text Matthew
XVI, S-"TO what purpose is this waste 9n In the
introductory part OF his discourse the preacher laid
down the principle that we have no inherent right
to property. Our only claim to it is through law.
According to human law the ultimate title to all
property rests In the State. According the divine
law God is the of all things. His title is per-
feet, considered in whatsoever respect. The
history OF human title was-nrst, use only
US OF pasturage by the patriarchs; second,
Tor life, reverting again to the public at
death; third, by descent, where the law allows
heirs TO inherit. The world acknowledges that 1t
mas only the use OF property; blames the mlser for
boarding and the proflgate for spending Yet If
they were ABSOLUTE owners they would be RESPONSE
BILE 10 no one but themselves The worl d could not
open Its mouth against them their misuse OF pro-
perty. The preacher held, first, that the selfish use
Of property not the proper use OF it, 1t was al
ways waste" This the ricn fool In the parable
found to be the case But we were driven out OF
this by practice in daily life, we were com.
PEELED of necessity to benefit others In order to
benefit ourselves. This position was illustrated by
a reference commerce. the system OF national ex.
changes This really for only selfish end but
In obtaining that end we benefited nations and in.
divduals while securing to ourselves the comforts
that come TO US through this system OF exchange.
Second, the use OF property for humanity was not
always its proper use. 1t was sometimes "waste.r
There was better use of 1t than even for the
purposes Of charity This age always wanted an
equivalent for It's gifts If 1t gave anything for
benevolent purposes 1t wanted to see an exact re-
turn made. THIS was really a mean view. Much
property was wasted, considered merely In the light
OF human results Third, the use Of properly Tor
was never wasted. According TO the merely human
view OF things the life OF Christ OF his disciples and
Of the saints had been failures-a 'wasteu OF
energy and material. According to that view
cathedras and churches had never '.paid.n Rents
were income, and no rents had been derived from
these sacred edifces. Yet In higher and nobler
view, there had been divine and sacred 'returnr
from these things, which was beyond and above all
earthly profit From the foregoing were derived
the following conclusions and applications
the improper use OF property is waste Destruction
mp something better and higher. No one really
desires to waste property. Every one wants to use
property yet very often fearful mistakes are made In
the use Second the worldly result not the test OF
waste. We must go and work without regard to re-
suit. God blesses faith--not WORKS. Third, we are
responsible to others for waste. We are morally
bound to satisfy not only ourselves but others In the
use of cur talents This responsibility runs into
gossip and unjust criticism when carried TO an ex-
frcme we criticize lady for her stiye Of dress and
man In The use Of his property and lnso doing we