Year: 1875

DIX. GUTHRIE On LIFE IN


SIRANCE.


DR.. Guthrie is one ofthe leading di-
vines of the Church of Scotland His
! opinions are regarded with much re-
spect and have great influence with
all who know his depth of thought
and practical experience of life. As
a result of his profession, he has
probed the heart of many adying man
he has too often witnessed the mental
anguish of him who, verging upon
eternity has had the double care of
the future Of his own soul as we'll as
the support of his hel elpless family
brought vividlv before him. He
best can paint them who has felt
them most y and we can readily be-
lieve that no man could better I'M
derstand the feelings that manifest
themselves upon such solemn occa'
sions than this reverend gentleman
who has been so frequently called up
on to administer comfort during the
waning hours of this G,ful life


At a meeting Of a Life Assurance
Company, recently held, the Rev. Dr..
Guthrie said : There is no plat
form on which | feel myself more in
the way ofmy profession and position
than the one | now occupy. \ Life
I Insurance Office bears some of the no
blest injunctious of the Bible on its
/ face. remember friend of mine in
ST. Johns finding fault with the ser
mon of the preacher who had taken
these words for his text Set thine
house in order, for thou shalt die
and 50 far | think he had good rea-
son to do 50, because he did not state
it to be the duty of every man to
make his Will, Well, | would have
no objection to 90 to the pul pit, and
. preach on the duty of every man, who
could going to an Insurance Office to
insure his life And the text Of nv
discourse would be this If any pro-
vide not for his own, and specially
for those Of his own house, he had de
med the faith, and is worse than an
inhdel,'


Il feel, as minister how impor-
tant it is, that on sick beds, the mind
should not be distracted by domestic
cares; and what better earthly relief
from these than such an office as this ?
People say, Trust in Providence.
Well. say so too; but say with
Oliver Cromwell, Trust in Providence
and keep your powder dry Trust
in Providence and insuee your life.
| have seen impe(linaents standing in
way of my duty to those had been
called to visit, that arose from world
" cares which Life Insurance would
have prevented ! don't blame any
on a sick, or death bed. who feels
anxious abont a provision for wife and
children; but surely it is highly de
sirable that, so far as possible, such
cares should be taken out of the way.
| feel therefore that as a minister of
the Gospel, | am here in my right
place and had voice to reach the
length and breadth of this land, !
would advise every man, who can, il
others are dependent upon him, to in
sure his life for the highest possible
amount ?'


DR.. Guthrie adds "a man should
insure according to his circumstances
but then, on the other hand, his cir
cumstances and ability to insure de
pend very much on what he thinks
himself entitled to indulge in Now
when ! first came to Edinburgh, | had
aismall and uncertain stipend. There
were great lows at that time about
the annuity tax; and sometimes We
had one sum of money, and sometimes
another. But here | was; and | fell
that | ought to insure and | did in
sure, though my circumstances were
such that | could not easily SPARE tn,
money | had to pay for premiums
: They told at that tune that | wenr