The World's Estimate of Greatness
TWO great men recently died, a great soldier and a great financier,—Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley of England, at the age of 80, and John Pierpont Morgan of America, at the age of 76. The first was great in the management of men to fight, the second in the management of men to acquire. The former was great in the achievement and establishment of empire, the latter in the achievement and control of wealth. Wolseley labored for glory, Morgan for gain. Yet the former's work, looking at it from the world view-point, was the more unselfish; for he risked his life again and again for his country, from his brave daring in the second Burmese war (1852-3), to the decisive battle of Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt in 1882, and his subsequent brave attempt to relieve General Gordon at Khartum two years later. It could be truly said of him that he gave the best of his life and service in his profession to his country. He was a tactful, brave fighter, and understood the art of killing men. We do not know how it could be said of Mr. Morgan that he gave his life, his skill, his power of manipulating stocks and bonds and banks, to his country; at least there would be far from a general recognition of this on the part of his countrymen. He exploited his country, and after lavishing millions upon millions for his own love of art, he left a fortune of unknown amount, while he controlled, at times during his career, through his power over men, literally billions of dollars. It is said that the banks he directly dominated had resources totaling $22,245,000,000; and that by interlocking directorates, these banks controlled 134 corporations, having a total capitalization of $25,625,000,000 — sums literally uncountable, more than four times the aggregate revenue of Great Britain, Germany, France, and Italy, and more than twenty times the annual revenue of the United States. Great he was from this view, because in these days “money talks.” He died in the Episcopal Church, yet Cardinal Gibbons says of him, “I have lost a great friend.” Pius X says, “He was a great and good man.” Judge S. H. Gary says, “Mr. Morgan was a colossal figure; all in all he was the greatest man of the age.” He was the incarnation of the money spirit of the age; and conditions, laws, weaknesses of other men, and immense wealth to begin with may be in part responsible for the abnormal power he possessed — power which no one man or combination of men ought to exercise in this world. But death placed its cold finger upon warrior and financier alike, and both fell. Military skill on the one hand or wealth on the other could not turn aside the King of Terrors. Mr. Morgan's art collections will pass on to others. They are of interest to but few. His millions his son will attempt to control, but with only a part of the prestige of the father. A few adverse laws, a revolution, and all that Mr. Morgan wrought is gone. The world greatness of men, measured by permanent results, is small. The most lasting are the most strongly material and of little real worth. The great men, in God's sight, are those who are building characters of truth, integrity, loyalty to God. Men like Charles Spurgeon, or Alexander McLaren, or John Hall, or David Livingstone, or scores of others, dead or living, who have left and are leaving redeemed souls, gathered from the dark and slimy ways of sin and death — characters which will be to the praise of the glory of the grace of God in Christ Jesus forever. One soul saved from sin is worth more than the great fortune Mr. Morgan left, or all the wealth he controlled in whole or in part; and every son and daughter of Adam may not only himself or herself possess “the exceeding riches of His grace,” but may in Him win souls to His “riches in glory.” Covet not the riches which perish. Envy not the rich, for they die as others. But meet God's plan, and be rich in all that makes for eternal character.