“YE HAVE HEAPED TREASURE TOGETHER.”
By T.
IN recent issues of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, attention has been called to some of the scriptures which show that the “last days” are specially characterized by covetousness, and the heaping together of treasure. The statement is positively and plainly made that “ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:3. Language could not be clearer. There is no mistaking its import. Then one of the things by which we may positively know when we are in the “last days” is the “heaping together” of “treasure.” And this “heaping” together of treasure must be something world-wide; for all the world are to see the signs of the coming of the Son of man. And, too, it must be marked and marvelous in its proportions, so that men can clearly see it; otherwise it could not be considered a sign of the approaching end. Of course we could hardly expect that all would recognize these signs as such, for men have ever been prone to disregard the admonitions of the Lord. But this, as well as every other sign of the impending doom of the world, is nevertheless there, and that, too, in monumental prominence. And if men will only heed the voice of God in His Word, they may know of a surety when the “last days” are reached. So let us ask, Is this scripture fulfilling about us to-day? Is there a marked and marvelous heaping together of treasure in these times? And is it becoming world-wide? If so, we have the fulfilment of one of the signs that we are in the “last days.” And if we look for the other signs given in the sure Word, and find them all fulfilling, we need not guess, but may know where we are in the world’s career of sin and sorrow. But we can only examine these signs one by one, and how is it about this “heaping together” of “treasure”? In the Forum for November, 1889, Thomas G. Shearman, a leading lawyer of New York City, had an article entitled “The Owners of the United States.” In this article he names two estates valued at $150,000,000 each; five estates worth $100,000,000; and sixty-three others worth from $20,000,000 to $70,000,000 each. Concerning these estates, Mr. Shearman says:— Making the largest allowance for exaggerated reports, there can be no doubt that these 70 names represent an aggregate wealth of $2,700,000,000, or an average of over $37,500,000 each. The writer has not especially sought for information concerning any one worth less than $20,000,000, but has incidentally learned of 50 other persons worth over $10,000,000, of whom 30 are valued in all at $450,000,000, making together 100 persons worth over $3,000,000,000; yet this list includes very few names from New England and none from the south. Evidently it would be easy for any specially well-informed person to make up a list of 100 persons averaging $25,000,000 each, in addition to 10 averaging $100,000,000 each. . . . The average annual income of the richest hundred Americans can not be less than $1,200,000, and probably exceeds $1,500,000.
Mr. Shearman also made the estimate that 25,000 persons own just about one-half of all the wealth of the United States. On June 9, 1897, the Hon. Roger Q. Mills made a speech in the United States Senate in which he quoted the figures concerning the concentration of wealth from this Forum article of Mr. Shearman. Regarding the article Mr. Mills said:— It was published and republished again in the magazines. It was published in 1889. It has never been questioned. It has been sent broad-cast; it has been commented on everywhere, and never have I heard one breath of contradiction or criticism of the article.
Thus, we see that while there has been an abundant opportunity as well as provocation to contradict the startling figures of Mr. Shearman, yet they remain uncontradicted, and without even an attempt being made to disprove their accuracy. Immediately after Mr. Mills’ speech in the Senate the New York World interviewed Mr. Shearman to ascertain if he had any reason for modifying the figures he gave through the Forum in 1889. Upon this point Mr. Shearman, as reported in the Thrice-a-Week edition of the World, June 21, 1897, said:— The principles upon which these calculations were made have never been impeached, even by those who object most strongly to the inferences drawn. . . . Taken as a whole, my original figures were much too low.
Among Mr. Shearman’s “original figures” may be classed his article in the Forum January, 1891, under the heading of “The Coming Billionaire.” In this article he concludes that if calculation is made on the very lowest basis, some of these vast estates must reach a billion inside of the next forty years. Over seven of the forty years are now in the past, and still this great accumulation of wealth is going on with an ever-increasing ratio. Is it not truly a striking thought that we are living in a time when money is being “heaped together” so rapidly that it may be said that the simple millionaire is no longer a marvel, and that the billionaire is in sight? Who, with these figures before him, can fail to be impressed with the fact that we are in the closing hours of time. For truly, since the “last days” are to be marked by the “heaping together” of “treasure,” there can be no evading the fact that this unheard-of amassing of wealth is a most literal fulfilment of the prophecy. Think for a moment about what some of the foregoing figures mean. A man would need to do quite rapid work if he counted one at a time $60,000 in a day of ten hours. And at this rate the man owning $150,000,000 would require seven long years in which to count his fortune, and would have to work every day in the year at that. If his one hundred and fifty millions were all in one-dollar bills and placed end to end, they would reach about two-thirds of the way around the whole earth. Look at the matter from another standpoint.7 The United States census of 1890 places, in round numbers, the estimated value of the property of all classes in this country at $26,000,000,000. Taken together, the two men worth $150,000,000 each actually own one-eighty-seventh part of the whole of this great republic. The five men worth $100,000,000 each, own one-fifty-second part of all the nation’s wealth, and the seven of them combined own one-thirty-second of all the belongings of this great Union. When it can be said that seven men only actually own one dollar out of every thirty-two belonging to the whole 70,000,000 people, how much further could we expect concentrated wealth to go? And how much more is needed to show the literal fulfilment of the prophecy? And yet, outstripping these enormous figures, we are assured that the billionaire is in sight. These figures are uncontested. Every one, including many of these wealthy men themselves, are becoming alarmed over the situation. This great aggregation of wealth is a subject of much discussion and deep concern. But, regardless of every admonition, inordinate greed drives ahead in its mad career of piling up millions and ever more millions. And what is true concerning the concentration of wealth in this country, as every one knows, is true the world over. Reader, you see the facts concerning the “heaping together” of “treasure” as they appear in the world to-day. You have these scriptures before you, telling you plainly what it all means. Now what are you going to do about it? Will you heed the warnings of God’s Word, and prepare to meet the Prince of Peace, so soon to be revealed in the clouds of heaven, or, rejecting the warnings of our heavenly Father, will you plunge into the eternal doom that is hanging over the whole world? You still have the opportunity of making the choice; be sure to make it right.