第1章

THOUGHRussellH。Conwell"sAcresofDiamondshavebeenspreadallovertheUnitedStates，timeandcarehavemadethemmorevaluable，andnowthattheyhavebeenresetinblackandwhitebytheirdiscoverer，theyaretobelaidinthehandsofamultitudefortheirenrichment。

InthesamecasewiththesegemsthereisafascinatingstoryoftheMasterJeweler"slife-workwhichsplendidlyillustratestheultimateunitofpowerbyshowingwhatonemancandoinonedayandwhatonelifeisworthtotheworld。

AshisneighborandintimatefriendinPhiladelphiaforthirtyyears，IamfreetosaythatRussellH。Conwell"stall，manlyfigurestandsoutinthestateofPennsylvaniaasitsfirstcitizenand“TheBigBrother""ofitssevenmillionsofpeople。

FromthebeginningofhiscareerhehasbeenacrediblewitnessintheCourtofPublicWorkstothetruthofthestronglanguageoftheNewTestamentParablewhereitsays，“Ifyehavefaithasagrainofmustard-seed，yeshallsayuntothismountain，`Removehencetoyonderplace，"

Asastudent，schoolmaster，lawyer，preacher，organizer，thinkerandwriter，lecturer，educator，diplomat，andleaderofmen，hehasmadehismarkonhiscityandstateandthetimesinwhichhehaslived。Amandies，buthisgoodworklives。

Hisideas，ideals，andenthusiasmshaveinspiredtensofthousandsoflives。Abookfulloftheenergeticsofamasterworkmanisjustwhateveryyoungmancaresfor。

1915。

_Friends_——Thislecturehasbeendeliveredunderthesecircumstances:Ivisitatownorcity，andtrytoarrivethereearlyenoughtoseethepostmaster，thebarber，thekeeperofthehotel，theprincipaloftheschools，andtheministersofsomeofthechurches，andthengointosomeofthefactoriesandstores，andtalkwiththepeople，andgetintosympathywiththelocalconditionsofthattownorcityandseewhathasbeentheirhistory，whatopportunitiestheyhad，andwhattheyhadfailedtodo——

andeverytownfailstodosomething——andthengotothelectureandtalktothosepeopleaboutthesubjectswhichappliedtotheirlocality。“AcresofDiamonds""——theidea——hascontinuouslybeenpreciselythesame。Theideaisthatinthiscountryofourseverymanhastheopportunitytomakemoreofhimselfthanhedoesinhisownenvironment，withhisownskill，withhisownenergy，andwithhisownfriends。

Thisisthemostrecentandcompleteformofthelecture。

IthappenedtobedeliveredinPhiladelphia，Dr。Conwell"shomecity。Whenhesays“righthereinPhiladelphia，""hemeansthehomecity，town，orvillageofeveryreaderofthisbook，justashewouldusethenameofitifdeliveringthelecturethere，insteadofdoingitthroughthepageswhichfollow。

WHENgoingdowntheTigrisandEuphratesriversmanyyearsagowithapartyofEnglishtravelersIfoundmyselfunderthedirectionofanoldArabguidewhomwehiredupatBagdad，andIhaveoftenthoughthowthatguideresembledourbarbersincertainmentalcharacteristics。Hethoughtthatitwasnotonlyhisdutytoguideusdownthoserivers，anddowhathewaspaidfordoing，butalsotoentertainuswithstoriescuriousandweird，ancientandmodern，strangeandfamiliar。ManyofthemIhaveforgotten，andIamgladIhave，butthereisoneI

shallneverforget。

Theoldguidewasleadingmycamelbyitshalteralongthebanksofthoseancientrivers，andhetoldmestoryafterstoryuntilIgrewwearyofhisstory-tellingandceasedtolisten。IhaveneverbeenirritatedwiththatguidewhenhelosthistemperasIceasedlistening。ButI

rememberthathetookoffhisTurkishcapandswungitinacircletogetmyattention。Icouldseeitthroughthecornerofmyeye，butIdeterminednottolookstraightathimforfearhewouldtellanotherstory。ButalthoughIamnotawoman，Ididfinallylook，andassoonasIdidhewentrightintoanotherstory。

Saidhe，“IwilltellyouastorynowwhichI

reserveformyparticularfriends。""Whenheemphasizedthewords“particularfriends，""I

listened，andIhaveeverbeengladIdid。Ireallyfeeldevoutlythankful，thatthereare1，674youngmenwhohavebeencarriedthroughcollegebythislecturewhoarealsogladthatIdidlisten。

TheoldguidetoldmethatthereoncelivednotfarfromtheRiverIndusanancientPersianbythenameofAliHafed。HesaidthatAliHafedownedaverylargefarm，thathehadorchards，grain-fields，andgardens；thathehadmoneyatinterest，andwasawealthyandcontentedman。

Hewascontentedbecausehewaswealthy，andwealthybecausehewascontented。OnedaytherevisitedthatoldPersianfarmeroneoftheseancientBuddhistpriests，oneofthewisemenoftheEast。Hesatdownbythefireandtoldtheoldfarmerhowthisworldofourswasmade。

Hesaidthatthisworldwasonceamerebankoffog，andthattheAlmightythrustHisfingerintothisbankoffog，andbeganslowlytomoveHisfingeraround，increasingthespeeduntilatlastHewhirledthisbankoffogintoasolidballoffire。Thenitwentrollingthroughtheuniverse，burningitswaythroughotherbanksoffog，andcondensedthemoisturewithout，untilitfellinfloodsofrainuponitshotsurface，andcooledtheoutwardcrust。Thentheinternalfiresburstingoutwardthroughthecrustthrewupthemountainsandhills，thevalleys，theplainsandprairiesofthiswonderfulworldofours。Ifthisinternalmoltenmasscameburstingoutandcooledveryquicklyitbecamegranite；lessquicklycopper，lessquicklysilver，lessquicklygold，and，aftergold，diamondsweremade。

Saidtheoldpriest，“Adiamondisacongealeddropofsunlight。""Nowthatisliterallyscientificallytrue，thatadiamondisanactualdepositofcarbonfromthesun。TheoldpriesttoldAliHafedthatifhehadonediamondthesizeofhisthumbhecouldpurchasethecounty，andifhehadamineofdiamondshecouldplacehischildrenuponthronesthroughtheinfluenceoftheirgreatwealth。

AliHafedheardallaboutdiamonds，howmuchtheywereworth，andwenttohisbedthatnightapoorman。Hehadnotlostanything，buthewaspoorbecausehewasdiscontented，anddiscontentedbecausehefearedhewaspoor。Hesaid，“Iwantamineofdiamonds，""andhelayawakeallnight。

Earlyinthemorninghesoughtoutthepriest。

Iknowbyexperiencethatapriestisverycrosswhenawakenedearlyinthemorning，andwhenheshookthatoldpriestoutofhisdreams，AliHafedsaidtohim:

“WillyoutellmewhereIcanfinddiamonds?""

“Diamonds!Whatdoyouwantwithdiamonds?""

“Why，Iwishtobeimmenselyrich。""

“Well，then，goalongandfindthem。Thatisallyouhavetodo；goandfindthem，andthenyouhavethem。""“ButIdon"tknowwheretogo。""“Well，ifyouwillfindariverthatrunsthroughwhitesands，betweenhighmountains，inthosewhitesandsyouwillalwaysfinddiamonds。""“Idon"tbelievethereisanysuchriver。""“Ohyes，thereareplentyofthem。Allyouhavetodoistogoandfindthem，andthenyouhavethem。""SaidAliHafed，“Iwillgo。""

Sohesoldhisfarm，collectedhismoney，lefthisfamilyinchargeofaneighbor，andawayhewentinsearchofdiamonds。Hebeganhissearch，veryproperlytomymind，attheMountainsoftheMoon。AfterwardhecamearoundintoPalestine，thenwanderedonintoEurope，andatlastwhenhismoneywasallspentandhewasinrags，wretchedness，andpoverty，hestoodontheshoreofthatbayatBarcelona，inSpain，whenagreattidalwavecamerollinginbetweenthepillarsofHercules，andthepoor，afflicted，suffering，dyingmancouldnotresisttheawfultemptationtocasthimselfintothatincomingtide，andhesankbeneathitsfoamingcrest，nevertoriseinthislifeagain。

WhenthatoldguidehadtoldmethatawfullysadstoryhestoppedthecamelIwasridingonandwentbacktofixthebaggagethatwascomingoffanothercamel，andIhadanopportunitytomuseoverhisstorywhilehewasgone。Iremembersayingtomyself，“Whydidhereservethatstoryforhis`particularfriends"?""Thereseemedtobenobeginning，nomiddle，noend，nothingtoit。ThatwasthefirststoryIhadeverheardtoldinmylife，andwouldbethefirstoneIeverread，inwhichtheherowaskilledinthefirstchapter。Ihadbutonechapterofthatstory，andtheherowasdead。

Whentheguidecamebackandtookupthehalterofmycamel，hewentrightaheadwiththestory，intothesecondchapter，justasthoughtherehadbeennobreak。ThemanwhopurchasedAliHafed"sfarmonedayledhiscamelintothegardentodrink，andasthatcamelputitsnoseintotheshallowwaterofthatgardenbrook，AliHafed"ssuccessornoticedacuriousflashoflightfromthewhitesandsofthestream。

Hepulledoutablackstonehavinganeyeoflightreflectingallthehuesoftherainbow。Hetookthepebbleintothehouseandputitonthemantelwhichcoversthecentralfires，andforgotallaboutit。

AfewdayslaterthissameoldpriestcameintovisitAliHafed"ssuccessor，andthemomentheopenedthatdrawing-roomdoorhesawthatflashoflightonthemantel，andherusheduptoit，andshouted:“Hereisadiamond!HasAliHafedreturned?""“Ohno，AliHafedhasnotreturned，andthatisnotadiamond。Thatisnothingbutastonewefoundrightouthereinourowngarden。""“But，""saidthepriest，“ItellyouIknowadiamondwhenIseeit。Iknowpositivelythatisadiamond。""

Thentogethertheyrushedoutintothatoldgardenandstirredupthewhitesandswiththeirfingers，andlo!therecameupothermorebeautifulandvaluablegemsthanthefirst。“Thus，""

saidtheguidetome，and，friends，itishistoricallytrue，“wasdiscoveredthediamond-mineofGolconda，themostmagnificentdiamond-mineinallthehistoryofmankind，excellingtheKimberlyitself。TheKohinoor，andtheOrloffofthecrownjewelsofEnglandandRussia，thelargestonearth，camefromthatmine。""

WhenthatoldArabguidetoldmethesecondchapterofhisstory，hethentookoffhisTurkishcapandswungitaroundintheairagaintogetmyattentiontothemoral。ThoseArabguideshavemoralstotheirstories，althoughtheyarenotalwaysmoral。Asheswunghishat，hesaidtome，“HadAliHafedremainedathomeandduginhisowncellar，orunderneathhisownwheat-

fields，orinhisowngarden，insteadofwretchedness，starvation，anddeathbysuicideinastrangeland，hewouldhavehad`acresofdiamonds。"

Foreveryacreofthatoldfarm，yes，everyshovelful，afterwardrevealedgemswhichsincehavedecoratedthecrownsofmonarchs。""

WhenhehadaddedthemoraltohisstoryI

sawwhyhereserveditfor“hisparticularfriends。""

ButIdidnottellhimIcouldseeit。ItwasthatmeanoldArab"swayofgoingaroundathinglikealawyer，tosayindirectlywhathedidnotdaresaydirectly，that“inhisprivateopiniontherewasacertainyoungmanthentravelingdowntheTigrisRiverthatmightbetterbeathomeinAmerica。""IdidnottellhimIcouldseethat，butItoldhimhisstoryremindedmeofone，andItoldittohimquick，andIthinkIwilltellittoyou。

ItoldhimofamanoutinCaliforniain1847

whoownedaranch。HeheardtheyhaddiscoveredgoldinsouthernCalifornia，andsowithapassionforgoldhesoldhisranchtoColonelSutter，andawayhewent，nevertocomeback。ColonelSutterputamilluponastreamthatranthroughthatranch，andonedayhislittlegirlbroughtsomewetsandfromtheracewayintotheirhomeandsifteditthroughherfingersbeforethefire，andinthatfallingsandavisitorsawthefirstshiningscalesofrealgoldthatwereeverdiscoveredinCalifornia。Themanwhohadownedthatranchwantedgold，andhecouldhavesecureditforthemeretaking。Indeed，thirty-eightmillionsofdollarshasbeentakenoutofaveryfewacressincethen。AbouteightyearsagoIdeliveredthislectureinacitythatstandsonthatfarm，andtheytoldmethataone-thirdownerforyearsandyearshadbeengettingonehundredandtwentydollarsingoldeveryfifteenminutes，sleepingorwaking，withouttaxation。YouandIwouldenjoyanincomelikethat——ifwedidn"thavetopayanincometax。

ButabetterillustrationreallythanthatoccurredhereinourownPennsylvania。IfthereisanythingIenjoyaboveanotherontheplatform，itistogetoneoftheseGermanaudiencesinPennsylvaniabeforeme，andfirethatatthem，andIenjoyitto-night。TherewasamanlivinginPennsylvania，notunlikesomePennsylvaniansyouhaveseen，whoownedafarm，andhedidwiththatfarmjustwhatIshoulddowithafarmifIownedoneinPennsylvania——hesoldit。

Butbeforehesoldithedecidedtosecureemploymentcollectingcoal-oilforhiscousin，whowasinthebusinessinCanada，wheretheyfirstdiscoveredoilonthiscontinent。Theydippeditfromtherunningstreamsatthatearlytime。

SothisPennsylvaniafarmerwrotetohiscousinaskingforemployment。Yousee，friends，thisfarmerwasnotaltogetherafoolishman。No，hewasnot。Hedidnotleavehisfarmuntilhehadsomethingelsetodo。_*OfallthesimpletonsthestarsshineonIdon"tknowofaworseonethanthemanwholeavesonejobbeforehehasgottenanother_。Thathasespecialreferencetomyprofession，andhasnoreferencewhatevertoamanseekingadivorce。Whenhewrotetohiscousinforemployment，hiscousinreplied，“Icannotengageyoubecauseyouknownothingabouttheoilbusiness。""

Well，thentheoldfarmersaid，“Iwillknow，""

andwithmostcommendablezeal(characteristicofthestudentsofTempleUniversity)hesethimselfatthestudyofthewholesubject。HebeganawaybackattheseconddayofGod"screationwhenthisworldwascoveredthickanddeepwiththatrichvegetationwhichsincehasturnedtotheprimitivebedsofcoal。Hestudiedthesubjectuntilhefoundthatthedrainingsreallyofthoserichbedsofcoalfurnishedthecoal-oilthatwasworthpumping，andthenhefoundhowitcameupwiththelivingsprings。Hestudieduntilheknewwhatitlookedlike，smelledlike，tastedlike，andhowtorefineit。Nowsaidheinhislettertohiscousin，“Iunderstandtheoilbusiness。""Hiscousinanswered，“Allright，comeon。""

Sohesoldhisfarm，accordingtothecountyrecord，for$833(evenmoney，“nocents"")。Hehadscarcelygonefromthatplacebeforethemanwhopurchasedthespotwentouttoarrangeforthewateringofthecattle。Hefoundthepreviousownerhadgoneoutyearsbeforeandputaplankacrossthebrookbackofthebarn，edgewiseintothesurfaceofthewaterjustafewinches。Thepurposeofthatplankatthatsharpangleacrossthebrookwastothrowovertotheotherbankadreadful-lookingscumthroughwhichthecattlewouldnotputtheirnoses。Butwiththatplanktheretothrowitallovertooneside，thecattlewoulddrinkbelow，andthusthatmanwhohadgonetoCanadahadbeenhimselfdammingbackfortwenty-threeyearsafloodofcoal-oilwhichthestategeologistsofPennsylvaniadeclaredtoustenyearslaterwaseventhenworthahundredmillionsofdollarstoourstate，andfouryearsagoourgeologistdeclaredthediscoverytobeworthtoourstateathousandmillionsofdollars。ThemanwhoownedthatterritoryonwhichthecityofTitusvillenowstands，andthosePleasantvillevalleys，hadstudiedthesubjectfromtheseconddayofGod"screationcleardowntothepresenttime。Hestudiedituntilheknewallaboutit，andyetheissaidtohavesoldthewholeofitfor$833，andagainIsay，“nosense。""

ButIneedanotherillustration。IfounditinMassachusetts，andIamsorryIdidbecausethatisthestateIcamefrom。ThisyoungmaninMassachusettsfurnishesjustanotherphaseofmythought。HewenttoYaleCollegeandstudiedminesandmining，andbecamesuchanadeptasaminingengineerthathewasemployedbytheauthoritiesoftheuniversitytotrainstudentswhowerebehindtheirclasses。Duringhissenioryearheearned$15aweekfordoingthatwork。Whenhegraduatedtheyraisedhispayfrom$15to$45

aweek，andofferedhimaprofessorship，andassoonastheydidhewentrighthometohismother。

_*Iftheyhadraisedthatboy"spayfrom$15to$15。60

hewouldhavestayedandbeenproudoftheplace，butwhentheyputitupto$45atoneleap，hesaid，“Mother，Iwon"tworkfor$45aweek。Theideaofamanwithabrainlikemineworkingfor$45

aweek!_Let"sgooutinCaliforniaandstakeoutgold-minesandsilver-mines，andbeimmenselyrich。""

Saidhismother，“Now，Charlie，itisjustaswelltobehappyasitistoberich。""

“Yes，""saidCharlie，“butitisjustaswelltoberichandhappy，too。""Andtheywerebothrightaboutit。Ashewasanonlysonandsheawidow，ofcoursehehadhisway。Theyalwaysdo。

TheysoldoutinMassachusetts，andinsteadofgoingtoCaliforniatheywenttoWisconsin，wherehewentintotheemployoftheSuperiorCopperMiningCompanyat$15aweekagain，butwiththeprovisoinhiscontractthatheshouldhaveaninterestinanyminesheshoulddiscoverforthecompany。Idon"tbelieveheeverdiscoveredamine，andifIamlookinginthefaceofanystockholderofthatcoppercompanyyouwishhehaddiscoveredsomethingorother。Ihavefriendswhoarenotherebecausetheycouldnotaffordaticket，whodidhavestockinthatcompanyatthetimethisyoungmanwasemployedthere。Thisyoungmanwentoutthere，andI

havenotheardawordfromhim。Idon"tknowwhatbecameofhim，andIdon"tknowwhetherhefoundanyminesornot，butIdon"tbelieveheeverdid。

ButIdoknowtheotherendoftheline。Hehadscarcelygottenoutoftheoldhomesteadbeforethesucceedingownerwentouttodigpotatoes。

Thepotatoeswerealreadygrowinginthegroundwhenheboughtthefarm，andastheoldfarmerwasbringinginabasketofpotatoesithuggedverytightbetweentheendsofthestonefence。

YouknowinMassachusettsourfarmsarenearlyallstonewall。Thereyouareobligedtobeveryeconomicaloffrontgatewaysinordertohavesomeplacetoputthestone。Whenthatbaskethuggedsotighthesetitdownontheground，andthendraggedononeside，andpulledontheotherside，andashewasdraggingthatbasketthroughthisfarmernoticedintheupperandoutercornerofthatstonewall，rightnextthegate，ablockofnativesilvereightinchessquare。

Thatprofessorofmines，mining，andmineralogywhoknewsomuchaboutthesubjectthathewouldnotworkfor$45aweek，whenhesoldthathomesteadinMassachusettssatrightonthatsilvertomakethebargain。Hewasbornonthathomestead，wasbroughtupthere，andhadgonebackandforthrubbingthestonewithhissleeveuntilitreflectedhiscountenance，andseemedtosay，“Hereisahundredthousanddollarsrightdownherejustforthetaking。""

Buthewouldnottakeit。ItwasinahomeinNewburyport，Massachusetts，andtherewasnosilverthere，allawayoff——well，Idon"tknowwhere，andhedidnot，butsomewhereelse，andhewasaprofessorofmineralogy。

Myfriends，thatmistakeisveryuniversallymade，andwhyshouldweevensmileathim。I

oftenwonderwhathasbecomeofhim。Idonotknowatall，butIwilltellyouwhatI“guess""

asaYankee。Iguessthathesitsouttherebyhisfiresideto-nightwithhisfriendsgatheredaroundhim，andheissayingtothemsomethinglikethis:

“DoyouknowthatmanConwellwholivesinPhiladelphia?""“Ohyes，Ihaveheardofhim。""

“DoyouknowthatmanJonesthatlivesinPhiladelphia?""“Yes，Ihaveheardofhim，too。""

Thenhebeginstolaugh，andshakeshissidesandsaystohisfriends，“Well，theyhavedonejustthesamethingIdid，precisely""——andthatspoilsthewholejoke，foryouandIhavedonethesamethinghedid，andwhilewesithereandlaughathimhehasabetterrighttositoutthereandlaughatus。IknowIhavemadethesamemistakes，but，ofcourse，thatdoesnotmakeanydifference，becausewedon"texpectthesamemantopreachandpractise，too。

AsIcomehereto-nightandlookaroundthisaudienceIamseeingagainwhatthroughthesefiftyyearsIhavecontinuallyseen-menthataremakingpreciselythatsamemistake。IoftenwishIcouldseetheyoungerpeople，andwouldthattheAcademyhadbeenfilledto-nightwithourhigh-

schoolscholarsandourgrammar-schoolscholars，thatIcouldhavethemtotalkto。WhileIwouldhavepreferredsuchanaudienceasthat，becausetheyaremostsusceptible，astheyhavenotgrownupintotheirprejudicesaswehave，theyhavenotgottenintoanycustomthattheycannotbreak，theyhavenotmetwithanyfailuresaswehave；andwhileIcouldperhapsdosuchanaudienceasthatmoregoodthanIcandogrown-

uppeople，yetIwilldothebestIcanwiththematerialIhave。Isaytoyouthatyouhave“acresofdiamonds""inPhiladelphiarightwhereyounowlive。“Oh，""butyouwillsay，“youcannotknowmuchaboutyourcityifyouthinkthereareany`acresofdiamonds"here。""

IwasgreatlyinterestedinthataccountinthenewspaperoftheyoungmanwhofoundthatdiamondinNorthCarolina。Itwasoneofthepurestdiamondsthathaseverbeendiscovered，andithasseveralpredecessorsnearthesamelocality。Iwenttoadistinguishedprofessorinmineralogyandaskedhimwherehethoughtthosediamondscamefrom。Theprofessorsecuredthemapofthegeologicformationsofourcontinent，andtracedit。Hesaiditwenteitherthroughtheunderlyingcarboniferousstrataadaptedforsuchproduction，westwardthroughOhioandtheMississippi，orinmoreprobabilitycameeastwardthroughVirginiaanduptheshoreoftheAtlanticOcean。Itisafactthatthediamondswerethere，fortheyhavebeendiscoveredandsold；andthattheywerecarrieddownthereduringthedriftperiod，fromsomenorthernlocality。NowwhocansaybutsomepersongoingdownwithhisdrillinPhiladelphiawillfindsometraceofadiamond-mineyetdownhere?Oh，friends!youcannotsaythatyouarenotoveroneofthegreatestdiamond-minesintheworld，forsuchadiamondasthatonlycomesfromthemostprofitableminesthatarefoundonearth。

Butitservessimplytoillustratemythought，whichIemphasizebysayingifyoudonothavetheactualdiamond-minesliterallyyouhaveallthattheywouldbegoodfortoyou。BecausenowthattheQueenofEnglandhasgiventhegreatestcomplimenteverconferreduponAmericanwomanforherattirebecauseshedidnotappearwithanyjewelsatallatthelatereceptioninEngland，ithasalmostdoneawaywiththeuseofdiamondsanyhow。Allyouwouldcareforwouldbethefewyouwouldwearifyouwishtobemodest，andtherestyouwouldsellformoney。

Nowthen，Isayagainthattheopportunitytogetrich，toattainuntogreatwealth，ishereinPhiladelphianow，withinthereachofalmosteverymanandwomanwhohearsmespeakto-

night，andImeanjustwhatIsay。Ihavenotcometothisplatformevenunderthesecircumstancestorecitesomethingtoyou。IhavecometotellyouwhatinGod"ssightIbelievetobethetruth，andiftheyearsoflifehavebeenofanyvaluetomeintheattainmentofcommonsense，IknowIamright；thatthemenandwomensittinghere，whofounditdifficultperhapstobuyatickettothislectureorgatheringto-night，havewithintheirreach“acresofdiamonds，""opportunitiestogetlargelywealthy。ThereneverwasaplaceonearthmoreadaptedthanthecityofPhiladelphiato-day，andneverinthehistoryoftheworlddidapoormanwithoutcapitalhavesuchanopportunitytogetrichquicklyandhonestlyashehasnowinourcity。Isayitisthetruth，andIwantyoutoacceptitassuch；forifyouthinkIhavecometosimplyrecitesomething，thenIwouldbetternotbehere。Ihavenotimetowasteinanysuchtalk，buttosaythethingsIbelieve，andunlesssomeofyougetricherforwhatIamsayingto-nightmytimeiswasted。

Isaythatyououghttogetrich，anditisyourdutytogetrich。Howmanyofmypiousbrethrensaytome，“Doyou，aChristianminister，spendyourtimegoingupanddownthecountryadvisingyoungpeopletogetrich，togetmoney?""“Yes，ofcourseIdo。""Theysay，“Isn"tthatawful!

Whydon"tyoupreachthegospelinsteadofpreachingaboutman"smakingmoney?""“Becausetomakemoneyhonestlyistopreachthegospel。""Thatisthereason。Themenwhogetrichmaybethemosthonestmenyoufindinthecommunity。

“Oh，""butsayssomeyoungmanhereto-night，“Ihavebeentoldallmylifethatifapersonhasmoneyheisverydishonestanddishonorableandmeanandcontemptible。“Myfriend，thatisthereasonwhyyouhavenone，becauseyouhavethatideaofpeople。Thefoundationofyourfaithisaltogetherfalse。Letmesayhereclearly，andsayitbriefly，thoughsubjecttodiscussionwhichIhavenottimeforhere，ninety-eightoutofonehundredoftherichmenofAmericaarehonest。

Thatiswhytheyarerich。Thatiswhytheyaretrustedwithmoney。Thatiswhytheycarryongreatenterprisesandfindplentyofpeopletoworkwiththem。Itisbecausetheyarehonestmen。

Saysanotheryoungman，“Ihearsometimesofmenthatgetmillionsofdollarsdishonestly。""

Yes，ofcourseyoudo，andsodoI。Buttheyaresorareathinginfactthatthenewspaperstalkaboutthemallthetimeasamatterofnewsuntilyougettheideathatalltheotherrichmengotrichdishonestly。

Myfriend，youtakeanddriveme——ifyoufurnishtheauto——outintothesuburbsofPhiladelphia，andintroducemetothepeoplewhoowntheirhomesaroundthisgreatcity，thosebeautifulhomeswithgardensandflowers，thosemagnificenthomessolovelyintheirart，andIwillintroduceyoutotheverybestpeopleincharacteraswellasinenterpriseinourcity，andyouknowIwill。

Amanisnotreallyatruemanuntilheownshisownhome，andtheythatowntheirhomesaremademorehonorableandhonestandpure，andtrueandeconomicalandcareful，byowningthehome。

Foramantohavemoney，eveninlargesums，isnotaninconsistentthing。Wepreachagainstcovetousness，andyouknowwedo，inthepulpit，andoftentimespreachagainstitsolongandusethetermsabout“filthylucre""soextremelythatChristiansgettheideathatwhenwestandinthepulpitwebelieveitiswickedforanymantohavemoney——untilthecollection-basketgoesaround，andthenwealmostswearatthepeoplebecausetheydon"tgivemoremoney。Oh，theinconsistencyofsuchdoctrinesasthat!

Moneyispower，andyououghttobereasonablyambitioustohaveit。Yououghtbecauseyoucandomoregoodwithitthanyoucouldwithoutit。MoneyprintedyourBible，moneybuildsyourchurches，moneysendsyourmissionaries，andmoneypaysyourpreachers，andyouwouldnothavemanyofthem，either，ifyoudidnotpaythem。Iamalwayswillingthatmychurchshouldraisemysalary，becausethechurchthatpaysthelargestsalaryalwaysraisesittheeasiest。Youneverknewanexceptiontoitinyourlife。Themanwhogetsthelargestsalarycandothemostgoodwiththepowerthatisfurnishedtohim。

Ofcoursehecanifhisspiritberighttouseitforwhatitisgiventohim。

Isay，then，yououghttohavemoney。IfyoucanhonestlyattainuntorichesinPhiladelphia，itisyourChristianandgodlydutytodoso。

Itisanawfulmistakeofthesepiouspeopletothinkyoumustbeawfullypoorinordertobepious。

Somemensay，“Don"tyousympathizewiththepoorpeople?""OfcourseIdo，orelseIwouldnothavebeenlecturingtheseyears。Iwon"tgiveinbutwhatIsympathizewiththepoor，butthenumberofpoorwhoaretobesympathizedwithisverysmall。TosympathizewithamanwhomGodhaspunishedforhissins，thustohelphimwhenGodwouldstillcontinueajustpunishment，istodowrong，nodoubtaboutit，andwedothatmorethanwehelpthosewhoaredeserving。WhileweshouldsympathizewithGod"spoor——thatis，thosewhocannothelpthemselves——

letusrememberthereisnotapoorpersonintheUnitedStateswhowasnotmadepoorbyhisownshortcomings，orbytheshortcomingsofsomeoneelse。Itisallwrongtobepoor，anyhow。Letusgiveintothatargumentandpassthattooneside。

Agentlemangetsupbackthere，andsays，“Don"tyouthinktherearesomethingsinthisworldthatarebetterthanmoney?""OfcourseI

do，butIamtalkingaboutmoneynow。Ofcoursetherearesomethingshigherthanmoney。Ohyes，Iknowbythegravethathasleftmestandingalonethattherearesomethingsinthisworldthatarehigherandsweeterandpurerthanmoney。WelldoIknowtherearesomethingshigherandgranderthangold。LoveisthegrandestthingonGod"searth，butfortunatetheloverwhohasplentyofmoney。Moneyispower，moneyisforce，moneywilldogoodaswellasharm。Inthehandsofgoodmenandwomenitcouldaccomplish，andithasaccomplished，good。

Ihatetoleavethatbehindme。Iheardamangetupinaprayer-meetinginourcityandthanktheLordhewas“oneofGod"spoor。""

Well，Iwonderwhathiswifethinksaboutthat?

Sheearnsallthemoneythatcomesintothathouse，andhesmokesapartofthatontheveranda。

Idon"twanttoseeanymoreoftheLord"spoorofthatkind，andIdon"tbelievetheLorddoes。

Andyettherearesomepeoplewhothinkinordertobepiousyoumustbeawfullypoorandawfullydirty。Thatdoesnotfollowatall。Whilewesympathizewiththepoor，letusnotteachadoctrinelikethat。

YettheageisprejudicedagainstadvisingaChristianman(or，asaJewwouldsay，agodlyman)fromattaininguntowealth。Theprejudiceissouniversalandtheyearsarefarenoughback，Ithink，formetosafelymentionthatyearsagoupatTempleUniversitytherewasayoungmaninourtheologicalschoolwhothoughthewastheonlypiousstudentinthatdepartment。Hecameintomyofficeoneeveningandsatdownbymydesk，andsaidtome:“Mr。President，Ithinkitismydutysir，tocomeinandlaborwithyou。""

“Whathashappenednow?""Saidhe，“IheardyousayattheAcademy，atthePeirceSchoolcommencement，thatyouthoughtitwasanhonorableambitionforayoungmantodesiretohavewealth，andthatyouthoughtitmadehimtemperate，madehimanxioustohaveagoodname，andmadehimindustrious。Youspokeaboutman"sambitiontohavemoneyhelpingtomakehimagoodman。Sir，IhavecometotellyoutheHolyBiblesaysthat`moneyistherootofallevil。"""

ItoldhimIhadneverseenitintheBible，andadvisedhimtogooutintothechapelandgettheBible，andshowmetheplace。SoouthewentfortheBible，andsoonhestalkedintomyofficewiththeBibleopen，withallthebigotedprideofthenarrowsectarian，orofonewhofoundshisChristianityonsomemisinterpretationofScripture。

HeflungtheBibledownonmydesk，andfairlysquealedintomyear:“Thereitis，Mr。

President；youcanreaditforyourself。""Isaidtohim:“Well，youngman，youwilllearnwhenyougetalittleolderthatyoucannottrustanotherdenominationtoreadtheBibleforyou。Youbelongtoanotherdenomination。Youaretaughtinthetheologicalschool，however，thatemphasisisexegesis。Now，willyoutakethatBibleandreadityourself，andgivetheproperemphasistoit?""

HetooktheBible，andproudlyread，“`Theloveofmoneyistherootofallevil。"""

Thenhehaditright，andwhenonedoesquotearightfromthatsameoldBookhequotestheabsolutetruth。IhavelivedthroughfiftyyearsofthemightiestbattlethatoldBookhaseverfought，andIhavelivedtoseeitsbannersflyingfree；forneverinthehistoryofthisworlddidthegreatmindsofearthsouniversallyagreethattheBibleistrue——alltrue——astheydoatthisveryhour。

SoIsaythatwhenhequotedright，ofcoursehequotedtheabsolutetruth。“Theloveofmoneyistherootofallevil。""Hewhotriestoattainuntoittooquickly，ordishonestly，willfallintomanysnares，nodoubtaboutthat。Theloveofmoney。Whatisthat?Itismakinganidolofmoney，andidolatrypureandsimpleeverywhereiscondemnedbytheHolyScripturesandbyman"scommonsense。Themanthatworshipsthedollarinsteadofthinkingofthepurposesforwhichitoughttobeused，themanwhoidolizessimplymoney，themiserthathordeshismoneyinthecellar，orhidesitinhisstocking，orrefusestoinvestitwhereitwilldotheworldgood，thatmanwhohugsthedollaruntiltheeaglesquealshasinhimtherootofallevil。

IthinkIwillleavethatbehindmenowandanswerthequestionofnearlyallofyouwhoareasking，“IsthereopportunitytogetrichinPhiladelphia?""Well，now，howsimpleathingitistoseewhereitis，andtheinstantyouseewhereitisitisyours。Someoldgentlemangetsupbackthereandsays，“Mr。Conwell，haveyoulivedinPhiladelphiaforthirty-oneyearsanddon"tknowthatthetimehasgonebywhenyoucanmakeanythinginthiscity?""“No，Idon"tthinkitis。""

“Yes，itis；Ihavetriedit。""“Whatbusinessareyouin?""“Ikeptastoreherefortwentyyears，andnevermadeoverathousanddollarsinthewholetwentyyears。""

“Well，then，youcanmeasurethegoodyouhavebeentothiscitybywhatthiscityhaspaidyou，becauseamancanjudgeverywellwhatheisworthbywhathereceives；thatis，inwhatheistotheworldatthistime。IfyouhavenotmadeoverathousanddollarsintwentyyearsinPhiladelphia，itwouldhavebeenbetterforPhiladelphiaiftheyhadkickedyououtofthecitynineteenyearsandninemonthsago。AmanhasnorighttokeepastoreinPhiladelphiatwentyyearsandnotmakeatleastfivehundredthousanddollarseventhoughitbeacornergroceryup-town。"

Yousay，“Youcannotmakefivethousanddollarsinastorenow。""Oh，myfriends，ifyouwilljusttakeonlyfourblocksaroundyou，andfindoutwhatthepeoplewantandwhatyououghttosupplyandsetthemdownwithyourpencilandfigureuptheprofitsyouwouldmakeifyoudidsupplythem，youwouldverysoonseeit。

Thereiswealthrightwithinthesoundofyourvoice。

Someonesays:“Youdon"tknowanythingaboutbusiness。Apreacherneverknowsathingaboutbusiness。""Well，then，IwillhavetoprovethatIamanexpert。Idon"tliketodothis，butIhavetodoitbecausemytestimonywillnotbetakenifIamnotanexpert。Myfatherkeptacountrystore，andifthereisanyplaceunderthestarswhereamangetsallsortsofexperienceineverykindofmercantiletransactions，itisinthecountrystore。Iamnotproudofmyexperience，butsometimeswhenmyfatherwasawayhewouldleavemeinchargeofthestore，thoughfortunatelyforhimthatwasnotveryoften。Butthisdidoccurmanytimes，friends:Amanwouldcomeinthestore，andsaytome，“Doyoukeepjackknives?""“No，wedon"tkeepjack-knives，""andIwentoffwhistlingatune。WhatdidIcareaboutthatman，anyhow?Thenanotherfarmerwouldcomeinandsay，“Doyoukeepjackknives?""“No，wedon"tkeepjack-knives。""

ThenIwentawayandwhistledanothertune。

Thenathirdmancamerightinthesamedoorandsaid，“Doyoukeepjack-knives?""“No。Whyiseveryonearoundhereaskingforjack-knives?

Doyousupposewearekeepingthisstoretosupplythewholeneighborhoodwithjack-knives?""

DoyoucarryonyourstorelikethatinPhiladelphia?

ThedifficultywasIhadnotthenlearnedthatthefoundationofgodlinessandthefoundationprincipleofsuccessinbusinessareboththesameprecisely。Themanwhosays，“Icannotcarrymyreligionintobusiness""advertiseshimselfeitherasbeinganimbecileinbusiness，orontheroadtobankruptcy，orathief，oneofthethree，sure。Hewillfailwithinaveryfewyears。Hecertainlywillifhedoesn"tcarryhisreligionintobusiness。IfIhadbeencarryingonmyfather"sstoreonaChristianplan，godlyplan，Iwouldhavehadajack-knifeforthethirdmanwhenhecalledforit。ThenIwouldhaveactuallydonehimakindness，andIwouldhavereceivedarewardmyself，whichitwouldhavebeenmydutytotake。

Therearesomeover-piousChristianpeoplewhothinkifyoutakeanyprofitonanythingyousellthatyouareanunrighteousman。Onthecontrary，youwouldbeacriminaltosellgoodsforlessthantheycost。Youhavenorighttodothat。Youcannottrustamanwithyourmoneywhocannottakecareofhisown。Youcannottrustamaninyourfamilythatisnottruetohisownwife。Youcannottrustamanintheworldthatdoesnotbeginwithhisownheart，hisowncharacter，andhisownlife。Itwouldhavebeenmydutytohavefurnishedajack-knifetothethirdman，orthesecond，andtohavesoldittohimandactuallyprofitedmyself。IhavenomorerighttosellgoodswithoutmakingaprofitonthemthanIhavetooverchargehimdishonestlybeyondwhattheyareworth。ButIshouldsoselleachbillofgoodsthatthepersontowhomIsellshallmakeasmuchasImake。

Toliveandletliveistheprincipleofthegospel，andtheprincipleofevery-daycommonsense。Oh，youngman，hearme；liveasyougoalong。Donotwaituntilyouhavereachedmyyearsbeforeyoubegintoenjoyanythingofthislife。IfIhadthemillionsback，orfiftycentsofit，whichIhavetriedtoearnintheseyears，itwouldnotdomeanythinglikethegoodthatitdoesmenowinthisalmostsacredpresenceto-

night。Oh，yes，Iampaidoverandoverahundredfoldto-nightfordividingasIhavetriedtodoinsomemeasureasIwentalongthroughtheyears。Ioughtnotspeakthatway，itsoundsegotistic，butIamoldenoughnowtobeexcusedforthat。Ishouldhavehelpedmyfellow-men，whichIhavetriedtodo，andeveryoneshouldtrytodo，andgetthehappinessofit。Themanwhogoeshomewiththesensethathehasstolenadollarthatday，thathehasrobbedamanofwhatwashishonestdue，isnotgoingtosweetrest。Hearisestiredinthemorning，andgoeswithanuncleanconsciencetohisworkthenextday。Heisnotasuccessfulmanatall，althoughhemayhavelaidupmillions。Butthemanwhohasgonethroughlifedividingalwayswithhisfellow-men，makinganddemandinghisownrightsandhisownprofits，andgivingtoeveryothermanhisrightsandprofits，liveseveryday，andnotonlythat，butitistheroyalroadtogreatwealth。