WORDS OF HELP FOR CHRISTIAN GIRLS, by Rev. F. B. Meyer.

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE, by Rev. Dwight L. Moody.

EXPECTATION CORNER, by E. S. Elliot.

JESSICA'S FIRST PRAYER, by Hesba Stretton.

HENRY ALTEMUS,
_507, 509, 511, 518 Cherry Street, Philadelphia._

[Illustration: HENRY WARD BEECHER.]

Twelve Causes
of
Dishonesty

By Rev. Henry
Ward
Beecher

Philadelphia
Henry Altemus

COPYRIGHTED 1896
BY HENRY ALTEMUS

HENRY ALTEMUS, MANUFACTURER
PHILADELPHIA

TWELVE CAUSES OF DISHONESTY

Only extraordinary circumstances can give the appearance of dishonesty to
an honest man. Usually, not to _seem_ honest, is not to _be_ so. The
quality must not be doubtful like twilight, lingering between night and
day and taking hues from both; it must be day-light, clear, and effulgent.
This is the doctrine of the Bible: _Providing for honest things, not only
in the sight of the Lord_, BUT ALSO IN THE SIGHT OF MEN. In general it may
be said that no one has honesty without dross, until he has honesty
without suspicion.

We are passing through times upon which the seeds of dishonesty have been
sown broadcast, and they have brought forth a hundred-fold. These times
will pass away; but like ones will come again. As physicians study the
causes and record the phenomena of plagues and pestilences, to draw from
them an antidote against their recurrence, so should we leave to another
generation a history of moral plagues, as the best antidote to their
recurring malignity.

Upon a land,--capacious beyond measure, whose prodigal soil rewards labor
with an unharvestable abundance of exuberant fruits, occupied by a people
signalized by enterprise and industry--there came a summer of prosperity
which lingered so long and shone so brightly, that men forgot that winter
could ever come. Each day grew brighter. No reins were put upon the
imagination. Its dreams passed for realities. Even sober men, touched with
wildness, seemed to expect a realization of oriental tales. Upon this
bright day came sudden frosts, storms, and blight. Men awoke from gorgeous
dreams in the midst of desolation. The harvests of years were swept away
in a day. The strongest firms were rent as easily as the oak by lightning.
Speculating companies were dispersed as seared leaves from a tree in
autumn. Merchants were ruined by thousands; clerks turned adrift by ten
thousands. Mechanics were left in idleness. Fa