
A Scriptural, Ethical and Economic View
PUBLISHED BY - THE ANTI-USURY LEAGUE - MILLERSBURG, OHIO
TO MY READERS.
CHAPTER I.ToC - DEFINITION.
CHAPTER II.ToC - THE LAW BY MOSES.
CHAPTER III.ToC - USURY AND "THE STRANGER."
CHAPTER IV.ToC - DAVID AND SOLOMON.
CHAPTER V.ToC - DENUNCIATION OF JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL.
CHAPTER VI.ToC - FINANCIAL REFORM BY NEHEMIAH.
CHAPTER VII.ToC - TEACHINGS OF THE MASTER.
The book offers a systematic examination of usury from a biblical, moral, and economic standpoint, beginning with a clear definition and tracing how key biblical terms have shifted in meaning. It delves into Mosaic law, explores how interest‑bearing loans affected strangers, and cites figures such as David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Nehemiah. The author invites readers to follow the logical progression toward an ethical condemnation of lending that extracts profit from need.
Drawing on parables, church history, and contemporary American debates, the work argues that usury enslaves borrowers and concentrates wealth, eroding character and social welfare. It contrasts Christian teachings with prevailing economic theories, highlighting the lasting relevance of the ancient prohibition. Listeners will find a thoughtful, historically grounded critique that challenges modern financial practices while remaining rooted in scriptural tradition. Its careful reasoning invites reflection on how ancient moral principles might inform today’s economic choices.
Full title
Usury : a scriptural, ethical and economic view A Scriptural, Ethical and Economic View
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (382K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Irma Spehar, Jeannie Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file made using scans of public domain works at the University of Georgia.)
Release date
May 27, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1839–1920
Best known for a forceful 1902 attack on lending at interest, this little-known writer brought together theology, ethics, and economics in one unusually passionate book. His work offers a vivid window into the moral debates around money at the turn of the twentieth century.
View all books
by Order of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter

by John Gibson Paton

by Stendhal

by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps

by John Henry Newman

by Henry Adams

by Brillat-Savarin

by H. Clay (Henry Clay) Trumbull