The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-02-20

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they are the effects Of = heart mo-
we'd By divine grace, yet they are
not religion Itself. You might as
well say that a charitable and moral
man mixed too mneh religion with
his actions 10 be good. No; II these
things are the effect OF religion, aRd
itit l. the aehief 50 I'd, the nearsF 70
approach il BY ysopr actions tho bet
ter we are; therefore, ! think all
such apprehensions will vanish up
on better understanding Of The
principles and motives Of beneyo-
lent societies, a., -i,se e.bsis
One will, aay: - have q great
respect for benevolent societies. =
There 10 o moral grandeur In their
professions that charms me. But
why may they not do, a. christ.
iaps, all That they now do in their
associated cspaeity2" A moments
Thought will show that there is IN
objection 70 benevolent societies 10.
gepiously framed in the question
proposed, II gould DO very easy
10 say to the members Of the yAri.
Gus Temperance societies In our
land, Why may 1ou not do. as
Christians, all thas you now do 80
members Of Temperance associa-
tion2 The same idea Is embodied
and the same priasipley of action
Involved ip refereDee 10 every 9th.
er benevoIept sosisty. And yss
who thinks Of Questioning the USE
fuIncss Of temperance societies?
hotbinks Of dissOlying them and
falling back upon iRdiyidpal efforts
because the membses might do, aB
christians, tie work they are now
doing as. disciples Of ths temper.
ance reforn2 a. ,,.f bua 1rr5d
So Of Bibl9, missionary, tract,
and educational societies: Che
persons comprising these might do.
as christians, what they arc now
doing as members Of these associa-
| tons. But who doubts that their
efficiency and success arc greatly
promoted by their organization3
" Who doubts fndsed that nearly
all the work done 10 these departr
Dents has been accomplished
through The concentrated power Of
associ..t:on-ll'rough combined mu-
tual action concentrated to one
point7 Aod 80 we might follow
out the question in review 10 It's
application, not only 10 benevolent
societies. bu. also 10 many Of the
church organizations, all Of which
are nc doubt, aiming to promote
the welfare Of man. In tbeseex-
amples the world never thinks of
making objections to tho associa-
tiOna1 principIe--nevcr doubts for
u moment that power, efficiency
and success are gained by unitod
effort, By . thorough organization.
There is yet another view Of the
matter which is overlooked by those
who mako the inquiry before US.
Il is not what men may or might
do, as christians; but the real
question is what do they do as
christians? No doubt they ought
to furnish the world With the means,
and 10 nstrumentalities necessary to-
salvation; they ought TO provide
for the poor, educate the ignorant,
protect the widcw and the father.
less, seek to reform the vicious and
put away is far as possible all the
evils Of the social state. But do
lhey7 1t is granted they have done
much, but not all they could hayo
done. Without question, if the,
shul ca, as achurch, did its duty
in these respects, there would bs
less necessity for benevolent socie.
lies. As il is, benevolent societies
are only practical christianity, and
as such in this respect are hand.
maidens 10 christianity and auxil-
Iiaries Of the church in her great
mission OF labor and love TO suffer.
ing and fallen humanity.
And If a great and good work is
wrought out, and thousands are
comforted and blessed through the
ministries Of these institutions, who
would not be, without them, is not
this sufficient answer 10 the ques.
tion? IT,. ,...,
II is we'll known that an obliga-
ton which is distributed among
multitude without being directed
positively to any one in particular,
is seldom acknowledged or felt.
We may illustrate this by Odd
Fellowship-our Order does not
distribute duty TO the crowd and
leave each to do or not as he
pleases. II does not talk vaguely
to multitude, but definitely to
the individual. 1t points out tho
duty TO you and me, and fixes its
eye upon US I'LL the duty is done.
| Il brother is sick. q particular in
dividual is designated to visit him
each day; and two are specially ap-
pointed TO be at his bed side every
nigh: during his sickness. If he
dies, his burial is attended to by
the proper officers. who are his
brothers, If his widow and chill.
dren are 10 want, there are those
whose particular duty it is to look
alter them and provide for them.
Now here is . direct, individual
responsibility imposed by Odd
Fellowship, which the Church does
not impose, and which is not felt
simply en- the ground Of Christian
! profession, however wrong it may
be. Under the organization of
Odd Fellowship the work is suro
tu be done Under the simple pro,
feSSion Of religion II is not always
sure to bc done. Now tits useless
IN uav IL 0u1Lt TO be done This is