Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-11
HERUTLAND HEKALD.
SATURDAY. MAY 8. 1871.
charity for the Erring Man.

Notwithstanding the sacred historian
Informs us that "God created man IN ms
own image" yet it often appears 70 US
~ ;,nags marred and man far below the
dignity of his nature. But should we
not look with that charity which covereth
q .nultitude of sins," and endeavor to
see whatever there is of good and Guilt
vate it. Many and severe things are said
Of our fellow man. He has been charged
with everything black and hideous ID
character; wholly given over to WICKED
works. Petulant philosophers have
uttered maledictions against him. Inc
lecturer and preacher have kindled with
the strange fires of awful eloquenoe, when
human depravity was the theme ana iui
walls of gall and bitterness of spirit nave
been poured out upon the sons and daugh'
tiers of humanity.
One would infer from the descriptions
which many writers upon human charac-
ter have given of man, that he was Great
ed by any other than good being, and
formed in the image Of reoerSe OF De'ty'
1t really appears to us that man, as bad as
he il, has not been worthy OF all the bit
ter sayings that have been uttered against
him. 1t is true there are many who have
sought out strange and wicked in
ventions, but how few among them all
that do wickedly are moved by love OF
evil? How few do wrong because they
love wrong in itself considered.
II we could trace erring men carefully
back to their first wandering-could
we look into the hearts of the most de-
prayed and fully understand the causes
that have been at work-the influences
that have moulded and the motives that
have guided to produce such sad results,
the world would be disposed to be more
charitable and individuals would abate
much of their censoriousness.
Men have become sinful more from mis-
takes, small in their beginning, than from
any innate desire to do wrong. False
views of the effect to their actions beguile
them into imprudent steps. Delusive
promises of happiness in sensualism be-
tray them step by step into gross indul-
genoies and they fall-not because they so
love the darkness of the low, degraded
condition, but because the better portion
of society let go their hold upon them
Society, in many instances, virtually say
to the unfortunate transgressor, snow
that you have been betrayed into wrong
and have been detected in wickedness, we
will cut yon off from all intercourse from
henceforth and forever you will share no
more our sympathy, our friendship, our
kindness--we will watch you with a look
of contempt-we Will jostle you with the
cold shoulder on the streets-we will
mark you Cain, so that you shall be de-
spised, or perchance slain, or that men
shall avoid you as spotted with leprosy."
Such course ia wanting in that charity
which helps to reclaim and is well cal
nulated to make bad men worse-to drive
nrring men to desperation.
Society does thus and in some instances
.'o.s much in making the sinners that
~rpnrge it 50 terribly at times 1t places
,on much value on mere wealth. 1t hon.
,r- not so much as it should, the industri-
rs classes-it is wanting in charity fer
thosc who have been led into miuor faults
aud for the erring children of common
father sin-sick and desolate; it treats the
transgressor with a forbidding and heart
hardening eoa--- see;Aiy -""-ts -.".o of
the spirit of forbearance. 1t wants charity
Cor the weak who have been reformed,
and become upright-made in the moral
image of God-it wants more of the spirit
of Him who broke the bruised reed-it
wants more love for the good that is in
man, that it may view him aright--raise
up the transgressor, encourage bin
make him feel bis relationship to the
great family of man and manifest the dig
nifty of his true nature. as being whom
God made upright. Let the spirit of
charity be infused upon the public mind
let it exert it's influence and many
tnmbling blocks will be removed-the
faltering will be reclsimed-the weak en-
Outraged and rengthened-the great
brotherhood of man would be scknowl-
edged, and the state of society will be
improved.
The history of mankind and our knowl
edge of the world should teach us all to
look upon the errors of our fellows in
sorrow not in anger. Take the history of
one poor heart that has sinned and suf-
Tered, and represent to yourself the strug-
giles and temptation, it has passed
through; the brief pulsations of joys;
The lpressure Of want, the desertion of
friends the scorn of the world that has
no charity the desolation of the souls
.anctusry, and threatening vices within,
health goNe, happiness gone, and you
would fain leave the erring soul of your
fellow man with Him from whose hands
it came, and look with charity on the err.
ing ones of earth.