Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-14


ishncss will yield to the force OF intelligent aud
impressive training, iu the principles Of natural
rights, and reciprocal relations among men.
The great work of restoring mankind
to happiness in this world, involves, es
scntiaIly, the eradication Of this cardinal
moral evil-scltishness-aud instead there
of, the implantation Of beneyolcncc or
the sinking of all coyetous antagonlsm III the
principles and affections OF universal broth
hood. Thus the source OF injustice will be re-
moved, and the root of I'LL bitterness extracted,
and the sweet fountain of peace opened to flow
in delightful! harmony, through every channel
of human Intercourse. This is the Divine idea
of DESTROYING the evils OF human society," and
restoring the happiness OF man.
Aud although the work includes infinite
difficulties, which puts its ultimate universal
perfection FAR remote, yet ii must begin exact
ly at this point, and measure It's success by
the degree in which setshness is uprooled and
destroyed, or have no beginning at all; Tor what
does not begin To remove the cause, can have
no beginning in the cure OF the disease. 1t Is
here, therefore, that the whole system OF dl-
vine education in the science vi virtue and hap
pluesS ceutrcS, and undertakes the destruction
of ali antagonlsm between man and his Maker
and sovereign Ruler, and between man aud
his telluw-man. In proof | cite the two great
commandments ''Thpu shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul,
aud with all thy ullud. This Is the first and
great commandment. And 1t sweeps away
the last vestige OF seiishneSs from between
God and man and restores communion. And
the second is like unto it Thou shall love
thy ucighbor as thysrt" This sweeps away
the last vestige of seitishness from between
man and man, aud restores brotherhood. 'On
these says the blessed Nazarlne hang all
the law and the prophets. Thus we sec that
the work of human redemption, as it relates to
the social condition Of the fallen world, con-
templates the restoration OF the sweet brother
hood which was signed for the untallen
world Jesus, addressing His disciples said:
"All We are brethren And | must, there
fore, say to the brotherhood OF the Union,
before me to day, that while you may formally
conform to the rules Of your order, you can
really enter into the spirit Of brotherhood, only
to the extent that you have been spiritually
renewed-tirsi in the love OF God, aud rccond
ly in the love Of your neighbor. The evil Is IN:
and of your own nature, as we'll as that OF
those you would influence. And you need not
be told that The leopard can not change his
spots, nor the ethiopian his skin. The true
brotherhood OF our nature was lost III the ialI;
and it is to be rcgaillcd. i'll lis spirit and lie.
through the rcgcucratlug grace OF our Lord
Jesus Christ, aoue. Hence, without any per.
sonal observation to sustain me, venture the
assertion that your consistent active workers,
are men who sit at the feet OF Jesus and learn
OF Him, who was meek and lowry in heart.
1t was this evident truth which led the Found
er of your order to base your Brotherhood, in
''brotherly love as embodied in the Gospel Of
Nazareth" No man can grow the rose bush,
without its thorns; Tor the thorn. as much as
the rose is in the sccd-in It's nature. Aud to
preserve the one and destroy the other. no less
work is required than re creation. To make
fallen men brothers In spirit and truth, they
must be made new creatures
Having seen that the source OF ail human
antagonsm. lies III hunan ScItishncSs; that this
is the evil which has introduced, and which
maintains all the disorder and confusion Of
human society; that the restoration Of human
society to order and harmony, involves its
eradication, and the implantaton OF brotherly
love, and that the source OF true Brotherhood
is 10 God alone, through the operation Of the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ, it is appropriate now
to consider. The nuturs Of the restored Brother"
hood OF ntdak1nd.
Various and disastrous mistakes have
been made on this subject Especially is
this true Of all the attempts Of nlidcllty. and
religious f;tnatclSm, to regulate the relations
of men toward each other. And 50 have some
of these errors spread and perverted the mind
of the MASSES, that there are the most Wclghty
reasons to apprchcnd consequences, at no very
distant day, that may bathe the earth in blood
and tears, and thrill with horror every genera
ton yet to come. The late history of France
may be consulted for an example OF what false
notions Of human relations may yet extend into
an international calamity.
All the errors on this subject of which We
have any knowledge relate, more or less direct
" to the theories OF human equality. And
these human theories, with great phlIanthro-
pic titles for enylouS thought or ambitious de
sign, are the offspring of that very Scltlshncss
that gave existence to the evils they are pro-
posed to remedy. And thus we have one form
OF scliishncSs organized to resist another.
Were the time aud place suitable L might
point out to you numerous humanitarian
schemes OF this character, which greatly lnten-
sty the conflicts Of man with his fellowman,
and separate them more and more widely troul
each other
Equality is no essential clement in the nature
of true Brotherhood. " hen Mr.. Jefferson
said, in the Deciarati on OF independence, "Ail
men arc creatcu cQlal Hc huc" ILLS Mas u uc
only in restricted sense, and, therefore, he
added the needed qualification, conlinng this
equality to the inalienabe rights of lite,
liberty and the persult OF happiness. Every
man has an equal right to live, provided he
does not violate the rights of any one else to
the same blessing; and every one has an equal
right to the exercise Of his gifts and en-.
dowments in the pur uit of happiness,
he does not clio Sc to do 50
in violence to the rights Of Others to employ
their enlowmcnts to the same end. Beyond
this no claim can be made good for equality
among men. The human family are character
lied by infinite variety, as to the body, the
mind, the heart, circumstances station and in
hucnce The claim for equality Of condition,
in the matter Of property or station,
is born Of that same dishonesty, which leads
the thief to take secret possession OF the prop