Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-02-12
AN E99AY
On Unity and Love
BY ALLEN C. sPRANKLE, PIG.

BY ALLEN G. SPRANKLE, p. G.
Written for, and Read before, the Odd
Fellows, In their Hall, Feb. 2. 1874.
Human nature varies as much in dis
; position as the different faces in the hui
man family vary; yet, notwithstanding,
we are all endowed with q spiritual ma
ture alike, which is supernatural. The
spirit is the soul, and the soul is the life.
The heart is the seat of our sensibilities,
but our will governs those sensibilities.
In the brain exists that will, that un-
derstanding which fiuctuates the heart,
from whence spring emotions OF love.
Love comes from God. God Is love. 1t
is only human to haze. We commit a
grieveus sin when we do not give way
to our better nature. Our consciences
sting us severely, and we are too often
made sad by them. We know, and are
made to feel sensibly the frailties of hu-
man nature, and our soul points to di-
vine. 1t is not strange that we are ever
shifting uncontentedly here and there,
sorrowing and rejoicing, ever and anon
as we slowly and heavily tread our way
through the thick mist and intricacies
of this life, hoping to find at some time
or other the hidden gem. For there is a
something that man is to possess-a
crown he is to wear, that he could not
be satisfied. All the world combined
its treasures and its powers cannot sat
isfy one single soul. There is life in
man that reaches far beyond the mu-
table shores Of time, where "the branch
es shall unite with the vine.''
No two things are more suitably con-
nected or essentially important than
unity and love. The two are one and
inseparable. Love is an attribute Of
the heart that is difficult to define. 1t
is said, Glove is the reduction of the
universe to single being, the expan-
sion of single being even unto God"
Avoid having contumacious feelings;
shake them of. Cultivate unity. 1.-two
or three, or body ofmenwhose affections
are centered upon one purpose, and who
are net afraid of supererogation, nor
one doing more than the other, will
guarantee you will find that body sue
cessful in their work.
Organizations, secret or otherwise,
cannot accomplish their mission without
these essentials, namely, unity and love.
The two create harmony and concord.
spiritual unity" it is said, abinds to-
gether every member of the human fam
ily;" therefore, "How good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to-
gether in unity"
1t is our unity that crowns our Ia
bors with success. We should all feel
on an equal with each other. Bishop
Taylor says: "Unison is the word
which at once characterizes true relig-
ion, and describes the upper world"
1 am sure if such be the case, the
union that is intended for the advance
ment of the soul of man through this
dark and dismal journey of life to the
Star Of Bethlehem, will meet with its
just reward. Life is too short to quar-
rel in, and too precious to be lost.
1t often seems that when we set about
to do right, when we are struggling, as
it were, for good motives, acts that be-
hoove christian men, we Immediately |
encounter strong reverses; heavy bar
riers intervene; many things go con-
trary to our wishes, that often dis
courage and distract us, so much so,
that we feel at times like relaxing our
efforts, like throwing down the oars
and letting our life-boat be carried with |
the sweeping tide, but we again renew
courage, for we know it would be un-
safe to yield, for ere long we would find
ourselves as We find many of our fell
low-beings, floating in some turbid
whirlpool or mere wreck on the
shores of time.
Avoid selfishness. Seltishness comes |
not from wisdom, but from oscitied
hearts; hearts that have become har-
dened by continual nursing of it, un-
til it impregnates our very all. Moth
ing appears to emanate from real sell
fish heart but thorns and thistles, which |
prick and pierce those that need kind
ness. We cannot possess nature with
out its being blended more or less with
that selfish feeling. We cannot attain
so near to moral perfection, in the
present state. However we can try to
improve ourselves more and more "unto |
the perfect day." So then, let us love
one another, for
"Love is the little golden clasp
That bindeth up the trust.
Oh. break it not, lest all the leaves |
Shall scatter and be lost.''
In st. John we find this beautiful |
sentence: "Beloved, let us love one |
Il