The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-10-07

= SERIES or QUEnIEs.
Who need physician, the well or
the sick? Who need clothing, the we'll
dressed or the naked? Who need
food, those filed to satiety, or the
hungry? Who need regenerating,
those already regenerated Or sinners
These queries are suggested by
Witnessing the we'll meant, but often
times fruitless, efforts of certain or
ganizations for the promotion of chari-
ty, mutual protection, temperance etc,
TO accomplish . great amount Of good
in these directions. Take for exam
pie Temperance organization. Who
in the community msst need the pro-
lection and encouragement that such
an organization IS supposed to afford
its members? 1t certainly 10 not the
class Of persons who are not addicted
to the use of ardent spirits and have
no very marked tendency in that di-
rection. To recur to our queries, it 10
the person diseased who needs phy-
sician the naked who require to be
clothed, and the sinner who needs re-
generation. Now, what are the facts,
generally. with regard to applications
for membership in Temperance and
other organizations. Are those who
really need the encouragenent Of
these strong ones, and the safeguards
they could throw around them, the
ones that are received under the shell
ter Of their wings? Most assuredly
not. Their applications are rejected,
and one more thrust is given them
to help them on in their downward
course. The truth is 3here IL too much
of the spirit OF the Pharisee: "God
thank thee am not ~ other men, etc.
They are too select, too exclusive.
Our little clique or coterie can como
in because they are already pure, but
these erSing ones must be kept away
for they would contaminate us. Did
the adulterous woman with whom the
Savior covered, contaminate Him
And did He say 'tget thee hence?'
i
thee; 60, aud sin No more" Do not
be 20 much afraid of soiling your
fingers when fellew-being 10 fast in
the mire and filth of vicious habita
and above all, look not with contempt
upon one of your kind if he, or she.
does not quite come mp to your stand
ard of morality and virtue. Who |
knows the temptations, the inclina-
items, the circumstances incident to |
the fall of any human being from the |
path of rectitude and virtue. None |
but the tempted and their Maker. Hsv |
many have repented in bitterness of
spirit, and humbled themselves to the |
very dust, only to be met with re-
Proach, and to have pointed at them |
the finger of scorn. IL it possible 90
many in the world are unwilling to
forgive the faults Of their fellow-bs
ings, and yet expect God to forgive
theirs? Not only is it our duty to
point the way, but to take hold, help
and support those who are weak, and
stumble at every footstep. If they
fall, as they may and sften do, still as
sist them and throw around them
yeur protection, until . better man
hood and truer womanhoed il at
tanned, and they are able to keep them
selves, and perhaps gain strength by
others too.
1t is only when We are thoroughly
by persistent and repeated
effort, the case is utterly hopeless, that
we should give over and leave them
to the error of their ways. Even then
they are objects calculated to call forth
pity rather than contempt, 1t is true
that few things are more pitiable, more
and leathesome than . hu-
man being tentirely) burned sut with
the fires Of passion, and pandersr to
o yitiated appetite. Such people re-
mind one of the solitary blackened
chimneys upon the track Of Sherman's
army, from which every vsstige of
human habitation had been swept
away by tongues of fire!