Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-11-22
CHARITY.
Professor Swings Conception of
/ the Last Of the Three Relig-
/ Gus Graces.
The Greatest Human Quality as
a Factor Of Personal
Love,
An Eloquent Exposition Of the Doc.
trine from the Spiritual
Standpoint

An Eloquent Exposition Of the Doc.
trine from the Spiritual
Standpoint.
The following discourse was deliv-
cred by Professor David Swing, on
Sunday last, at Central Church. (Mc-
Vicker's Theatre,) Chicago:
Bot the greatest OF these is Cha.ity.-I. Cor.
If of three the mightiest doctrines
of the Christianity charity is the
greatest, wonderful indeed must be
its greatness! If one could summon
from the past the three greatest mon
that have lived, and then voice from
heaven should tell us which one were
the greatest of the three, what laurcls
indeed would rest upon that chosen
forehead. From the three uneuualed
virtues of the soul charity is ordered
to step forward and be crowned the
chief. Would there were some argu-
ment or some panegyric by whose
help we could come to some fair esti-
mate of the worth and beauty of this
lottiest figure in Paul's group. But,
like the children on the scashorc, we
must wander up and down in vain,in
presence Of a watcry scene that defiles
our senses, and will moan and roar
and rise and fall after we are dead.
II st. John speaks truly, there comes
silence in heaven when the voice of
even the blessed is hushcd. This pause
of language might perhaps come
when some truth only vaguely
dreamed of in this life, flashes forth
in uncloudcd light. In presence of
such sudden unwilling it might be
that all the immortal host would sud-
denly fall into that realization that
has only silence and tears.
1t is misfortune of us mortals that
we must take refuge in words, and
attempt by poor, weak language to
rise to the truths of God. Instead of
throwing our arms passionately
around the neck of Charity and fill
ing the universe with declarations of
love, here we all come to-day in mid
die life or old age still asking "Vho
Is he Z? "What image is this which
Paul has carved out so tenderly ?"
Singular anecdotes are told of the
rambles of the common people amid
the statuary of the Louvre. how they
read name and pass on. not know
ing whether the being who stands in
the marble was sinner or saint, or
whether it was designed by Angelo
or by mound-builder of prehistoric
America. But we need not ridicule
those ignorant Of art, for we all have
rambled along in the gallery of God
without having read the glorious
faces Of these snowy marbles, before
which Paul stood in such rapture.
Let us all repent of our blindness and
lay to-day at Charity's feet offerings
that we are not high enough to place
on her head.
OF the great idea of doctrine or
virtue called "Charity" we may speak
first. Q) anaiytically, defining the
fact secondly, ~ historically, mark
ing the rise and progress of the vir-
tue; thirdly, 90 practically, marking
its value on the field of human ac-
ton.
l. Charity may be defined as the
love of man. A low order of human
nature can love itself or its own little
group of home or family, but it is a
higher order Of soul that can love
mankind. Christ said if you love
those only that love you. you are
equal only to a heather or publican.
for q publican can do the same. If
you would pass beyond the publican
yonf heart must pass far beyond the
little space that limits the publican's
affections, and find the human family
outside Your house or garden walls.
strangers have borne witness of thy
charity" said st. John. Inasmuch as
no soul can love man without loving
all that is good of heaven or earth. the
term often is the equivalent of all
love toward man or God. But its
prime import is to be found in that
tender sentiment toward humanity,
which sent Paul out on his mission,
or led Christ to his works and self
denial and death. 1t is the sentiment
that lies beneath the heroes, turning
their sufferings into a triumph. TO
find the meaning Of n term, look into
the definitions and usages of the past
and thus from the long experiment
and the witnesses, the meaning of the
word will come to you with not 6
single secret kept back. What thu
Bible says of this grace you wei
know. Call other witnesses. Confu
cius says. ''Charity is that rational ant
constant affection which makesus sac
rifice ourselves to the human race n:
If we Were united with il so as tC
form one individual,pa rtaking equal.
~ in its prosperity and adversely
John Bunyan says. "The shepherds
led the pilgrim to Mount Charity
where they showed him n man tina
had bundle of cloth before him, GU
Of which he was cutting coats ant
garments for the poor who stoot
around him, and yet his bundle Of
roll of cloth was never less" l
would consume the hour should tn,
poets be consulted as to the meanin.
of this potent word. But Drydel
says:
In such blest charities she passed the day,
!, It's wondrons how she found an hour to pray
Another says:
bali his earned rittance to poor neighbors went
They had his aims, and he had his content
Marking thus the usage of all wri
tiers, you will find that charity is
love which breaks over the narrow
confines of ones own life and HON,
and sweeps away off over the wild,
fields of man. 1t is like the sun
: warmth and light, which leaves tn;
sun itself and fly away, seeking
worlds remote, TO cover them witt
warmth and light and life.
Having thus found definition O
the doctrine, that it is love for hui
manity, let MS examine the idea his
torically. Let us ascend this Nil,
River to find if possible whenc,
comes this overflow. Charity mus
have been first an instinct of the soul
As all love is first q simple instinct
is it love of child or friend or musi,
or color or fragrance or beauty, SC
this notion must have come first as ar
instinct, and then it passed under the
care Of reason to be built up into {
powerful principle. The painters
art, the musicians art, was once only
a fOrmless sentiment, a reaching on,
as of child for q lamp, but success
sive generations nursed the idea unit
1t began to produce pictures or music
and at last it grew into n powerful
passion and formulated art. Sc
charity once came, only strong enough
to leave few figs on the tops of the
trees, and few grapes on the vino
for persons not belonging to the land.
lords family. But in the Mosaic age
it was feeble instinct, not so much
living as giving signs Of life. 1t was
like the music Of the old Greeks, not
q tune, but only prophecy of com.
ing harps and violins and symphonies
The Hebrews could cnslavc or tor
ture or exterminate an outside tribe
without much hesitation. AS to the
whole human race they cherished no
kind sentiment, but in the sympathy
shown in the law about not beating
the olive tree second time there is
the faint dawning of that far-otf day
OF charity. 1t consumes long time
for truth to grow up into broad
principle. Many slave was emanci-
pated by the kind imnnlSe Of q master