Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-01
COMMUNICATED.
SERMON ON THE HALF.SHELL
BY DEACON DIoGENEs.
CHARITY.


ant angels sang the joyful tidings of
the beginning of better era in our en-
thralled sphere, they declared senti
ment born of heaven, the first principle
which should control mankind and
make the world akin-it was charity.
Faith, that mysterious chain which
reaches beyond the boundary line OF
time, through and beyond the immersi-
tv OF space and binds the creature TO
his Maker-lIope, whose whispered
words have often cheered the aching
heart, and whose deft fingers trace
scenes of sunshine beyond the dark
reality of the present, are subordinateS
TO this virtue, which inspiration declares
to be "the greatest.
1t is the crown,jewel of human yir-
tues. and it shines without our words
selfish darkness with brighter beams
than the morning star or the rays OF the
MONDAY sun.
Ny brethren, the long past is ever
speaking to the living present, "Love
thy neighbor as thySelf' Alas, that
this divine injunction should only find
an echo in the universe, and remain
unheeded, unheard or forgot
Along the wayside of life how many
weary over burthened travellers fall, and
how seldom is a kindly hand outstretch-
ed to lift them up. The bruised, bleed
ing and disabled, tind no Good Samari-
tan to kindly bind their wounds, for
Samaritans now days, seldom travel
the road pursued 10y unfortunate, foot
sore, individuals. Men generally
measure their love for q neighbor by
the length of his purse, and deal out
their charity (!) as grocer does his
goois-an exchange for pecunairy
profit.
Some stand like a finger board at the
wayside and point the weary traveller to
a place of refuge further OH. They are
ever ready to commend the needy 10
the charity of others but if appealed to
they will be found as heartless as a
pump stock, as unsympathetic as an ice
berg. Others are slow to give and
quick TO publish it. They vainly imag-
ine that a virtue can be purchased for a
dime, aud that an approving smile from
the God of tie helpless can be gained
by a dollar sacrifice Oh the altar of pride.
My brethren, there are others, yet
comparatively how few, who give in
charity tor the sake thereof. The gate
way of their hearts is large enough to
admit all mankind, and their hands in
cheerful aims giving, obey the impulses
of hearts oil which The precepts of chris
tianily are as indelibly inscribed by the
finger of the Great Jehovah, rs they
were on the tables Of stone amid the
lightning flashes on Sinai, aud yet these
truly charitable are as few in number as
are oases in the great Sahara or green
isles in the great waste of waters.
Throughout our world Gods voice
proclaims a boundless love for all man
kind. This voice is ever ringing in our
ears, aud yet, while listening to its kind
ly tones and partaking of our Masters
bounty, we surfe;t ourselves with bread
and give the hungered a stone. The lit
tie bread cast upon the waters is fre-
quently OF such inferior quality as to
nauseate the weakened stomachs of the
starving, while the caster thereof, sup
plies his board with the best Family
Superfine" Verify my brethren, much
slop floats on the waters which il it ever
returns to those who put it ahoat it
would be quickly transferred to the
garbage cart.
Brethren man well knows his duty
TO man-it is actuated alone by this
virtue, which is the great fundamental,
vita, sustaining principle of christianity,
or at least of the true morality of mah-
kind; yet if it were possible for us to
view the worlds inner life and see the
motives as plainly as we can the man,
could we without exceeding the bounds
of strict veracity, declare that charity, as
beautifully defined by ST. Paul, is the
basis upon which rests our great moral
structure
When traternally. man strikes hand
with man, and the popular and increas-
ing vices o. the times are stayed III
their onward sweep and bee ONE less
prevalent, then perhaps, man prompted
by charity, will properly perform his
duty to man.
Seltlove, pride and interest, stand as
armed sentinels at the portals OF mems
hearts and charity is forbidden TO pass
with the outpOsts.
Many may be cheerful givers, yet ar
rayed in costly fabrics and sbimmpringin
a wealth of jewels would blush with
shame to be seen by an aristocratic as
sociate or acquaintance, standing on
street corner whispering words of sym
pathy and consolation TO an unfortunate
ragged brother. Others TO he known
as charitable, will sacrifice their pride
for the sake OF avarice, and will occa-
sionally fit in and around the haJita-
tions of our miserable poor with psalm
singing, tract Singing, and sympathetic
whining, when it would be as impossi-
bic to squeeze dime from their well
filed pocket books as it wonId lie TO
squeeze them through the outer gates
of Paradise.
Few love their neighbor as them
selves. Some love very well at a dis
tance, especially if the lover is wealthy
and the beloved is poor relative. He,
in Imagination, may reach his arms half
way across our Continent and give his
poor cousin very loving squeeze, and