The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-09-05
CHARITY.

TIE doctrine Of total depravity is
SANDER upon human nature. Though
business the desire for position and the
dictates Of vanity sedulously cultivate the
vice Of sclfishness and III proportion
stunt the growth Of tho virtue charity,
the latter, when the occasion calls for It's
manifestation almost invariably reveals
itself with all the dignity of untram:neled
power and all the loveliness of unblem-
ished purity. Charity can not be gen
orally reached through appeals to man ;
intellect. Il has its seat III tie sensiblli-
ties and the pathetic appeal OF silent
suffering is tie eIoqucnco to which it
always responds. Ii the yellow fever
has proved il fatal scourge to mankind it
has made philanthropi8ts of men who are
rarely stirred by generous impulses. The
war engendcred hatrels which interest
cd partlsanship perpetuated. But cal
unny, elimination, sectional dislike and
the resentment which the loss of friends
intensified, are broken down by the
notes Of lamentation which issue from
the fated cities of the south. The divine
spark which makes of man something
more than a mere mechanism to provide
for his own wants, shines forth resplen-
dent on occasions of this kind, and JUS
titles tie belief that he is fashioned after
his maker.
II sickness and sorrow pHrnJ those
who taste Of their bitterness, they ennobIe
those whom they move to compassion.
No doctrinal sermon, no metaphysical dis
QUESTION on the attributes Of God, ever
raised man to as high n moral plane as
that to which he is raised by having his
compassion excited. The heart which is
animated by that practical love of man,
IS the heart imbued with tue spirit of a
tod whom it is salvation to acknowledge.
He praycth best who loveth best" and
deeds Of love are the only prayers fit to
ascend to that throne where supreme
Goodness is seated. The country is not
goddess because the churches are not
patronized. That religion which is based
on charity to man instead of on points OF
belief. IS developed when IN opportunity
for its exercise is presented, and surely
that form Of religion which IS instinct
with love, is Of the highest type, and best
designed to please Him who declared
charity to be the pre- eminent virtue.
Mans charitable impulses may be kept
i'll allegiance through variety of causes,
Int they never become extinct. That
formal religion which force of habit in
vests With the characteristics of moral
obligation might bring no mandate to
him which he feels inclined to heed, but
lis soul Yields ready obcdience &c the
Dictates 81 that love which in every sUf-
ferer recognizes n brother. The gambler
who n couple of years ago at st. Louis
sacrificed his own life to rescue those
whom terrible death stared in the face,
sanctitied his whole life by the deed and
revealed heart which was fit taber-
aacle for that spirit OF love which is
heaven born. That gambler might have
been wicked. and stasched christians
might think that just God hsd cut him
Of il his sins, but the luster Of his deed
MADE lark by comparison the most rigid
code OF morals which does not include
that spirit of loys which cast halo Of
glory around his last moments.
Tie gaunt specter which stalks through
lie soath has awakened the genius of
humanity il the north. Man has no
need 10 he ashamed of his kind. Love
has deided him and eie3used his soul of
the stains of ayayice. Mankind has not
degenerated because fewer ears incline
10 aoatrinal instruction. Humanity is
not declining because theology Is being
neglected. The still small voice often
speaks outside q church doors and
philanthropy is not circUIscribed by re-
leious tenets. He who keeps his mind
oD that central idea" on that dome
which oertopg al moral structures--Char-
ity, has with him the word ana the spirit
which bring to a timely fruition the
dearest hopes OF the most exemplary
christian.