Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-30

earthed for the benefit of an incorrigible
drunkard, who abused his family. The
ultra temperance folks, however, are using
it somewhat unfortunately, against drink
ers of all classes
THE Cardinal Virtue.
And now abideth faith hope, charity, these
three; but the greatest Of these is charity
l. CoRINTHANs, XIII: ID.
The chief virtue enjoined upon the follow
ers of Christ by His disciples is the exercise
of charity. Nota charity restricted to AIMS
giving, but that broad charity which covers
q multitude of sins, tolerates differences of
views on non-essential points of religion,
hides from view the faults and weaknesses of
a brother, and makes all mankind kin. It is
charity that is one of the attributes of
deity. cit becomes throned monarch bet
ter than his CROWN" and its exercise elevates
common humanity to true obility, ia
more to be desired, and far more acceptable
in the eyes of the Divine Master than any
earthly honor or rank. 1t makes of the peas
ant lord, of the pauper prince.
Notwithstanding the stress laid upon the
exercise of this virtue in the scriptures, and
the injunctions oft repeated by the apostles,
the GLOBE is grieved to say that one has to
look in vain for it in the churches of to-day.
Starting on the hypothesis that their inter
probation of the scriptures is the only correct
one-the only true conception of the divine
will-they wage relentless warfare upon
all who differ from them, consigning them
with anathemas to the lowest depths of the
internal regions Instead of religion of
love and charity, as the founder intended it
to be, the religion of Christ as at present
practiced has become religion of hate and
all observation-disclosures. Bickering and strife
are the predon,inating features that appear
to the outside world. We must look else
where than in the churches for that charity
which forgives the frailties of the erring, and
by kindness endeavors to lead to higher
and better life. A rigid enforcement of the
letter of the law of the church is the rule.
To sin against the tenets of the church is to
merit being cast out with brand upon the
brow, forever ostracised from the commune
ion of the saints; to question the infallibil-
ity of that law is to add to the ignominy. If
one who has erred wants sympathy, Graves a
helping hand to enable him to repent of
his error and to return once more to the
true path, he need not look to the churches
for it. The church is the first to herald
abroad brothers fault-mayhap to magni-
fly it-and to bar the way against his re-
turn to tie path of rectitude 'sDepart,
am holier than thou,'' is the exclamation
that on every hand repels the repentant sin
ner. ''#.@ va
There are, it must be admitted, many
exceptions to the rule of uncharity among
church members. There are men who make
the religion of Christ "a benefaction, and
we would not withhold from them their full
share of praise. But that malice, hate,
and all uncharity, are the controlling i'm
pulses Of the church members to-day is too
patent to be overlooked, however 10th we
may be to acknowledge it.
In the matter Of charity towards the suf-
fering poor it is to be feared that the church
members of to-day. disobey the injunctions
of the master they pretend to follow. ssYet
lackest thou one thing" said Jesus. ssSell
all that thou hast and distribute to the poor,
+ = *For ye have the poor with you always:
and whensoever ye will, ye may do them
good. 1888 Sell all that ye have and
give aims; provide yourselves bags which
wax not old.'' Against these commands we
see to-day the most eminent of American
clergymen setting up his doctrine. "The
poor suffer-" said Henry Ward Beecher, in
his sermon last Sunday. "Of course thew
do, and suffering is good for them. Let
their bellies go hungry; it will do them
good. Men that cannot take care of them
selves cannot be taken care of. BY indis-
crlminate charity you relieve poverty, but
you damn the poor.' These sentiments
embody the theories of church members to-
day, although few dare to be as outspoken
as Beecher, in avowing them. it is fact
that any one who has been obliged to ask as
sistance can fully verify, that man of the
"OAA~A OHoAA' A'S PoShOG OOOh 1dE more CQe0r-
fully, and contributes to the necessities of
the poor with far less stinted hand, than
do those whose professions of charity are 40
great. The church poor are provided for
after fashion, but SO grudgingly that life
in the alrns-house is generally preferred to
the acceptance of assistance under such hu-
initiating conditions.
Is it not the duty of the clergy to stir IN
the people under their charge, to the prac-
tice of the charity taught by Jesus and his
apostles? .4
1t is fact that cannot be disguised tina,
the lack of benevolence and federation OK
hlblted by church people is a standing re-
proach against Christianity. It is notorious
that the chnrch is an asylum for the mean
the niggardly, the bigoted, as a sort of bar.
rler to the approach of those who REQUIRE
aid, or as shield for their bigotry. It is q
common remark of these men, when applied
to for assistance for some worthy object
"Ihe church needs all the aid I can snare. ),
and yet it is notorious that the church never
receives cent unless under circumstances
in which it will prove good business in.
Vestment. Sometimes the church ia ready