Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-07-06
Compassion for the Erring.

manifestations.
Compassion for the Erring
How liable we are to 20 astray with.
out shepherd, to be devoured by
those ravenons wolves in human sb ape
who prey upon fallen virtue. and
when brother mortal has once care.
lessly wandered outside mortal Eden,
how prone we are to shut the gate and
keep him out forever. We say, oh! what
pity for such fine fellow or such a
pretty girl to thus throw themselves
away, and then give them kick bv
way Of assistance, that they should be
allowed to 60 on to destruction with
out helping hand, and then we give
another kick, and at the same time we
wonder why they don't reform and be
admitted into good society. The fact
is, we would all be ready enough to
assist the unfortunate did we think We
could raise ourselves by the act 10 pro.
portion and thereby preserve our rel
alive distance. It is not in the nature
of man, or woman either, to use strong
exertions to lift being below us to
our level to say nothing about hoist
ing them to a higher eminence-ln
short we are all such set Of rogues,
and can have such little confidence
in each other that we don't know but
kindess bestowed may b a death
blow returned. Be compassionate to
the .rring and remember they are our
bretGren-children of the same God
and filled with the same mfr mitiea.--
They have committed no crime, but
only erred, and stumbled in the path
wherein we all have in weakness trod,
Speak gently to the erring. 1t is
enough for him to know, without being
chided about it, that dove eyed limo.
cence and white winged peace have
flown from their native bowers and
left the heart cheerless and sad. 1t is
enough for them to know that the door
Of the worlds great and respectable
vehicle is closed against them without
you pokins your head, out Of the win
dows and asking them how they like
an outside passage 10 the storm.
don't know how 1t is, but it does aeem
to me when l look upon the prosper
GUS aud then upon the unfortunate
that decent society is a fool and very
foolish fool and many times destituts
Of good manners. Speak kindly to the
erriug. talk to them with word OF com
fort, looks Of love, aud iE tones Of ten
dsrness, and you may induce them to
quit their thorn covered ways and
walk in the paths Of peace and virtue
We have all sinned in our time and
heaven perhaps, has intentionally O.
verlooked it. Ifyou happened to meet
with a miserable fellow mortal whom
ru has ruined, or one Of the gentler
sex who has been seduced from the
path of virtue, do not pass them by
unnoticed or with look OF cold con.
tempt If you have once been friends
be friends still. Speak to them kind,
ly, take them by the hands, invite
them home with you to share your
hospitality and receive wholesome ad-
vice, and when you show them the door
show them the road to respectability,
happiness and honor. Especially do l
mean these remarks for that portion OF
the lovlier and weaker sex whose NOR.
al strength has not been sufficient to
bear up their beauty, and those night
blooming flowers who have lost their
fragrance, whose buds Of innocence
have received a blight. and whose
blossoms of love have faded, and yet,
how many OF them might be made to
flourish again by being transplanted
to the warm nourishing soil Of society
but alas, society, especially the female
portion thereof, won't look upon them
any more as beautiful roses or lovely
lilies but as poison GUS weeds not fit to
bsskirt by-paths Of decent society. 30
white and fine is the fabric of woman 8
fair fame that speck upon it not larg-
er than fly dot shows palmer than
grease spot as big as your hand on the
reputation Of US men. AS soon as a