The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-06
For the Central Presbyterian.
Presbyterian Progress.
ReU. Hugh Henry:
FEBRUARY 1st, 1884.

Rev. Hugh Henry:
Dear Brother Your criticism in the
Central Of the articles on +" PRESBYTERIAN
Progress" has been carefully read. /
anticipated dissent from some of the
views expressed. / am glad you have
found so little that is Objectionable, and
L indulge the hope that we are at one
in the conclusion reached Allow me
to remind you that the proverb, GA
chain cannot be stronger than its weak
est link" does not apply to process
OF reasoning where the business Of the
conclusion reached depends on the com
bined and cumulative force of many
arguments. You may substract> all
that is said on the topic of sympathy
and the argument remains, | think,
irrefutable, for this part of the discus
sion is but single, and possibly super
fluous, stone in the massive buttresses
of the arch.
But L am by no means ready to sur
render to your criticism. The sympa-
thy intended is not that abstract senti-
ment which weeps over an affecting
narration of fictitious misery and turns
the beggar from the door without a
farthing, but that practical sympathy
which eXpends itself upon individuals,
shares their joys and sorrows and binds
the subject and object of the sentiment
together with bonds "stronger than
hooks ofsteel." In respect to this sym
pathy two propositions were implicitly
laid down
First. That the conditions of this
sympathy are fellowship of experience
and taste and social affinity. The
strength Of this sentiment, we believe,
is in the ratio of the distance which
separates socially, intellectually, and
esthetically the person who feels from
the object Of his sympathy. This law
of sympathy is continually illustrated
in every day life We sympathize
more keenly with the misfortunes of a
friend than the reverses of stranger.
The most compassionate experience
an intenser commiseration for the suf
ferings of those upon the same plane
socially with themselves than for the
miseries of such as are below them.
The hand which will fly open in gen
erOus atfluence upon the slightest ap-
peal of an equal, often slowly, consid-
erately, and grudingly relaxes upon the
earnest importunacy of an inferior.
The principle here stated that the con
ditiOn Of sympathy is a similarity of
condition and experience is embodied
in the mediation Of the Redeemer. That
he might be perfected in sympathy he
took not only our nature, but the
form of servant" GAS omniscent
God he can and did figure to himself
conceptions of all possible human trials
just as accurate as experience itself, ,"
but cit behoOved him to be made like
unto his brethren that he might be q
merC1W and faithful High priest To
secure our confidence and to "be touch
ed with feeling of our infrmities, He
was tried in aH points like as we are"
But
Second. We affirmed that this sym
pathy with the uncultivated and lower
classes is dulled and blunted, not extin-
guished by our process of training for
the ministry. We did not say this
would be the effect in every instance.
We left room for such possible cases as
those referred to by you, where this
sentiment naturally strong and invig-
GRATED by grace dominates flesh and
blood and overleaps the chasm. 1t is