The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-17
Charity Of Speech.

1t shows noble heart to speak kindly
of the erripg. Charity of speech is as
divine thing as almsgiving or the char
ity of action. The tongue that speaketh
no evil is as lovely and as much to be
admired as the hand that administers to
suffering humanity. To judge no one
harshly; to misconstrue no mans mo-
tives; to believe things are what they
seem to be until the contrary is proven;
to temper judgment with mercy, is
equally as praiseworthy as to build
churches, establish asylums and found
colleges.
Unkind words do as much harm and
destroy as much happiness as unkind
deeds. Many heart has been panied
and wounded beyond the reach of the
cure effected by the healing balm of
time; many reputation has been
stabbed to death by the blight and the
sting of look or word. They have
destroyed the peace of families, parted
husbands and wives, and broken the
sacred ties of friendship between the
dearest and the most intimate friends.
There is charity which thinketh no evil
and speaketh no evil, and which consists
in Withholding words, in suppressing
harsh expressions, in abstaining from
speech, when to speak is to censure and
condemn. Such charity hears the tale
of slander under protest and repeats it
not again it refuses to be one to help
the ball of calumny and detraction roll
on, and will not be accessory to the cruel
and relentless butchery of character and
reputation.
While the busy, tattling and censorious
world is plotting mischief and indulging
in whispers and insinuations intended to
wound the heart and mar the character,
charity sits dumb, amid the chatter OF
words and the shots of the sharp shoot
ers, refraining from passing Judgment on
that about which it knows nothing and
has no proof of any charges of wrong or
unfair dealing, and which, even If it had,
would prefer throwing che mantle OF
charity or the cloak of silence over the
faults and failings of the earring. Chari-
ty listens in silence but refrains from un-
favorable comment, and locks the un-
pleasant secret up in the inner chamber
Of the heart, .,;li.
IT would be impossible for slander and
detraction to prevail as widely as they
do, If reticence instead of PRONUNCIATION
we're observed as the universal and in.
variable rule. Could report, especially
unfavorable report, be furnished with the
swift feet and hundred wings it has if
there were not 80 many willing ears to
hear, and busy tongues to tell, the dark
and damning tale Of calumny and detrac-
ton? Ittis speech, deep dark and vim;
dictive, that keeps the fire alike and
lends yigor to tie flame that scorches
the tender wings of innocence and love:
1t is to the heart that is kind and
gentle that charity flies and takes pos
session and broods gently and quietly
over itwith the tender care and mild
peacefalness of the dove. There it takes
M its abode and makes its home, and by
tie words withheld and the kindly words
odt.spokep, we have seen that the dove
of peace was nesting in the heart. The
bosom that is filled with bitterness will
give expression to it in words. 1t sees
aothing bright or beautiful because it
looks through clouded and selfish Wis
ion.-Columbio Yeoman. :.