The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20

perhaps, must pay their dues to a club,
and these things leave them but mite
for charity. IL Is a position that cannot
be truthfully denied, that fairs. dinners
and suppers to raise funds for religious
purposes, would be unnecessary, In case
church members were IA liberal
ms their means admit of their
being In giving to the church
for the salary Of the minister and the
Improvement of the church ediiice.
Church members can turn this thought
over in their minds and evolve from 1t
profitable instruction.
Are you hostile to the Christian re-
ligion that you level your blows so per-
sistently at its ostensible professors by
no means. | Pm its well wisher from
the bottom Of my heart. But. | wish TO
see 1t live up to the mark OF the prize
of its high calling, " instead of shirking
It's duty and entering into partnership
with the world. wish well to Its purity,
not to lts corruption-l wish well TO its
vitaliZing energies. not to its corpse
like apathy. The professors Of the
Christian religion ARE designed to repre-
sent Christ, and unless they do so repre-
sent him, they are like flowers that have
lost their fragrance. aud salt that has
lost its SAVIOR My purpose and aim Ia TO
awaken professors from their apathy-to
security into which they have fallen.
and to quicken their energies aud re-
invigorate their strength so that their
daily lives and conversation may exem-
plify the fundamental truths OF religion
and commend religion to the men OF the
world.
But church members must be made to
realize the cardinal truth, that charity
Ia the end OF the commandment" and
D ha - nf "a "a " ha
not be filled with the spirit OF Christ IN
til they become really and truly charit-
able. to the extent OF their worldly
means. They must feel, that II ia more
blessed TO give then to receive and
that they must go IN search OF the poor
and needy aud minister to their wants.
when they find them in their novels,
hungry, cold and shivering. Every city
| can boast OF charitable men and women,
who go about doing good" San Anto-
MO has many men and women OF this
noble breed, but II stands In need Of
more men and women OF this type. The
harvest Ia abundant, but the respers are
few. The churches should lead of in
all works Of charity. They must do so,
or give arms to infldelity with which to
attack religion.
The use Of retrospection and self
examination cannot be over-estimated.
They disclose to us our hOrt-comings,
our weakness and our failures. and by 80
doing, afford us an opportunity Of max
ing PREPARATIONS and atonements ~ we'll
as OF avoiding similar shortcomings in
the time to come.
Let each man interrOgate his memory
and conscience as to whether he has
been as charitable as he might have
been during the year 1856. Has he shu;
his ears to no cry OF distress that he
| inh hu VA raa nd N IN n
venience to himselfy Has ne turned his
back upon no poor and needy person
whom he could have relieved? Has he
shown a constant Willingness to be-
charitable? IL conscience and mem
DRY are unable to give affirmative an
swers to these questions. then 1t is time
to turn over new lear and to repair
tue errors OF the past by more thorough
system of charity. LAYMAS.