The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-13
WHO Is MY NEIGHBOR?
A LIVING QUESTION TO THE HEIRs
OF SAVING GRACE.
Discourse by the Rev. Or. j. .. Haw.
thorne. OF Florence. Ala, al the Court
Street Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, Yesterday Morning.

Atthe Cumberland Presbyterian Church
DR.. J. B. Hawthorne filled the pulpit yes
terday morning DR.. Hawthorne was re-
Gently OF Atlanta, but now he is engaged
in experimenting the building OF the
Baptist College at Florence, Ala, which
is to cost 100000 He gave up his church
in Atlanta to accomplish this in February
last. The church was crowded to over
flowing. After the usual opening service,
with voluntary rendered in an admirable
manner by Mrs. Ullathorne, the reverned
gentleman announced his text and spoke
about as follows:
Luke X, 8: "Who is my neighbour"
This question propounded to our Lord
by Jewish lawyer was n living qucs-
ton then and is today. The answer is
given in the parable OF the good Samari-
tan.
The lesson Of this parable is needed rs
much by the people of this generation as
it was by the nation TO which it was origi-
naly spoken. The ancient Jews despised
the whole world outside OF their own
country, but they had a special luminosity
toward Samaria. The mere sight of q "a.
marian was enough to make the average
Jew scowl and gnash his teeth and
swear, even in the synagogue, and yet, in
this parable, il is the despsed Samaritan
who is commended and the naughty, sell
righteous Jew who condemned. ~
Jews Of that day believed that Jehovah
was their God only. They had very little
idea of the Divine Being. They believed
that God would defend and protect them
simply because they were Jews, and that
lie was national God. They believed
they alone were wise, they alone were
holy, they alone we're decent. The whole
Gentle world was ignorant, foolish and
unclean. The Greeks were characterized
by the same naughty self-importance and
self-righteous spirit They alone were
cultured they alone were worthy OF the
gods. All other peoples were barbarians
and savages.
No man is ever better than his faith.
Every mans lie is the outcome of the
faith that is in him and the same is true Of
nations. Tho Jews acknowledged no
obligation to do any act Of kindness
to any Que but jew. The
Greek had not the least disposition
TO help any human being outside
the circle OF his own nation. The early
records OF our race are records of SELFISH
ness and inhumanity. Each tribe was
concerned for its own welfare. Ii recOg-
nized no obligation TO be helpful to other
tribes "Might was right" Strong men
| believed that II was their prerogatiyo TO
rob weaker men OF property, life aud
| liberty.
This principle OF sclfshness regns to.
day wherever Christianity is not the dom.
mating force. The unchrsHan nations
and tribes are as selfish as brutcs and de-
structive when not restrained by fear Of
some superior power.
Christianity brought now law and
new force into the world-"Love thy
neighbor as thysclf," "As We would that
men would do unto YOU, do ye even so
unto them" "Do good as We have oppor-
tunity TO all men," Did | say II was q
new law? Fifteen hundred years before
/ Christ came IL had been written by tho
| finger OF God on tablets OF stone and de-
| liyertd 10 the Jews. But II was not un-
derstood until read IN the light OF Christ's
teachings and examples. The jew tr--
! lieyed that lac was obedient 10 the precept,
| but he recognized mo man as his neigh.
| Dor who had not the blood OF the lle-
brcws coursing through his veins. Jesus
! Christ gave a larger, grander interpreta.
ton 10 the law lie taught that every
man In the wide world should be neigh.
Dor 10 every other man. Under the law
rs expounded by Him, my neighbor is
anybody who needs my support, love and
help.
Every man then IL my neighbor, white,
black, red and yellow - every human
being whom my assistance can relieve or
my sympathy encourage. There are
great many men who acquire knowledge
simply to DO above the common herd.
They use their God-given abilities for a
selfish purpose. They do not dispense
their knowledge among the ignorant.
II they were 10 use their attainmenis In
the training OF children and ignorant
neighbUrs, what good they would accom-
plish. No, they acquire knowledge sim
ply 10 put themselves above their fellow
men. They do not recognize their neigh
bors. The late Dr. Lawrence Smith, Of
| Louisville, Is a notable example OF what
can be accomplished by generous man Of
learning. llewent out into the byways and
highways, gathered in the poor laboring
man and mechanic and shared with
them the knowledge he had gained by hard
study On the other hand was the late
Matthew Arnold. lilo came over hero
from England 10 lecture. His audiences
were always small, but cultured" llo'
had no message for tho common people.
lie brought with him his English aiiccta-
tons. lilo wore his single cycglass, and
he spoke IN such high key that a common
man could not have understood him. llo
was cold aud selfish. lie made one mis-.
cradle 20 listen TO his discourscs upon
culture" After had listened 10 him
felt like had stood in a cold rain, and IL
was one OF the drcaricst, saddest evenings
Of my lilc We should speak TO the com.
mon people. The talented and cul-
tured should 20 among them. raise their
ideas, make them more intelligent aud
worthy Of citizenship. We would then DO
doing the country and society service
The contentious now going on between
capital and labor. aud that which is moro
aud more distinctly drawing the lines be.
tween the classes Of socicty.-ihe rich maxi
igg themselves richer by making the poor
poorer, sail due 20 tho disI0yulty OF tho
rubbing miiliOnaires 10 Christ's great law
OF love. The Government Is being cndan-
gcfcd. and unless We observe the great
aud fundamental law Ut love, there Is no
telling 10 what extent the dissatisfied and
ill.trcaied poor will CO. love thy neigh.
Dor as thyiclf, and the widening breach
between capital and labor. which Is the
condition that divides society, will be
closed up, aud not till then.
nivrr Triegrans.
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