The Russellville Democrat., 1889-06-27

justice and truth.
 But was there any obstruction placed in the way of the "Son of Man, ",the lowly Nazarene?
 We answer yes, for they not only cast reflection on hIs birth, but also impeached his ability and rendered ineffective the infinite resources of his wisdom.
 When he would have gently led them into the effulgent light of God and up the flight Of stairs into His very beaming presence, they hesitat- ed and arogantly asked "Is not this the Carpenter, the Son of Joseph and Mary, and are not his brothers and sisters with usS Whence then hath this man these things"
 And here again we discover, not only the disposition to underate his humble birth, condition and rela- tionship in life, but also the disposi- tion to undervalue and depreciate his ability and his Work, for while the noblest specimen of manhood the world has ever known was in their midst with authority to act not only in the capacity of an instructor, in tue way of truth and with ability in fnitely great to unfold every feature of the new Covenant, but also with equal ability to be the benefactor of his own countrymen they manifested an entire want of appreciation of him.
 There was the Son of man pos sessing the noblest qualities and ele ments of manhood, with character spotless and unimpeachable, with a love for his countrymen, strong and tender, with disposition serene and heavenly, with a desire to do them good as deep and strong as his be ing, with the ability of the invisible God to enlighten and save and with his Fathers approval and official en- dorsement when he said 'This Is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him." but still they pressed the question: "Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Joseph and Mary, and they were offended at him."
 THE WANT of the recognition and appreciation of His true merit and moral worth prevented his doing them good, for "He could do no mighty work there save to heal a few sick folk" And he marvelled at their inbelief and sad, "A prophet is not without honor save in his own country and among his own kindred" '" | THEIR WANT of appreciation arose out of their vitiated moral nature.
 Another feature of this subject is, : they had the opportunity ONCE of en tertainlng the NoBLEsT of MEN the man Christ Jesus, Yea more, even the very God; put they did not choose to embrace it, and the oppor. tunity passed from them and was gone forever and he turned meekly to others for be could do them nc good.
 He had the ability, the disposi- tion and the desire, but they would not.
 And perhaps they were never made to realize fully the greatness and the grandeur Of their opportunity until they were ushered into the presence of the King Eternal, when the vell was lifted from their souls, and they beheld Him in all the uprightness oI hIs character and in the infinite re sources and glory of his being and Ohl how horror stricken for then they realize how they were offended not at an enemy, but at a friend and the best friend too, of earth, or sky or heaven.
 But the opportunity is gone forev CT and naught except eternity can impress them properly with the magnitude of their fatal mistake. But further this want of the re cogn tlon and appreciation of true [ merit, and moral worth and the spir it, which was then, and which is now rife to distinguish and discriminate between men and classes of men be cause of relationships and conditions of wealth or poverty irrespective o f character, tends constantly to engen der strife, widen the rent in all cir cles of society, magnify obstacles ant render the harmony of it's many dis cordant elements impossible. And we insist that the disposi ton which is now and ever has beer prevalent to distinguish and discrim mate irrespective of character, arises out of false conception of the true basis of real merit and true man hood.
 And from this false conception anC the want of recognition of the tru, basis of real merit and true manhood and the consequent disposition tt | discriminate irrespective of charac ter, have arisen the most vexinG problems of this or any other age.
 The great problem of thls age i' How shall we unite the many dis cordant elements of the one common humanity and bring perfect order and peace out of chaos and confus ion2
 The only solution of this problem [ THE PROBLEM or THE AGE, is to touch and quicken the pubic conscience and bring it into perfect harmony with the moral standard of personal obligation, for it is not moral worth and true merit which obtain as 6 rule, but on the other hand that man who can present the best worldly ap pearance and who can use the most effective chlcanery, is the man who yields the most powerful sceptre and who commands the greatest influence ,s aon;ol nsuti an1 in ton rnan,t ;,,