Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-10
AT the first Methodist Church.

| Az TIE FIRST METHODIST Jnufch.
There was more than the custom
airy audience, that so strongly sus-
tains Rev. Rollins at the First NJ.
Il. church, present on Sunday morn
ing To hear his discourse on "GhOuls
and Carrion Crows" The 35th
Psalm was read responsively, and
the pastor said it would be well II
all his hearers would commit it to
memory.
There was an unusual attendance
of young men and women from the
University and Woman's college.
The text chosen was from Cor. IL,
7th verse, Charity. This brief
chapter deIineated all the fruits of
Christian life. No other few
worls of English was packed 80 full
Of meanings. Here was depicted the
one thing without which Christian
life was an empty experience-real
Christian love for our fellow man.
The man who could live out the
words Of this text was fit for this
world orany other. All accomplish
nen's were useful, but the talent of
real love for humanity, that enabled
man tn reach down farthest TO
upllft his fellow man, this surpassed
all Others. All great abilities IN
achieving the successes of life were
incompatible to heart filed with
love and unselfishness. Yet this
best thing Of all was free to all.
Gods best things could not be cor
nered by the selfish Of earth. The
unloying man or woman-that is,
the uncharitable man or woman
the person devoid of the passion or
power of love, incapable of suffer.
ing and bearing for others, cannot
accomplish much in this world
even.
Suffering was not new to any of
us. What effect had 1t upon US?
Our loved ones, our wealth, our
health, may have flown away. Mans
inhumanity to man may have
chastened us. We may have been
cast down, that thereby another
has raised himself up. Through
a thousand avenues suffering comes
to us. Do we profit by it? Have we
learned the lesson God would teach
us through suffering, the christlike
patience?
Charity believes all Ihings. This
may seem to be contradictory pas
sage. This is loves power of moral
optimism. This does not mean that
we shall lay aside all our powers Of
moral discrimination 1t means that
until convinced beyond doubt that
our fellowman or woman Is wrong,
we have no right us christians to
take up an unsifted rumor and on
the strength Of that turn our backs
on fellow being. II Is time enough
when the clouds of calumny or OBJ
loqur have been established for us to
join the heartless world that Is al
ways ready to blacken and destroy
the character of christian. The
man OF low moral character is
always ready TO drag down every
man whose life Is u rebuke to his un-
godliness.
Yet how small Is our charity!
Twenty years of upright, honorable,
godly life passes unnoticed, but one
indlscretion, one misstep, Is heralded !
to the world by type and telegraph.
The leecn upon society feeds aud |
httens on rumors and scandals and |
exists by probing its bill into the
sore-spots and reveling In putridity. |
We may expect too much of II
man. We may hope from IA stand
ard of ideals that our friend will |
never attain. But was not this
better than 10 underestimate him,
as the prssimist does ? Our religion
Is one of hope as well as love. We
expect the best. We hope for per
tectlon.
Lave and charity endureth all
things, Here Is the line OF denmark
alton between spiritual aud sensual
love. The latter is short-lived. Let
its object be marred by time, dis
ease or accident aud Il N east aside.
love would hold as true 10
It's object as God does To humanity.
Without IL We are lost for the pres
ant aud tor eternity,