The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-16
OUR KINsHIP.

~ DsANC 0ny SVbnS'
OUR KINsHIP.
Consider What YOHr DUTY Is-G0 Out Into
the Highways.
Rev. Z. r. Webb, rector Of 81. Peters
Episcopal church. took 40 his subject yos-
ferday, mo mnn cared for my soul"
Psalm cxiii: 4. 80 David cries in n of his
hours OF distress. He ia a fugitive, hiding
in n cave. His faith Ia beset with snares,
which his enemies have laid. He locN%.
around for a friend. bat finds himself de-
serted. His old companions refuse to
know him. Human refuge fails him; no
man cares for his soul. At once We hin
how frequent Is tho repetition OF thePsalm-
lists complaint. but lot rs ask why should
anyone care for another soul than his own!
In the scriptures there are frequent pas
sages about which gkeptics never think to
dispute. Closing those generally unintsf
esting and to tho casual reader purposeless
genealogical records OF the pat
riarchs, yon read again and sRain
the same significant statement.
First ID the mention Of = birth; then comes
the name OF y child who stands next in tho
sacred line. 30 tracing out the succession
no link il missing in the chain that reaches
from tho beginning OF the race in Eden 10
it's rebirth in Bethlehem; from Adam to
ham TO David, and from David to Christ.
Apart from this maintenance OF the oon-
n~ection, the history Of each life is summed
up in the brief resume-that all his days
were 80 many years; and the short account
terminates in the words which complete
the largest history in any life. land he
Grafton a. it is on the march to-day. o. a
million that start ont together
this will be tbs certain result:
One-fourth will die before they
have scarcely left the cradle; Q little more
than Ons-half will reach their manhood.
But from this time on to the allotted three
score years land ten, the numbers who fall
will steadily Increase with each s~ucceeding
decade. The hope Of the patrisrchs and
prophets Was in q Rodeemer TO come. They
handed it down more clearly to the children
who stepped into their places. EnlarginG
this conception Christisnity takes AZ
are all bound together by ties Of an insvi-
table kinship. Are their arguments to o.
tablish anything else?
David was not loft destitute. A resort
WAS awaiting him; his first and last. II
cried unto thee U, Lord. ! said thou art my
T&1uQ0 AEO Ivy pOTJIOu lu ZIG a II " y biV"
ing" For a application Of these thoughts
LET ~ think for a few minutes Of tho
neglected, who have not David's consoIa-
| ton. 1t is q r,proach to Us that large masses
Of those who have issued out upon the
world with Us for the same unknown realm,
and are members with us Of the same gene
ration, and are Fastening on to the same
sure destiny, should be thus de~nominated.
But guard against an unjust distinction.
Do we not generally think OF the me
elected classes as made up entirely OF the
poor? OF the poor who do not attend the
church, who seem to be beyond the reach
Of tue ordinary religious influences. outside
We are shocked at the pro-
family OF q laboring man. To
how many does it seem to lose
it's vulgarity when uttered by the merchant,
or the official or professional mani! We
deeply appreciate the enormous offence OF
But to the injustice of capital. to its
naughty indifference, which adds the sting
| Of poverty to it's encYoachments, at least
upon the moral rights of labor. how w0 are
persistently and wickedIy blind! There
are two sides to all the questions which in
the future will trouble society still more.
Are there 20 equal duties in each sphere!
| God 10 no respector of persona.
circumstances do not alter crime. Upon
director and clerk, alike. upon railroad
president and brakeman, upon ~stockdealel
and s%tockdriver, upon employer and
employees upon mistress and scr,
equal penalty for unfaithfulness to Their
trusts? And if Christianity is to show that
its saving power is available III this nine
tsenth century. where is a wider field than
in the adjustment Of these differences
growing fiercsr every day. in the oblitera-
| tim nf thu DroQf RYad milf hofSvnan thu
affiuent few and the miserable and com
fortress thousands? So diverse are the
thoughts and ways of life of the one sec
ton from the other, SO remote their svmpa-
thies that each class appears to the other to
be denizens of a different world. possessorl
CT diEeres. kinds CO souls. Social prefer
ences and differences there must be. PEG
pie of like tastes are only able to associate
comfortably. The souls of the poor ara
not of more inherent worth h those oil
the rich. The savior died for rich and poo,
alike. Blu wealth is apt to bs accom-
panied by greater influence, brings alst
better opportunities OF helping. ass.s is cer-
tainly attended by grayer responsibilities
Relieve physical suffering where you can
Pain of body is easily endured where th.
soul is at eass; and for many q dire distress
the only relief lies, not in the possession O
money and its accompaniment of luxuriou'
surroundings, but IN the rich compensa
tions of enduring for Christ's sake, o
knowing that He is near, of being tried ant
perfected.
Consider what yovr duty is. Go out int,
the highways and lanes and alleys and seel
the poor, and the MANNED. the blind and tn
outcast. Go ys into all the world. 81
Jesus commanded. Bot begin. He says. a
home. Numbered among your friends
may be some one longing TO be assured o
your faIth to keep his own from failing.