Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-10
\ DISCOURSE ON KINDNESS.

!
 At the United Church on the Law of |
 Kindness-Kinship With Universal l
 Humanity the Central Idea of Chrfs- l
 tianity-Uses of Kind Speech in the
 Bettermenr of Men.
 The Power of Kindness was the subject of the Rev. B. P. Parker's discourse at the United church yesterday. The reverend doctor is tall, well-built man of fine presence-and regular features His hair is yet dark and he wears a handsome black moustache. He speaks with a low but distinct enunciation, and what he has to say is always put in fnisLed English. His text in connection with the theme was taken from Proverb bs xxv:26, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness"
 ''These words" said MT. Parker, "are part of a chapter of Proverbs describing
 the ideally good and upright woman, the stay of her household and the joy of all
 her acquaintance. As study of domes-
 tic character this sketch of Solomon's has | nowhere been equalled in any literature. Among the shining qualities attributed to the good housewife is that one the most difficult of all, loving forbearance and un- varied kindliness of heart Every word she speaks is uttered with due discretion | and fin her tongue is the law of kindness
 In other language there is guiding prin- | ciple ruling her speach and thought and
 that principle is Kindness. What thing is kindness and what is the nature of the law
 herein set forth? :s
 f Starting on this inquiry, pr. Parker | first noticed the frequent use of the word | 1in1naoo in, fhn he ,ho1a
 thought of the Bible, particularly of the
 New Testament, seems to be pervaded with this idea. "My kindness shall not depart from thee," says the Lord to one of | his despairing servants. The loving kind
 ness of the heavenly father is everywhere dwelt upon in the revelations of God to | men. Christian believers are cautioned to
 be always Kindly affectioned unto one l another" It appears, then, that kindness
 is an essential part of the Christian life. It is, moreover, not merely disposition cheerful or slow to take offence by nature,
 but an active good will for all men, born of deep love and longing for their welfare. It is the spirit of God
 stretching out his hands in mercy to save fallen and degraded souls, and the welcom- ing of them into larger freedom and light
 It is similar spirit in man that does not despise the least of human creatures, but
 shows to all an equal feeling of sympathy
 and desire to assist them in better things.
 Kindness is in brief the manifestation of
 love in our daily walk and intercourse with our fellow-beings. As such, one can
 see how it is the vital feeling that should animate all Christian etiquette and deport-
 ment.
 We shall be helped to be a better under
 standing of the word kindness by seeking its derivation. The root of kindness is kin, and it's ultimate idea is the love and
 regard we bear to those united to us by
 ties of blood. The spirit of kindness was
 originally that of kinship, and instead of including the race included only limited circle of individuals. Before Christianity came into the world men felt themselves to be separated from each other by barri- The father sent his son into the world to
 unite us to himself, and he, our elder brother, by his sacrifice, has
 made us all one family in God, brought together by ties closer even than those of blood. The spirit of kindness, there fore, is pre-eminently that which animates the hearts of Christians in their relations
 one to another. But it is not only the good that Christ has come to draw to himself. The unsaved and the abandoned
 are to be drawn into the same majestic family circle, at whose head is the loving
 heavenly father. Not less imperative,
 then, is our duty of kindness of showing
 the temper of kinship to those to whom the truth has not yet been divinely re-
 vealed.
 "How great is the power of kindness to do good in the world! Its influence in the
 betterment of individuals is like that of the
 bright sunlight in bringing the green fields and the fruits of nature to bountiful ma turity. What wonders have been accom- plished on animals when absolutely noth- ing could be done by brute force! Firm ness, tact and decision, together with 8 est creatures to subjection The same treatment with children is vastly more efficacious than harsh words and physical violence. Again, word of kindness and encouragement dropped in the ear of some one struggling with great temptation has many times been the means of turning him away from the paths of sin and sent him forth with stout heart to battle for the truth. How far above a sour and morose character is 8 man that is habitually say ing some cheery word or making some
 bright speech that comforts his comrades" /" Dr. Parker mentioned as conspicuous instance of kindliness of speech, the famous wit, Sidney Smith. Though he had his shafts of humor for everyone, they'.rarely stung or injured the self-respect or feelings of his friends. Said a man to Smith on whom he used to spend his wit in frequent jokes, "You have been mak- ing fun of me for seven years, and you have never once said anything I would rather you had left unsaid. It has been said that God is so merciful be- cause he is so infinitely wise. Certainly it is our ignorance that frequently leads us 4o~ o1ro 1,o, >1of o4oo of our fellowmen. A personal experience I recently passed through will illustrate the truth of this I had known a man by sight in Hartford for several years. One day he would greet me very cor dially when we met on the street; another he would pass me by with cold stare. was beginning to think hard things of that man, and determined that the next time met him would take no notice of him. The day after he had been thus rebuffed by myself for the fan cied discourtesy found that he was so near-sighted that he could not recognize his own wife when he sat by her in church in the pew. Naturally he had not made me out on some occasions. Thus frequent ly our nasty and unkind judgments are
 based simply on ignorance. Have you ever regretted having made kind allow ances for person unfovorably judged? Frederick Faber has said that there are three good influences ever surrounding us.
 "First, innumerable protecting and minis tering angles, leading us upward to the higher paths. Second, streams of grace flowing down from heaven. Third, mighty host of kindly words that human beings have dropped as consolation for distress or an encouragement in toll and suffering. And these last have gone and
 won mems hearts to truth and righteous ness where all else has failed"
 "Yes, it is the touch of nature which has made the whole world kim The power of human sympathy is a mighty factor in retaining the world to Christ
 The truth of the matter is summed up thus, kindness is love. In no way can VIC fulfill the law of our divine master un- less we fulfill the law of kindness to all
 we meet of whatever rank and estate. If only we admit the holy spirit into our
 hearts unconsciously all base thoughts and selfish motives will pass away and our supreme desire will be to shed a blessed influence for good on all human ity."
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