The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-05-25
NO EXCESS OF CHARITY.

Help 1t Needs to Rise.
"His word is as good as his bond"
said one gentleman in speaking to an
other of third. THE company trusts
him implicitly. He is the soul of honor"
but you know he served term in
the state prison?"
Certainly"
"And you call jail-bird the soul Of
honor? You must be crazy"
How long ago did he serve his sem
tence!"
why, let me see. He is nearly six
ty years old now. 1t must have been
when he was about twenty-five or
three"
well, my fried, man might make
considerable growth in grace during
such an interval"
"Yes, he might, but should say the
chances are decidedly against him."
Unhappily there can be little doubt
that "the chances are decidedly against"
anyone who at any time or for any rea-
son has stood at odds with his fellow
men. Why should this be so? Why
rather than the good? To find fault
more readily than to praise? To believe
| growth and improvement possible in all
forms of vegetable and animal life, yet
remain skeptical concerning the same
process when illustrated in the daily
lives of men and women?
The sapling which grew crooked for
awhile when left to itself, was straight
ened again by little labor on the part
of the farmer. The tree which bore
hard and acid apples was, by judicious
pruning, made to produce rich and
mellow ones Resting in the grateful
shade cast on the roadside by the tower
ing elm or maple, we do not feel that it
is necessary to call to mind the fact
that it went wrong when it was begin
ming to throw out its branches. Eating
the luscious fruit of the tree in autumn,
we do not complain because at first it
produced that of poorer quality and
flavor. Speeding along the road behind
a gentle horse, we do not think it neces-
sary to comment upon the years when
he was headstrong colt, kicking over
the traces and tearing the carriage all
to pieces. Why are we not as willing
to allow to the human soul the same
liberty of growth, the same chance to
remedy its mistakes, the same oppor-
tunity to adjust itself to it's surround
ings as we unquestioningly allow the
vegetable and animal creation? Just
in proportion as the life of man is
more valuable than that of the tree or
horse should this faith be found in us,
this sort of help be extended; and con-
tinued also, Notwithstanding obstacles
or discouragements.
1t may be true that the person who
has once fallen is more to be distrusted
than one who has always remained up
right The man who has once yielded
to temptation is presumably the one
less able than others to resist it. We
never feel assured of the safety of our
property while the servant who has
once stolen has free access to it. But
instead of being able to prove by any
rules of logic that because the sinner
has once sinned he may, must or will
continue to sin, we must acknowledge
our inability to prove anything about
it, while admitting the possibility that
the punishment for transgression may
have wrought a lasting cure in the trans
gressor. At any rate, is there any in
stance in which 1.-The benefit of the
doubt" can be so humanely and wisely
granted-provided there appear evil
dences of genuine repentance and re-
form-a benefit of equal value to him
who gives and him who takes? The
very fact that a man is able to say to
his fellow-man: Il am holier than thou"
is the best possible reason for this gem
crosby in judgment. His very right
eousness gives him an advantage in
many ways. He stands confessedly his
brothers superior in resistance to temp
tation and presumably in power and
purity. Are not these advantages to
be held in trust for the benefit of those
less favored than himself? There goes
myself but for the grace of God. might
be said by many men besides the i'm
mortal author of Pilgrims Progress. To
how many of us does the thought oc-
eur? Lord, | thank Thee that am
not as other men are" is the more
frequent reflection. felt in the heart,
even if never formulated in the brain or
uttered by the lips. Do we as reason
able, responsible Christian men and
women really believe that 1.-The greatest
of all is charity" or do we merely enjoy
the rhetorical beauty of the Apostles
famous words? If indeed it is our de-
sire aud constant aim to
Make our lips and lives express,
The holy doctrine we profess
we shall be less ready with contempt
and condemnation, quicker with com
fort, counsel and encouragement for
those who have strayed into forbidden
paths or fallen by the wayside
If consistent with our acknowl