The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31


Tho Rihle makes Il quite plain that il Is
onr duty at times 70 administer rebuke. 10
some natures this dnty is not unwelcome'
They are the very people who ought 10 deny
Themselves the luxury as far as their con-
science will allow; for, as rule, tne;r
rebukes are as rcd pepper IN a tresn wound
YEA, they are like unto much dry WOou
heaped upon the flames. As the swine IN
the meadow, they are not ornamental, ana
tear up much ground. To other natures
rebukinr IL most distasteful. They are SEN
eitive folk: and they know how extremely
Hfaitbful', the wounds Of friend can be.
Knowing by experience how prosiratng
sucb fidelity sometimes proves they SHRINK
from the duty of visiting IL upon others.
Vet the command, "ThOu shalt warn the
wickedD rings in their ears, and 'InOu
shalt not ia anv wise suffer sin upon him"
is an Injunction so authoritative and 30
pathetic they cannot say nay. Wen, IL may
helm both classes-the aggressive and the
shfinking-tO consider a few points as 10
the art of rebukiEg. And frst few donts.
/. DON'T do anything until you know all
the facts. This rule seems 80 seif-eVident
that you may be tempted TO say, why
mention uW Because il is a rule quite
frequently broken. Any ObseryaDt public
man could testify that hardly day passes
without his witnessing an infringement OF
this rule. Generally when man thinks he
Is in possession of all the facts ne mas only
made fair start on one side. Hence IT IS
best TO ego slow" until the time comes
when we can 20 rapidly with safety ana
honor.
?. Don't rebuke over the shoulders Of
another. Reproof is not easy to take under
anv circumstances, least OF all when ad-
ministered through third party. Parishes
here and there are much given 10 this
cOwardy folly. The rector has not OWNED
that James Brown has been sick week
ga whole week !"-and indignant parish
toners (who likely as not never went near
Brown, sick or well, and would never dream
OF inviting him TO tea) begin 10 make COM
plant. But 10 whom? The rector Bless
your innocent heart, no. They are TO him
as bland as sweet milk. But into the ears
OF his sister or his wife they descant on his
wretcbed negligence. Never reprOve in this
roundabout fashion. II you cannot muster
courage to say your say 10 mans face, IL
is best TO remain in deepest silence.
3. Be careful not TO assume any special
merit or wisdom in your counsel on irreie-
want groundS-yOur age, f0rinstance. Never
knew that sort OF repr0ot 10 do any good.
IL is offensive to the party admonisbed, asst
tacitly infers that, being young, be is
necessarily void of understanding, and it is
presumptuons in the reprover, for 1t infers
that, being old, he is individually sage.
All honor TO white hairs, or even 10 the
smooth spot where the white hairs ought TO
show up aud cannot The writer yields 10
no man in his reverence for the aged. But
as not all young folks are foolish, so not all
old men are wise. Again, the writer heard
OF a young lady who complained bitterly
because she was not allowed TO sing in the
choir, and urged as evidence OF her musical
., af hor ia W. tho rtOhaGf "a m In
the church. There have been even yestry-
men who based the wisdom of their counsel
on the same ground.
4. On general principles we would say it
is best not TO mag" To prove this pr9po-
sitiOn, however, would require such deep
analysis of q mans nature, as well as of
w0map's, such a nice and delicate weighing
OF probabilities and possibilities, such a
long and profound augmentation, that
(being also a married MANI we put ii in this
way: Much has been accomplished by
nagging, aud this Is freely admitted, but
whether more could not have been done
without nagging we leave as a question to
be poudered.
b. Above all, unless circumstances make
1t absolutely necessary, don't reprove before
others. In such reproof there is no love, nor
sympathy, nor desire TO make one nObler
and better, nor tact, nor even ordinary
pontenesS-lt is just plain, straight, I'M
vanished cruelty. How wise here is the
Scripture inJunction II thy brother trespass
against thee 90 and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone; If he shall hear
thee thou hast gained thy brother.
As Tor the positive side Of this subject, 1t
is soon told. Deal gently but firmly. AS
far as possible put yourself in the reproyed
mans place, so that he Will have no ground
10 stand on when he would combat your
words. Above all, let humility sweeten and
purify every word, that God may bless both
him that speaks and him that hears.
W. w. w.