Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1894-05-18

would be vastly happier and more
prosperous than it is today.
Any worthy endeavOr to revive and
render dominant true brOtherlineSS.
even on small scale, by which the
human family. now broken into con-
tlicting factions, shall be bound to-
gether again in one harmonious whole,
is cOmmcndable: it makes for the
fultillment of Gods promise to gather
all nations into one fold under one
shepard: promise that has been to
the race star of hope amid the dark
ness of despair. Any approach to
such a goal brings its own reward.
When the fraternal spirit becomes
universal and perfected we shall need
laws only as rules OF right and they
will enforce themselves. TO love our
neighbOr as OurSelf is to render him
as secure from injury, by us, in his
person and property, as we ourselves
are. When the symbolic links, friend
ship, love and truth. shall bind the
whole human family in one common
brOtherhOOd the incident on the Jer
ichO road cannot again tranSDire for
then there will be no thieves or rob-
bers: all will have become good Sa-
maritanS.
Fraternity. like every other good
and just principle, has been more
common in theory than in practice.
1t costs little to hold theory: it
costs more to advocate it openly: it
costs most Of all to practice it. Prac-
tice is the ultimate test of principle.
The wiSeSt of teachers said, "By their
fruits ye shall know them" and again,
'every man shall be rewarded" not
according to his theories, but "accOrd-
ing to his deeds" The priest on the
Jericho road who event by on the
other side held, doubtless, the right
theory concerning brOtherineSS, but
the practice, ah! there was the rub.
A like incident is of recent occurrence
and the prominence of the chief
actor makes it conspicuous. A Bud
dist priest, Shaku SOyen by name,
spoke brilliant address at the Par
lament of Religions in which he said
mot only Buddah, but Jesus Christ as
well as COnfucius, taught about uni
verSal love and fraternity. We also
acknowledge the glory of universal
brotherhood. Then let us be true
followers of Buddah, true followers of
Jesus Christ, true followers of Con-
fucius and the followers of truth unite
ourselves for the sake Of helping the
helpless and living glorious lives. We
must not make any distinction be-
tween race and race, between CiviliZa-
tiOn and civilization, between creed
and creed, between faith and faith
You must not say go away because
we are not christians. You must not
say go away because we are yellow
people All beings on the universe
| in, ha ,,f frtlth oil
sisters and brothers and let us under
stand one another much better and be
true sons and daughters of truth.
Truth be praised.'
1t so happened that the practical
value of these fine utteranceS was put
to the test in the person Of the
speaker himself on his return by
steamer to his own country. The
incident is thus related by christian
minister, Rev. b. G. Hayworth, who
was also on board:
Zone of the japanese passengers in
the steerage was sick unto death.
When the ships surgeon found that
the end was near, suppOSing that the
dying man would like to enjoy the
consultations of his religion, if there
be any consolation in it, he sent for
the Rev. Shaku SOyen, requesting his
presence at the bed Of death TO the
weSterner, it would seem that com
mon humanity, to say nothing Of the
ties of country, would have prompted
an instant compliance with such a
request. Not so in the case Of the
Rev. Shaku SOyen. He had many
questions to ask in regard to the name,
circumstances and so on of the pa
tient. Among these questions was
one to this effect DO you think
he belongs to the laboring class?' The
surgeon replied, that as nearly as he
could Judge, the patient was labor
ing man. The answer seemed to
settle the case. The Rev. Soyen re-
piled, he did not think it worth while
to go" Thus fine sentiments elO-
quently uttered. by a representative
man, Signally fail in the trying mo-
ment of practice.
Right theories and principles are
not to be disparaged. They are the
guide of practice. They must be
firmly held and faithfully taught.
The principle Is the truth appre-
hended the practice Is the truth en-
bodied.
The |. O. O. F. has set forth it's
theory of fraternity in the concise
| language of its organic law as follows:
It's object is the elevation of mankind,
morally, intellectually, socially and
physically. Recognizing mans indi-
vidual helpleSSness and need Of coop
GRAFTON in all the affairs of life it
requires it's members to aid, assist
and protect each other to visit the
sick, relieve the distressed, bury The
dead, and protect the widow and
orphan. 1t teaches the. fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man. 1t
strives to hreak down the artificial