The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-06-16

the bust oil beauty, but the man who Tished life
and limb to dig it out OF the mine common
and cheap. They valued shields, trophies Of
war. walls, citadCls, immensely: bu5 flesh and
blood were cheap. Gods dear humanity might
tester unpiticd and unSUothed. WheE Julius
Caesar assembled the throne Of the Roman empire
he gave a great banquet TO million citizens.
Twenty two thousand tables groahed beneath
the luXures OF the earth. Men ate and drank TO
the health OF the emperor till half the city stag
gercd. But while these rioting in plenty
there were thousands OF orphans, widows and
caPtiycS OF war iamishing for a crumb. Plato
the greatest teacher of Greece, whose massive
mind touched every thing with grace, except the
cause O: the needy, intImatel that it was 4 mercy
to let the un lo tunate and the aged die OIL so as
to relieve the state the burden OF their support
Aristotle said the poor were Eo more than bugs
wasps Even in Judea a Priest or 4 Levite
could pass a suffering man and feel no qaalmS Of
conscience, But Jesus reversed all this. He set
supreme valuation on flesh and blood. Nan was
the jewel Of the arth, and everything else was
cncap Men wherever tound7-Tobbed ana hail
dead on the road Il lspcr crying "unciean,'
publican or ii thiefon the cross tasting Of the
fruit OF his dyings-was precious, and worthy OF
infinite sacrifice. Christ's supreme passion was
to help and bless humanity wherever found.
Tie son Of Man j. come 10 scch and save that
which was lost
Jesus Incorporated this idea OF the value Of man
into his teachings by deeds, parallels, miracles,
commands. This idea took root in the hearts OF
the disciples 80 that they went everywhere doing
god. The church ut Rome to which Paul spoke
such words OF tenderness and power, though poor
itself supported fifteen hundred helpless poor.
John Chry sJstUm, bishop OF Antioch, had on the
the list oil claimants three thousand orphans a"d
widows. 1T Constantinoplc there were twelve
hundred deaconnesses to look after the poor.
Christ has identified himself so closely to human
ity that to touch man is 10 touch God. This idea
of the value of man has shaken the earth like
Lebanon. 1t has started the wheels O!rcvolution
under heavy thrones Of power and oppression and
taught kings that men have rights Ithas shaken
dynasties and raised uP the common people. 1t
has enlisted worldwide missions. 1t has wrung
Magma &hartas from the unwilling hands OF
power. It has shaken munarchics and raised up
republics OF the people and Tor the people 1t has
dictated Declarations Of Independence. 1t has
written Emancipation Procamations and brought
in the brotherhood OF man. i man is 50 precious
70 chains eau bind hin, no slaveries enthrall
him He must reign. This idea blossoms out in
AL sweet charities and world wide phianthropies
Every idea looking toward the elevation Of men
and the progress OF society is a product of this
gospel idea.
You. gentlemen, catching this spirit % brother
hood, have bound yourselves together with
mystic bonds Of Friendship, Love and Truth"
You are product OF the beuefcent spirit of the
Gospel. u tree that could only grow on Christian
soil. Your motto is noble-FrieEdship, Love
Truth Beautiful combination Of moral yir'ues.
What can be sweeter than the greetings ota
friend? Even the poor exile sings:
..Oh tell me l yet have f-iend!
Though friend never can see
The sat.dcst wall that ctn come from Il human
heart is the confession No man car-th 'vr my
soul" 4 truo friend is like star in the night
or:rouble.
Truth is another virtue. Men are seeking truth
everywhere in the stars above, and in the rocks
beneath in the pebbles and in the fossils of long
ago in slabs and hieTogyphicE; social, political,
moral spiritual truth. Truth is writ:en in books,
stored in libraries and manuscripts: but we need
truth in 9Sh and blood, truth incafnate, truth
walking, talking, working, sewed into leather,
built into wood and brick; need truth living
and throbbing in Iaw and labor and politics
This ali we all. 10 thine own self he true,
And ii must follow rs the night the day,
Thou cIn>l no. thcn Dc ill>C 10 any man!
But central between these two virtues is Love
locking arms with each. Love that shines by its
own pure light, Add to your faith, virtuc-tath
in God and Christ and Heaven--to virtue, know
ledge: to knowledge, temperance: ana to temper
ance. patience: to patience, goIincsS; to g0dli-
ness, byothcrly kindness: and to brotherly kind
ness. lcye" which touches the very heart OF God.
Go on in your work, and remember, il You Lift
.l.,r h,.r
the orphan and let the sunshine in, smooth the
rugged Iath ofSomo toicr ami help men into
better, truer lives you will hear coming up from
the depths OF your own nature the sentence Of
approval You Will get the coin love from the
heart OF your friend, and above all the smile OF
God.
You have often read that little poem by Long
leilow-..Fhe Bridge"
Il stood the bridge at midnight.
As the clocks striking the hour.
And the moOa rose over the city,
Behind the dark church tower
He stands on tha t bridge and watches the cur
rents sweep past as they 20 cut to the deep sea.
Hot, restless aud full care, he had stood there
before.
How often oh. how often.
! had wished that the ebbing tide
Would bear ne away on its bosom,
O'er the ccelE wild and vide
lAcl Wiser, INV iLs lOSl MS CAIC ~ tLALhlLs
| OF others who had more care, he says:
Now it is fallen from me,
It is buried in the sea,
And only the sorrow OF others
Throws its shadow over me-"
As he stood there thinking only Of himself, he
| was small aud insignificant, but when he put his
shoulders beneath the burdens OF others AMI felt
| only their sorrows shaiowing him, he divine
and Godlke. Ii you want to lose the sense of
| your care and burden. begin to help weakc:
| soul carry his burden.
Oh, l feel | have only touched these great
| themes ofIove - God and men. They are like
| the Sky and sea- The sky bends over US in its
beneticence. the home of mystery aud beauty, the
source of l,ht and rain and kiudly forces that
bless us. So does this great duty to love God
| 1t oyerdrches Us and has ii it bliss and
rapture and glory. The second is like the sea
beneath the sky. getting its tnts from it and
rejecting its beauty. Also fan Of ministry and
help. The sea il ,cea. becius3 the SKY above it
| is great, Our love :or men may be great because
| our Iovo ior God is all absorbing.
May tine Friend who sticketh closer than
brother, who Is the truth" and who loves II
unto DEATH ever 20 with you.