St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-26
CHARITY A MARK.
Of the SnyiOr,9 Religion, the OPP
nestle to SeI6sbuess


At ST. Luke's church yesterday Rev.
J. j. Lawler preached on Works of
Mercy" 1t was a most excellent and
practical discourse. The following is
an extended synopsis:
Whoever studies Christianity care
fully will not be surprised at it's man.
ifestations of charity, however diff
ficult, however heroic. 1t has a heart
for every i'll. Benevolence is its watch
word. It's works of mercy are legion
We are proud of them, but we have
a right to expect them. They are
the fruits of it's principles. The Won
der would be if its doctrines had no
influence on everyday life. There is
it's teaching that the sentence on the
day of Judgment will be favorable or
unfavorable, in view of the manner
in which acts of mercy were per-
formed or neglected toward the var
ious types of human wretchedjness. If
we hope to have a place in the king
dom of heaven we must feed the hun
cry and give drink to the thirsty and
clothe the naked, and ransom the
captive, and harbor the harborless,
and visit the sick and bury the dead
alleviate as best we can all the miser-
les which weigh so heavily on our
fellow creatures. 1t is not only a
fashionable thing to do, it is string
ent obligation. 1t is not only a mat
ter recommended, it is a duty com
manded. Then there is it's belief that
Christ is personified in the needy and
afflicted. Mercy to them will be re-
warded as mercy to Him. Goodness to
them will be punished as GOODNESS to
Him. Love of God and fellowmen
must go hand in hand. Christs as
surance is grand exhortation to char
liable works. "Amen, 1 say to you
as long as you did it unto one of these
my least brethren, you did it unto me-"
Our Savior's example stands unparal-
leled. He was a merciful Jesus, and
went ABOUT doing good" His life
was the antipode of selffshness. Self
ish Christians are contradictions.
Pity for the misfortunes of others
was the key to His great benefactions.
Sympathy for the victims of Indulgence
and misery would be deemed a weak
ness in the masters of paganism, but
the words and deeds of Christianity's
Master are spelt with compassion for
suffering humanity. And His first fol-
closely did they walk in His foot
steps that their conduct was a sting
ing reproach to their pagan fellow
countrymen, who could not but say.
See how those Christians love one
another" Our ancient forerunners in
the faith, amid the unfeelingness of
antiquity, were like beings of higher
race from some plying sphere Down
through the ages we find instances Of
self-sacrifice for fellowman, so strik-
ing, so superhunan, so Christ-like
that we must stand in admiration
and thank God who gave such power
to man: When the messengers of John
the Baptist asked our Lord whether
He was the true Messiah His answer
was: Go and relate to John what We
hear and see. The blind see, the lame
walk. lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear. the dead rise again, the poor
have the gospel preached to them
Such deeds of mercy were evidences
Of the advent of the true Christ. When
we are asked whether I'VE are true
Christians we should be able 10 give
answer: "Come and see that the sor-
rows of the unfortunate are alleviated,
that the wants Of the poor are pro-
vided for That's practical religion.
Among the wealthy there is often will
ingness enough to assist those IN
need, but there is too much sioE,rless
in getting started. Many more people
would become active in beneficent
works could they be brought face to
face with the instances of distress as