The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-03

4 l.NEs -
asking. WHO Is my Neighbour" Sick,
wounded. robbed and neglected nppn
/ the road side one had fallen, UNDECIDED
~ those who pass, among them even
the priest and leyite. The Samaritan
paused, saw, stopped. cared for the
wounded, ministered unto his distressed
condition, clothed him. fed him and sue
eored him. Which. then. was his neigh
porf2 He that showed mercy. Then
Jesus said. Go. thou, and 90 Likewise -
II is In following that precept. that nd-
nonitton. that command. that this order
IS founded. and not only in ainnsgiving
goes 1t find It's way ito do likewise -
put In the relief of distress in every form
that comes to hand.
Under the cloud OF adversely. In sick
ness. In poverty, In calamity, In the
Closing hours OF life. 1t comes like
ministering angle from heaven and
meters out the relief giving balm that
liz like mercy twice blessed, blessing
him that renders md him that receives.
By such acts do we all become brothers
IN the great brotherhood OF love, and
1t Will be so until mercy and affection
cease to meet I'm common throughrars
OF life. Sunshine devclopes shadow, as
the rose Is not without It's thorns; so
poverty and suffering and the UNEQUAL
conditions Of life give rise and use 10
| more than half of all the human Eir-
tues. there be no penury no pain, what
| would become Of fortitudc patience
| and resignation. If there we're NJ,
L IL. w
| would become of charity as benevoIence
! and the means Of obeying the cofnlnant
| to go and do likewise" What would
| become or human pity, of temperance,
OF Drotherly love and Justice? If there
were no inequality of condition, no am
billion, nothing to hope for, nothing 10
rear, no enlivenlng OF the energies of
the soul, what n link between the heart
| OF man and God would be snapped.
asunder.
ltut 1t Is ordained otherwise and It ia
| IN the consideration OF charity as SYM
pathy. that God has united the family
or man unto one great household Sym
| pathy separates man from the brute
creation
Under the ennobling Influences, joy
una sorrow are not In the Individual
self alone, but for all around him The
IRE or one person becomes the reflex
OF ohers, and the soul migrutes so that
the happiness of others becomes his
happiness, and Il compensatory pleas
ure is vouchsafed by his feeling for
| others's pains and sorrows.
sympathy Is beneflccnce at the
command of us all-the pnuper and the
| king alike.
Sympathy is brotherhood itself. con-
stantly on our lips Is the golden rule.
Why do we fall in It's practice? Be
cause sympathy enters into our acts
but slightly, and it il n divine COM
| lnand and natural instinct. We do not
fully follow the rule by which all the
problems of humanity can be solved
what depths of feeling, what extent
OF regard. what appeals to the mind
to the heart should be preferred: what
offers of love, OF affectionate consideru-
| ton. Of advice should be rendered. The
practical eXemplihcation and the real
solution Is to put yourself In the others
place. IL you are strong and he Is weak
descend from your strength and become
u part of his weakness. See with his
eyes become Il part of his being. SO
| that your heart shall beat I'm unison
with his. Then you could realize the
full sympathetic chord that would
govern your every act toward your
| brother and conversely his towards
you.
Have not kind words and tender
| thoughts often lightened your hearts?
| Is there one in misery bowed to whom
| you may go, my brother, with kind
| word that may bring light to his cloud
ed mind and cheer to his herat? Is
! there an errinG one, my sister. to whom
your gentle voice may bring soothing
and repentance? Would not the smile
| OF the one you served and the memory
of the pressure of the hand In rccogni-
| ton OF such an act be with you into
| heaven?
SO slight is the span between the two
| that charity. as sympathy. almost
blends into
CHARITY AND LOVE.
While I'm the divine reference to the
| subject Charity, is the word expressed,
yet Ii is accepted as Love. and 1t. beyond
| doubt. is the proper construction OF the
| memorable words of Paul.
! 1t is not the want of benevolencc, II
Is not the want of sympathy. that makes
us as sounding brass and tinkling
cymhal, but the want of Charity
Love. The gift of prophecy may be
ours. the mysteries known TO us: we
may possess all knowledge, all faith
and strength to remove mountains
but we are nothing without Charity
1 Love. 1t is said further. which is con-
elusive as to the Interpretation OF Char
J ity U-ove). as contra intended to aims
giving and bcncvolence. Though he
| bestow all his goods to feed the poor
| and hath not Charity G.ove) he Is moth
ing" so 1t is this philosophy that shows
us that Love is Supreme. Love Is Last
ing. Love Is Eternal
BE strengthened by it's influence. In
still ii into character. make il the guide
of life. 1t is the inspired of benevolcnce
and sympathy, the test OF religion. the
| foundation of every Christian virtue,
and the Heaven be kindled light in life
itself.
1t brings us to pay tribute to-day to
| those who have gone to the long home
and actuates us to engage in this me-
mortal service to the dead We come
not with tears, hut with music. flowers
ana love-lndened words which left o,lr
whole being upward upward to the
spirit world to mingie with those gone
before and lost awhile.