The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-17

treats his workmen as though they
were really brothers, having the same
needs and desires, prompted by the
same motives. and deserving the same
consideration us his own flesh and
blood: who, In the erring and sinful.
looks through the outer man to the
spirit within. and in 1t sees the image
of God; who uses his powers and
advantages to help his fellows into the
life OF human fellowship by making
the wisest and the best-he who thus
recognizes reverently the divine life In
other men and helps them into that d.
vine life--he, whatever he calls linn
SELF or is called by the churches, Is
most deeply religious.
On the base of the statue of William
Lloyd Garrison in Boston stands III.
inscriptions: The world is my coun-
try, to do good my religion" Since
that noble word ftly expresses the
life of the great abolitionist, It stampf
him as truly religious man, even
though the churches branded him with
the hardest names. Since that lofty
word fell honestly from the lips of It's
author, Thomas Paine, 1t bespeaks
him, too as religious. although tne
superstitions of his age led him into
an attitude which still leaves him be-
fore our minds the great American ia
fidel.
But the man who treats other men
as creatures whom no real bond unitcs
with himself, with whom he can have
no genuine sympathy, from whom he
is free to- hold himself nloof, toward
whom he has no due or duty beyond
that which the law ordains, this man,
having no care for his fellows. no cour-
tesy for the iowly, no pity for the UNI
Fortunate no respect for the efrIng
because of his failing to recognizes the
divine life In men; this man Is essen
TALLY irreligious though he be elder or
church warden.
Religion Is to recognize reverently tho
threefold mystic bond of life and Loyalty
to render the dues or duties thereof.
over all belief is faithfulness"
Is not this what the ancient prophet
meant when he wrote: What doth
the Lord require of thee but to do
Justly. and to love mercy, and 10 walk
humbly with thy God?"
Is 1t not what the apostle meant
when he declared: Pure religion and
indebted before God and the Father
Is this, to visit the fatherlcss and wild
ows in their aliliction and to keep him
self unspotted from the world?"
Like every other principle. religion
consciousness. and thus have It's
thought. form or creed: must house H.
self into guarding body. and thus
grow its institution or church. And II
Is well for us. ordinary folk, to defer,
past. and to use for our souls good
the helpful provisions OF the school Of
character. But We must remember In
so doing that religion itself Is neither
correct creed nor true church, but right
life.
So. the divine man, who came to
bring the true religion into the world.
| never spoke about It, never used the
word itself but he lived the true life
I'm It's tmaafold relationship toward
God. the Inner self. and the human
brothers. ana the world sees i'm that
life the one perfect religion.
Did our professors of religion" live
thus there would be more additions Ia
the church daily "of such as should
he saved" From such noble religious
| ness, what undetermined man can turn
away?
II Is told OF Nine. Bouvcrlc that when
a child, her mother was reading to her
one day description of the beautiful
| lives of the early Christians-that noble
passage, perhaps, in Athenngorns-and
that. carried away by the picture OF
lovely goodness, the little girl cried
out: Mamma, where is the land of the
Christians? Let us go to the country
where the Christians liver'