New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-24

There Is q little story in an old book Of
Toacher Of Righteousness. who. while sitting nj
meat. was Joined by a number Of publicans ana
sinners. whom He did not turn away. but adj
dressed with friendly familiarity and KIND
" interest Standing by were certain 81 the
scribcs" who having Il monopoly OF III" inter
nretatou of the law. Were disposed To scfuilnize
the conduct Of the new Teacher somewhat close
IL. II being their habit To treat publcans ana
sinners as social outcasis beyond reach of hu-
man sympathy and amcnable only 10 ia" pains
and penalties of law. they were scandalIei hy
the Great Teachers absence ~ dignity anu Ills
willingness 10 associate with such persons on
terms Of equality and even friendly intimacy.
They murlnurcd at the incongiuiiy ana ind'.
ccncy of H. II was not their way Of treating
persons who enormously interpreted or openly
violated the law But the Teacher said II" WAS
Introducing "A new order ~ things: that His mis-
sion was 10 these people: that II was an crrand
Of kindness and love. and His business accord
ipglv WAS with them. So He kept right ON. And
the story runs that the scribcS. being educated
and influential persons. presently made an out
cry against the Teacher and had Him cructci.
II WAS n long time ago and In far country hut
thc story encrclcs all lands and reaching across
all the ages will forever animate the children
Of men with the influence of the character ana
examine OF the worlds greatest Teacher the
first true gentleman that ever brcathcl. Men
come and 90. but the types survive. Publicans
and sinners are always with us: Sciibcs and
Phariscos are seldom lacking; and sometimes
,vc may recognize in a fcow-man the qualities
of kindness and courtesy which suggest in some
degree the character Of the first true gentle
man.
Some of our publicans and sinners the other
day waited on the Mayor TO hear what he had
IN say touching the law; and incidentally the
nro6ts He listened to them with courtesy.
cviuced n kindly interest In them and gave them
friendly counsel. This treatment Of publicanS
and sinners caused comment, and, slnGularly
enough. provoked severe criticism from some
whose calling II is TO hold up for imitation the
example Of the Master who not only treated
such persons kindly but associated and sat nj
meat with them "ln parleying with the saloon
kecners" said one follower OF the Master and
teacher Of His doctrine, the Mayor has been
guilty Of an objectionable blunder, one of
colossal proportions" "Inpardonablc" is such
a hard word. Could he have meant just that;
We do not find II in any Of the Gospels 1t does
not appear to have been in the Masters vocabu-
!
that he could not pardon Mayor Strong for do
inc what the Founder of the Christian Church
did? at is" he continued, "the saddest spec
"tacle in my career, and II makes every drop OF
"blool in nv system boil with Indignation"
This is much stronger Language" than any re-
uortcd 10 have been used by certain of III"
scribes" 1t sounds 10 us-though we do NOT
like 10 think preacher Of the Gospel would de-
libcrately indulge in it-like 'he language OF
eyagceraton like Il rery unworthy ana I'M
Christian outburst Of temper. For II must nave
been n very singular career, 'lhc saddest spec
tacle" In which was an interview between the
Mayor Of a city and committee of publicans
and sinners; and the system must be- OF IN al
normally high temperature ordinarily, Il upon
so slight n proyocation every drop If blood In
II boils with Indignation.
Temperance in what goes into the mouth i
an admirable virtue. and ought To be bo'h
preached and practsed everywhere. But how
about temperance and moderation IN what com
eth out Of the mouth: Is there any virtue In
that? Isn't that worth preaching AMI worth prac-
isingi We say nothing OF the false Witness
which this Christian minister bore when he said
the Mayor told the slloon-kccpcrs he would aid
them in violating the Excise law Nor do We
say anything Of the spirit he manifested whrn
he 'piiled" the men who had called on the Mayor
and boosted that he was not one OF them. Those
were mere accessories to the exhibition But
we would Ike 10 ask the gentleman If he has
had time since making this demonstration 10
look over that little Gospel story of the other
interview with publicans and sinners. And II
lie has whether In his opinion, as In that Of Ger