The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-02-20
Living for Others.
New York Herald.
New York Herald.
Rejoice with them that do re-
ioice, and weep with them that
weep. Romans, xiii, 10.

1
joice, and weep with them that
eep.-Romans, xiii, 15.
1 That seems to be a very odd
injunction, and we rather wonder
if St. Paul meant exactly what he
said. We are apt to think that
our first duty is to look after our
personal interests, lay up for our
selves a stock of comfort and hap
piness and thereafter enjoy the ac-
cumulation with perhaps q pass
ling word Of pity for those who
are not equally fortunate.
The hard headed and hard
hearted view is that every man
must look out for himself, get all
he can, keep all he gets and enter
neither into the joys nor sorrows
Of others. He is to live in a castle
where he can have all the pleas
ures and luxuries Of life, but is to
keep the world from sharing his
good fortune by wall that cam
not be scaled, a moat that cannot
be crossed and a drawbridge that
is sguarded oy a retinue Of servants.
The Apostle dreams q different
dream. He uses very revolution
ary language, and language which
makes selfshness and coyetousness
shrug their shoulders when he
practically tells us that we are
thoroughly heterodox if we say,
"All that | have is mine,' for the
higher philosophy teaches us to
put it another way and say, "All
that I have is Gods"
What you possess-this he in
sists upon-what you possess be-
longs to others, if they need it.
Your business is not to hoard, but
TO give. You are not isolated
from the world; you are a part Of
liz. If there is joy anywhere you
are to rejoice in it as though it
were your own, and If there issor-
row anywhere you are to assuage
| il by fraternal words and deeds.
The text opens up q very large
domain which has seldom been
explored, the domain Of spiritual
law. five infracta physical law
we suffer the punishment Of pain;
lie we infract o spiritual law we
suffer loss OF character, a loss
which must be made up il it takes
half Of eternity to do it. five do
not act on the right principles
here we shall go into the other
world handicapped; but the lesson
must be learned, IL not in the pres.
ent life, then in the hereafter, and
not one Of the many procession Of
evolution can be avoided or omit.
ted. II is better, therefore, 10 be
|gin right than to be forced 70
make things right by and by.
You cannot be at your best un.
less you throw yourself into the
welfare Of others. II requires q
sturdy and a consecnted heart "a
rejoice in the JOY Of others when
there is little 10 rejoice in your
own life, but such an attitude oi
soul is godlike. The frame d
mind in which q thing Of that
kind is possible is quite ideal-iI
is angelic. The grosser elements
Of human nature are sloughed of
and you are in very truth a child
ofGod. There is hardly loftiei
spiritual eminence TO be reached
for you have already climbed a,
as high az heaven.
Think of those in your vicinity
fellow travellers to eternity, who
are suffering the pangs Of poverty
whose burden would be lighteC
by your presence in the gloom,
household and by the gin which
you will never mis-. 1fyour sur
plus could fall to their lot; If th,
crumbs from your table could b
} bestowed on them; II your warn
sympathy were 70 bc offered, no
by way Of condescension, but as
privilege which you claim III
. right 70 enjoy, a larger benefi