The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-09
WITH CHARITY FOR ALL.
A SHORT LAY SERMON OF PRACTICAL
THOUGHT.
1t is Matter of Little Consequence
What Religious Denomination You
Belong to So Your Heart Is Right
All Sects and Creeds a Part of the
Great Body of Christianity.
New York Herald.l

All SeCtS and CreedS a Part OF the
Great Body of Christianity.
New York Herald.l
And Abraham said unto Lot, Let there
be no strife pray thee, for we are breth-
rent enesis xiii, 8.
We have said in previous article
that whether you belong to this, that
or the other religious denominations is
a matter o: no consequence whatever.
Christianity is equally represented by
all sects, whose peculiarties had their
origin in differences OF temperament.
Sects are convenience, but sectari-
anism IS crime.
1t would be misfortune if Quaker
were compelled TO attend a Roman
Catholic service, for the simple reason
that it does not appeal to him, and
likewise misfortune were Romanist
to be forced into a Quaker meeting
house, because he would be spiritually
repelled.
If the Lord had made US all alike
we could all be Presbyterians or Epis-
copalians, but since He saw fit to cast
us in different moulds, giving one man
a matter of fact nature and another
man a nature poetic and imaginative,
He certainly does not object if we
worship Him after the fashion which
He has suggested by endowing US with
certain qualities of character.
1t is the fact of worship, and not the
manner of it which is important.
The man who would gather US into
one church does what he can to thwart
the plan of God, in whose universe the
law of differences involves the greatest
harmony.
An orchestra whose members should
all play the same part on the same
kind of instrument would furnish only
wearisome monotony. The from
bone and drum have their places as
we'll as the violin and harp, and if they
are all played with skill the result
brings tears. What instrument you
play is secondary matter. Whether
you play it we'll or i'll is the only ques
ton to be considered.
If we take this broad view we shall
have charity for all, and that offensive
bigoiry which has worked so much
evil in the world and done more to
injure the cause of true religion than
all the infidelity that was ever formu-
lated will be banished.
But suppose we overstep the limits
of Christianity and explore the domain
of other religions, what conclusions
shall we reach? Shall we sill hold to
our charity and give our godspeed
to every system of morality and every
aspiration after Immortality in what
ever shape it presents itself, or shall
we insist that others shall think as we
do and accept our theories of life and
death?
Can we be wide and inclusive
enough to give gracious good will to
the dusky Hindoo, who was reared in
different climate and different en-
yironment to the Mongolian, who
follows the precepts of Buddhism, and
to the disciple of Mohammed, who
kneels in prayer at the setting Of the
sun? Shall we look with disdain on
such and declare that their religion is
false while ours alone is true, or shall
we believe that God is leading all His
children, some in one way and some
in another?
There is a strong tendency in these
days to 60 to the Orient for a fresh
supply of ideas. We have fed SO loug
on the diet of Christianity that we
hunger for change. A man who
has always lived in the sunshine may
be benefited by sitting for an hour in
the cleaning, and a trip to the Hima-
layas will, perhaps, be grateful nov
city.
Let us travel as far as we please no
harm can come of it. If what we
have is better than anything we can
find we shall not exchange it for what
has less value, but if we can lay hold
of loftier thoughts and stronger in
centives than those We possess it is not
only our right but our duty to do so.
If our Christianity cannot defend it.
self against all comers and all odds
that is its misfortune, not our fault.
You may safely depend, however
on the fact that the best will in the
end prevail, and what is not best will
step to the rear. The law Of progres:
has not been repealed. If we have 3
lump of gold in hand we are not likel,
to exchange it for lump Of silver:
and if we have a system Of though,
which produces the noblest kind o
manhood and womanhood we may bs
fascinated for time by other systems
because novelties are always pleasing
but in the long run we shall come back
to our own life with fresh appreciation
of its beauties.
We ought to be large enough to say
"Thank God for all the religions o
the earth," by whatever names they
may be known. If Buddhism has ia
ken crude and imaginative people
and moulded them into high orde
of civilization, then Buddhism is {;
providential religion, and the dea'
Lord has had something to do with it
Persia and Arabia and the uttermos
parts of the earth worship in wa.
peculiar to themselves, and though i
may not be our way, still, it may b.
one link in the progressive chain o
Gods way, for God is just as truly il
India as He is in America.