The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-25


When, on the other hand, prosperity
came at last, and wealth was multiply
ing and bringing Its temptations to sell
itsh boarding. and the inane pleasure Of
mere possession, she stood beside him
again, his good genius, to suggest the
noble purpose which here finds express
SION and to drive from his bosom the evil
spirit of avarice by the presence of the
higher power of generous charity. Who
says there are no angels? A mistaken
art may have perverted our views and
we may revolt from the idea of winged
invisible beings lowering about us; but
we should not let go the truth because
OF that. An angel is q messenger, and
whoever. or whatever brings to us mes,
sages of suggestion 10 high resolve and
noble living, becomes to us an angel If
good. And 1t needs not that they be dis
embodied before they become such to
us. They walk beside us share our lots.
but living In touch with II lin who hides
Ills children in the secret OF His pres
ence they speak for Him to us and be
come our ministering spirits while yet in
habiting our clay.
And are those who thus inspire to
labor cut off from the enjoyments of its
fruitage because they have passed from
our view? Who will dare assert it?
May we not indulge the hope that while
we look out from the windows of our
earthly bodies upon this building, sent
NShS apoh It's illSSIOU VI nGID with our
prayers for Gods blessing upon 1t. she
to whom 1t owes its origin is here. and
with unveiled face sees as we cannot
see. and rejoices with n higher Joy be-
| cause of larger knowledge
But we would not be true to the deem
er Interior facts were we in our back
ward look to stop with those To whose
thought and labor this city owes its
great charity. Whence came this
thought to their minds? Had they by
large historic knowledge seen the need
or larger spirit of brotherhood? Had
close study of sociological laws taught
them that human society is a vast re,ic
| ulation, each part dependent upon the
other, and that what help we give 10
others, when given Alright comes hack
enlarged and enriched upon US again?
NO. This home does not owe its being
10 process of reasoning Ii Is not
oirth from the brain. but from the heart.
MARY II. Ballentine knew by personal
faith the Man of Galilee His spirit had
touched her heart with holy fire. and
| from that went forth the power which
mas produced this result The humanito
rian!sm which would give itself tha
cred!t lor the good in human society for
| tne extending spirit of brotherhood eud
charitS winch is changing the fall Of thn
soclal world and is beginning to shane
us chaos into cosmic beauty attemnts
larceny which 1t will not be allowed ~
perpetrate There Is too much light now
upon tne facts for the thief TO accom-
plish his nefarlous purpose.
rms is not the place nor the tim, IA
appeal to the facts of history ana nrova
me assertion just made. If any DOM. ~,
truth. the proofs can be adduced None
out ihose blind "a the PLANES, facts can
indulse In doubt on the subject Tbis
occasion Is alnatural fiuitaetHof ,ha.-a1rb-
ans oi Jesus the Christ. and could have
h.t ~.
mas ever led the thought OF men All
othtr religious and all Christless phiIo
Sophies. which have attempted a solu-
tloh OF the problems OF human life have
peeh irogmentary and onc-sided That
alone winch comes through Him Is full
lou'ioeu, surring the individual to high
est ehdeaNol through the revelation or
personal responsibility TO God: and nj
the same time preserving the social ,ies
i'll All strength, and constructing a strong
society not by the sacrifice of the indi
Eiuuai 10 the mass. but out OF individuals
iuil grown in the consciousness of per
sonal wealth, creating n society or,icu-
lated throughout and strong bv that
which every joint supplieth. making in
crease of itself in love.
The gospel OF the Son of Cod &c tba
highest philosophy for the individual for
society and for the nation Ii gives 10
each It's proper place and emphasis. Men
never hNcW me value OF manhood and
womanhood till they learned II throuph
Christ. Out Of His gospel as proclaimed
by Himself and His APOSTLES have
sprung the ideas which i:ave ennobled
men and enriched the world with in
stitutions which bless and uplift. Where
1t has gone liberty has gone-libertv
That is not akin to license but which
lnds lis highest expire sson in the spirit
of service and brOtherly Kindness Re
fore the gospel came men were estinat
cd In mass. a man was nothing unless
he were king or some great one. For
him the mass existed. The poor lived
to serve the rich. Christ came not to
reveal God only. but TO reveal man $
well. The world never knew what a
man was till then In peasant garb he
walked the earth. spoke as never man
spoke, went among the poor and enriched
them not with money. but with svmpa
thy and noble thoughts. made no dis
t!nction between man and man eycen,
;hat which Is based on character. and
showed 10 the world thar IL was the soul
which made the man and not the acci
dent of birth or fortune. Putting into
tile mind of every man who would re-
ccive His ospel the high sense of King
ly worth. jie evoked the noblest endeay-
or and iDpiten with heavenly purposes
the hearts that move the hands of toll
The wof d never knew how high hu-
manity ouid rise till 1t saw Jesus. nor
how Ofta TIL il saw His followers IT
is this Sc 1se of individual worth which
has ncst d men to labor and manly
hopeful s. nggle. True the doctrine ha :
been abused and we have had heresies