The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-02
RELIGIOUS READING.
BENEp1cr1oN OF BRorHERL1NEss.

BENEDIcr1oN OF BRorHERL1NEss.
Christianity introduced into the world two
levers to lift up society, the one \ spiritual
and the other social lever. The spiritual
lever was the fatherhood of God, and the
social lever the brotherhood Of man. All the
movements of the last nineteen centuries
which elevated humanity found their
Inspiration and strength In these two sub
lime truths. The victories OF the future will
be conditioned by the emphasis laid upon
reform OF the church back to the
ideas and methods of the Master will
throw out into commanding promi-
nence the fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood of man as the very centre
and keystone Of society. IHhe brotherliness
Of Jesus Christ is the claimant need Of our
time. It holds the key to the problems
which perplex the philosopher Of today.
The "mind Of Christ" Is the mind that is
fuD of the most pitiful and tender love to
every human being in every country under
heaven. Itbreaks down the walls OF spirit
ual pride, caste, and class feeling, and
unites the children Of the one Father in
brotherhood Of sympathy and service 80
sacred and soothing as to be an abiding
benediction amid the tolls and worries OF
life.
Brotherhood. is the distinctive property
Of Christianity. True 1t ts that we are
called upon to witness the strange specta-
Gle of fraternity adopted as watchWord
by advocates OF atheism and revolution,
but we must remember that such an anom-
aly is only the atterglow Of Christian senti-
ment lingering on the icy submits OF un-
belief However dim and distorted the
light may be, it is but the reflection OF the
Ore kindled by Him who taught Els disci-
pies to say "Our Father" and who pro-
Claimed the magma charta OF human fel-
Iowship in the words, "One Is your Father,
and all We are brethren" Very impressive
is that reminiscence of George Eliot fur
nished by F. W. H. Myers. her friend and
ldmirer. The two walked together among
he trees of an Oxford college garden one
evening in May, and talked about the deep
things OF life. "She, stirred somewhat be-
yond her wont, and taking as her text the
three words which have been used 30 often
as the inspiring trumpet calls CT men
the words God, Immortality, and duty
pronounced with terrible earnestness, how
inconceivable the second, and yet how per-
emptory and absolute the third" The IA
nous teacher had high purpose N every
line she wrote and in every word she spoke.
commentary on the apothegm OF old Cacil-
"If each for each be all he cal
A very god Is man to man"
Yet the gloom Of pessimism darkened her
outlook and infused wailing hoplessness
into her message, because she felt that
somehow she lacked the dynamic able to
realize her dreams. Only the broGherllness
Of the Christ who had become shadow to
her could give to the SONS and daughters
of sorrow the benediction she would bestow
upon them. Apart from the power o. the
Cross helpful brotherhood is myth and
dream. The brotherliness OF Christ las been
preached from Christian pulpits fer nine
teen centuries, but for many generations 1t
has been too much thing OF sentiment and
too little thing OF practice. We need
revival OF the apostolic usage when every
church was brotherhood and ever.g Chris
tian brother to all in need or distress.
Eusebius tells that when & Christian entered
a foreign city his first inquiry was !or the
church or the brotherhood and here ne
was received as a brother, and supplied with
whatever could contribute TO his spirit
ual or bodily refreshment. Mutual broth
erly love.was the distinctive mark Of the
sarly followers of Him who went about
doing good. Nothing short Of that can
prove benediction to the world OF today.
Deeds, not words, are sufficient to meet the
needs OF humanity. The foul and rnna m
able injustice that has long been the lot OF
the helpless and the weak in countries that
eomplacently call themselves Christia 0, must
be swept into oblivion by the mighty fide OF
Of Christlike compassion. The mereiless
political economy that makes self-interest
:he moving spirit OF the world must be struck
dumb by the triumphant proclamation OF
the truth as it is in Jesus. Man must no
longer be reckoned commodity whose
labor can be bought or sold according to
the caprice of the market, but brother
with feelings to be considered and rights to
be respected. The blessedness of emancl-
patton from commercial and social letters
must not be relegated to future state, but
must be brought so near and made SO real
by the enjoyment OF the privileges OF the
kingdom Of God as to transform earth into
that vestibule Of heaven it was intended te
be. These are the reforms to which the &C.
tivity of Christian brotherhood is keyed. The
attainment may be delayed by selfshness
and apathy, but come it must because the
Lord reigneth. and all will yet be well with
the children who find benediction in the
glimpses they get of the goal towards which
the fatherhood OF God and the brotherhood
Of man are carrying them.