The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-19
There Are Few Who Have Not Had
Thoughts Arise From Such Study.
CREATURES OF LIKE KIND FRATERNIzE.
Law of Love AS Universal As the
Fact of the Animal Loving Its
kind-The Law IL According TO
the Ideas of the Creation-John
Tells US God rs Love.
By Rt. Rev. r. S. Chatard. Bishop OF
Vincennes. indianapolis. Ind.

Among the sources of instruction by
which our mind is made to appreciate
truths of great value TO us Is undoubted-
ly the book of nature. 1t lies open be-
fore us. as il inviting study. There are
few who have not had thoughts arise
from such study, which elevated the
mind above what we see 10 higher and
nobler things. even to God who made
all these beautiful objects. and who Is
therefore FAR more beautiful than they
are. The great poet and dramatist un-
derstood and felt the good effect of this
contemplature OF nature and the i'm
preston he has left recorded in the oft
quoted words, Sermons in stones and
good in everything"
One fact we see in our study of ma
ture. and 1t strikes us strongly. 1t is
the creature OF like kind seek each
other. Except where some strong pas
sion or interest comes In to mar this
tendency to fellowship. 1t is so univer-
sal that men have always looked on il
as matter of course. trite, and scarce
~ worthy of more than a passing glance.
Its universally, however, marks II
as the result of a law; a law that exist
ed before creatures did: law, there
fore. which comes from the creator,
which is and was in his divine mind
from eternity. 1t is the law of love.
Let us go little higher and observe
noblest of earthly beings, mankind.
Everywhere we see the working of sym
pathy and love among men; zone touch
OF nature makes all the world akin" So
greatly do men admire the manifesto
ton of this universal law of love that
human friendship is we'll nigh made a
substitute for all religion and raised to
the dignity of cult. Damon and Pyth-
las are regarded as the types OF friend
ship, and humanitarianism seems to
loom up Is the religion of the future.
Again. let us consider another fact
that kindness is the most eIicacious
means to tame and subdue even the
most ferocious beasts. Nothing so gains
the brute creation as the manifestation
of kindly disposition toward them In
conversation regarding this universal
law OF love. Cardinal Manning once re-
marked that he had come to realize It
when he had horses. The well-known
tanner. Rorey, was wont to begin his
work with the widest horse by sud
den act OF subjugation. But as soon as
the animal had ceased it's violent strue-
giles he resorted TO kind treatment, and
his success was phenomenal, giving him
a name throughout the Engiish-speak X
ing world We are told that Gen Gus
ter never used harshness with his
chargers, and so generously did the re-
spond that he could with q word make
them do his will
Now. here Is another manifestation of
the law of love as universal as the fact
of the animal loving it's kind The law
Is. according to the ideas OF the Creator:
1t comes from him: II Is the law of the
universe upon which he has left his i'm
press. 1t Is the key to the understand
ing of 1t all. There Is nothing to sur
prise us in this. The favorite apostle
John tells us God is charity" God Is
love.
What wonder. therefore, that this
love. which is ehe essential character
of the deity. should pour itself out upon
creation be shared naturally by rverv
being. more particularly by those gjf;td
with intelligence? Contemplating its
beauty and its effects the psalmIst ex-
claims How good and pleasant It Is
for brethren to dwell together" or the
power II wields over u.s. long ago solo
mon said: IF man should give all the
substance OF his house for love. he shall
despise 1t as nothing" "A greater than
Solomon said:
Greater love than this no man hath
that may lay down his life his friends
John XIV. 49,
This Christ did for u.s. intoxicating bv
word and by example what love Is
what It's power is. how 1t Is and should
be the law of our nature. At the same
time he lifted mans thoughts above his
own little self, he made him understand
there is higher love above that OF
visible nature. love that is divine. su-