The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-26
ABUSE AND NOT REASON
REV. j. A. MILBURN DEPLORES A
FEATURE OF THE PRESENT TIMES.
Converts Must BE Won by Gentle
at Meridian-st- NJ. E. Church.


took for his subject the tendency of the
people at the present time to abuse each
other, when of opposite beliefs, instead or
trying TO persuade by kindly argument
While he did not refer directly to the many
recent cases of abuse by political speakers
of the people as a whole. that was what
he meant. An extract from the sermon fol-
lows:
Now, at this point I want, with your
permission, 10 make some applications OF
this gospel OF gentleness And hfst, let me
say that we should manifest the gentienesS
of Jesus Christ in cur pubnc as Wen as
in our personal relations to one another.
/ suppose there is not man here who
will deny the application of Christs law OF
gentieness TO his private dealings with in
diViduals. / suppose we all feel it incurl-
bent upon us to be kindly in our Judgments
of men and that it would be unchristian
in US to speak bitterly or consciously or
one another. suppose also we feel 1t In
cumbent upon us TO be kindly in our re-
ligious sentiments towards one another and
that we must not be at strife, church with
church, sect with sect or denomination with
denomination; but that we must all live
together in concord and peace as our Mas
ter has commanded US But the strange
thing is that, though we believe in this
gospel of gentleness in regard to 1ndivid-
tn feel that this injunction does not neces-
sI.fily apply. We seem to feel that here at
any rate man has a right to revert back
again to the morals of. the Goth: to the
morals of the Vandal, to the morals of the
Hun; that here he has a right to go back
to the old pagan notion that might constl-
tutes right.
I'VE see how this spirit is revealed in
these latter days in our own midst. These
are most interesting times, and L marvel
when / look out upon the American peo-
pie and contemplate them here in the
streets of Indianapolis and in all the cities
of this great country, and in the nigh
ways and byways, debating with one an
other and seeking to enlighten each other
upon the most intricate questions in the
realm of political economy. 1t Is a remark
able thing when you stop to contemplate
it, that this American Nation is dealing to-
day with truths that cost one of the great
est thinkers this world has ever had life
time to unravel, that the people OF this
tutored, cultivated and uncultivated, are
bordering upon and seeking to solve ques-
lions that for forty years racked the brain
of Adam Smith and that have perplexed
such great political economists as John
Stuart Mill, Clifton and Walter Baget, three
of the greatest thinkers on economic ques-
tions of our century / say this is very
remarkable, very unique and very interest
ing.
we'll a good side to this matter, for
in the midst of much rational discussion
we every once in while hear a very great
deal of abuse and recrimination, many
harsh and bitter words. and this not only
side, but both elimination and
recriminat,on passing from one side to the
other, abuse and counter-abuse passing
from one rank to the other, and an appeal
made to passion ard prejudice rather than
Now, say All this is very unfortunate,
and very unWorth y.>and very unmanly. 1t
is not like the American people. The inner
telligent people and they should discuss
these questions of public policy in in
telligent way, for you must remember that
if men are in erroravery few men are will
ingly in error. If men are carried away
by a theory that seems to you foolish and
absurd you must remember that very few
people permit themselves consciously to be
carried away by a theory that is absurd,
you find man in error is not to abuse
him. but to reason with him. If he cannot
think for himself you should think for him.
you should go to work and show him in a
sweetly reasonable way the untenableness
of his position and try to put your right
thought in the place of the wrong thought
that you feel to be burdening bis mind and
to be driving him along a way that is fool
ish and dangerous. Andithen again remem-
accessible to reason than they are to abuse.
Here l come up before you with an idea
ing a fatal and a foolish one. Well, sup
pose that you turn round and abuse me,
what do you accomplish, You simply drive
me in upon myself and l resent your
abuse and l begin to be suspicious more
over, of the man who has only abuse
to offer me when | am seeking light,
ment this man has to bring. if all he can
do is to hurl epithets, at me. if all he can
my motive. then I have a right to infer
that the position he wishes me to take is
weak. for if his position We're strong he
would appeal to reason and he would try
to counterfeit my darkness by giving to mo
his light. And so, my friends. if you and
want to make converts in any department
Of life we must treat men gently; if we want
TO win men morally we must treat them
gently, if we want to win men spiritually
we must treat them gently. and if we want
TO win men politically and economically we
must treat them gently. we must treat
hem with all the gentleness that inheres
IN truth itself, with all the gentleness that
is resident in reason. Always remember
and forever note that Gods truth needs
no hard words to drive it home. It may
require little time. little time to reach
: he mind. but utter only truth and utter it
Dersstently and utter it gently. and utter
it with sweet motive. and by and by be-
cause God is in it. it must find the mark