Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-03-12

that cC0tolnSQ IN the text Gu naS
not only exhibited its hostility asain.s
God in its stubborn and defiant at
tltude Of disobedieDce and opposition
to his just requirements, but it has al
so developed spirit OF bitter antago-
nism and savage encounter between
man and his fellows.
The first important event re-
corded is the murder of Abel by Cain
his brother. The cause and excuse
for this beginning of fraticides was,
that God had respect to the Offering Of
Abel and had none for that of Cam.
Such is the envious character OF the
human heart, that If you will trsduce
your neighbor, acquaintance or as
sociate, YOU incite for him pity ; but
commend him, speak OF his merits, his
ability, his rightful claims to consider
alton, and you have aroused Tor him
\ in the bosom of your hearers, feelings
of jealousy and bitter hate.
| David had but little to fear at the
hands Of Saul until the startling and |
significant statement which rang out
on the evening air. and whose inspir-
ing eloQuence and enchanting cadence, |
as it issued from ths lips of the fair
damsels of the land, Quickened the
pulsation of every patriotic 1sraelite
was Saul hath his thousands but
David his tens of thousands" "All OF
this availeth me nothing said the
Jealous. wicked, envious Hannah" so
long as see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting
at the kings gate" His bRnqueting,
winning and dining With the king and
queen. to the exclusion OF ali the other
members of the royal court, the honor
OF the second place in the kingdom,
the rich emoluments of office and all
the glitterlng glories of the house of
Haman were soured-blighted to ashes
by this slight, but we'll merited mark
Of respect awared to that horrible Jew.
The legitimate elements OF sin are
pride, selfishness and arrogance; these
lead to discord. dissention, division
and bitter strife; then comes unchar.
conspiracies, sinful plottings envy,
jealousy, hate and murder-often
bloodless, but nevertheless murder; ;
for he who hates his brother under
b any circumstances, is charged in the
scriptures with murder, though he
does not actually shed blood.
We could hope, for the sake OF that
homogenial spirit, that harmony OF
operation, which is the ornament ans
beauty OF christian character, as well
as for the power. influence and success
OF the christian church. From these
and other considerations the inn
portance and necessity OF christian
unity is readily seen
The church is q society OF christian
men and women banded together for
the express purpose OF making the
world better by lifting up the fallen
succoring the needy, and consoling the
Borrowing. Hence the knights o.
Pythians is a society banded together
for the purpose of lettering humanity
by lifting them higher in the estima
ton OF men and God Nofone can b
a slf-fisdged knight without the tru'
religion OF the Lord and Saviour Jesu
Christ. Let as notice briefly the prin
cipleurged Unity" The term sig
--{hiffes oneness, concord, friendlines
and peace. christian unity, IS urges
in the,text, is not consequently depen
dent upon either the abrogation of de
nominational distinctions. or societ
diferencesSbu it accommodates itsel
&c ali those circumstances and shade
of difference. that arise among men
and so blends and harmonizes them a
e- to render each subservieDt and helpful
to each other, and alike bene fetal {
sll ~ We observe that the nature c
ch the unity, for the maintenance c
which we are urged by the Apostle {
put forth an earnest endeavor, in "Un
ity of Spirit" union, agreement haI
mony Of spirit that condition {
mind wherein the sentiments, desire
and affections are SO happily inhuenC
be. ed. directed and control ed by fee
ing of friendliness and good will, this
the one all pervading thought is to rt
lieve psin and suffering. The knight
of Pythias has emblazoned the unseli
ish Christian motto in its principle
"Good will to men" The fosterin
care of this spirit wonld prove
panacea for the ehectual cure OF a
maladies which enervate the chrstis
world. Whatever may be our diffe
IN ences on the outside in other thing
we are firmly and harmoniously unite
in a spirit of fraternal love.
There is nothing in the dissimilari'
existing among men, either as indiv
dualsIor associations, that is necesssr
; incompatible with this fraternal unit
90 "Endeavor' is the word used
the text, which signitied to try. to lal
or intensely. Nothing important
accomplished without an effort. l.
as therefore, in view of its benefici
-. results. both to our selves and tho
e with whom we have intercourse,
lA we'll as the cause of God, which will |
so greatly promoted thereby, put for
an earnest, faithful and prayerful Ell
CIV deavor, to maintain the unity of spir
, - at all times by the cultivation of fra
ernal love. Much that tends to a
L.
and alienation among brethren, ari
from misrepresentation. either wifi
ny or the result of improper informatio
- In our seeming haste to publi
81 what we have heard, or at best, know
sno very imperfectly, we frequently i
any dulge-however undesignedly-in gro
misrepresentation, seriously affectiI
each others reputation. No pOssih
loss, either to our self or the commuI
\ L I, IL
in circulating what tends to the I'M ia
of brother; and q delay, would,
many instances, putius in posses sion
such facts inthe Gaze, as would relic
q the story of most, or all Of its injurio
effects.
II the time, effort and skill devot
to the interest of discord. were utliz
cd. in jealous efforts to cement mo
closely the ties of organized and frate
nal brotherhood, what vast amou
K of peace. prosperity aud success won
result to the Order.
4ho Far more time and study is emplo
Atm ed in attempts to belittle each other
- members OF the community than
enlisted in battling with the comm
o,d enemy or in studied. honest and pra
. ~ full endeaVors to establish the eau
,sn and principles Of the Organization.
with what measure you mete, {
. - same shall be measured TO you agai
. ~ is trite truism that should remit
So us that thorn seed wilfully sown
SSsoI' us for the goading of others to- d
Toi will be harvested and resown to me
Of row with vast increases which the or
mt will yield to recompense US for o
F. Ion WIN ING AaIkess ~ aIu Dy = III a
,er VIC MouIu cuaSlS"so cni - VIA - =
''O- encourage the difident and strength
the the weak if we would connteract t
ourness of spirit which leads to allie
nv .tion and enlargement; il we woU
- contribute tOWards that oneness