The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-06
CHRISTIAN ALTRUISM.
We Belong to Great Brotherhood
and Owe n Duty to Our
FeIIow-Men.

There has come into our modern vo
cabulary this word "altruism," which
is used by some as new Gospel or as
a substitute for the Gospel. 1t may be
defined as kind regard for others, "
~doing good TO others" "a devotion to
the welfare of humanity" And yet this
altruism Is in its truest and best sense
nothing more than the law of Christ, IL
Illustrated and proved by His own life
and death. The Gospel sltruism has
such exhortations as these: Bear ye
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the
aaw Of Christ" "Let no man seek his
own, but each his brothers wealth"
"Look not every man on his own things.
but every man also on the things of 9TH
ers."
Or. Boardman, of Philadelphia. in one
aof his discourses introduced two new
words marking these principles, "Iism'
and 'otherism I principle and
the other principle. In the first class
he places the anarchist, the assassin.
the drunkard, the epicurean. the liber-
may find the Office seeker, the partisan.
the sectarian. the usurer. the saloon
keeper and the gambler In general we
may add that this is the principle of
every man who in any manner seeks an
advantage over his fellows, or passes
10y with Indifference the necessities of
humanity. On the other hand, the
'~other" principle, the principle of love.
cares for and seeks the good OF others.
and embraces all who are seeking TO
follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
and who show out His spirit
This is the principle which builds our
hospitals, which gives bread to the
hungry, which instructs the ignorant
which lifts up the fallen, which works
for the salvation of the lost. It is the
Gospel of Jesus Christ which is working
to bring forward the golden age. when
there shall be in truth one great broth
erhood. and none shall hurt or destroy
in all the earth. This law of love COW
.ers the whole ground OF human neces-
sites. material, social, moral and spir-
itual.
We are all in the highest and best
sense our brothers keeper If love
were busy merely in the prevention OF
evil, we should be saved the necessity
of especial effort in its delivefance.
More than this, there must be positive
ministrations, so that by well adjusted
lives and examples and deeds this prin-
ciple shall be kept in action. 1t is sad
fact that one man may destroy another
by false use of his own liberty. Even |
an example may have the power of
death in It,
Some one has written:
May every soul that touches mine,
Be 1t the slightest contact,
sGet therefrom some good,
some little grace, some kindly thought, |
One aspiration yet unfelt.
One bit OF courage for the darkening sky. |
One sgleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills Of life,
One glimpse of brighter skies
Reyond the gathering msts
To make the life worth while,
And Heaven surer heritage"
Apply this principle. and ii would |
regulate our words, our dress, our read
ing, our recreations, our business, our
behavior.
President Lincoln said after his sec
ond election: Il have not willingly
planted thorn in any mans BOSOM"
Some one has given this as . defini-
Ecn of gentleman: "One wi O never
willingly hurts the feelings OF anoth-
er." This is one phase of love, but we
must remember that there is much more
than this in a true life, and that is the
doing of positive good, the greatest pos
sible good to everyone. whenever the
is given.
Do any hearts beat faster.
Do any faces brighten,
TO hear your footstep on the stair
To meet you, greet you anywhere?
Are you so like your Master,
Dark shadows 10 enlighten?
Are any happier to-day
Through words that they have heard you
say7
-sfe were not worth living
4 no one were the better,
For having met you on the way,
Z nd known :he sunshine of your stay"
finder God as Supreme Ruler, under
chl.s;. cur Saviour, under both law and !