The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-28
Charity.

Memphis Commercial Appeal
In the great light of Masonry,
the Holy Bible, which sis given
us as rule and guide to our faith
and PRACTICE" we find these
words:
"Though l speak with the
tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, l am be-
come as sounding brass and tink-
ling cymbal.
"And though I have the gift Of
prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, SO
that | could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am moth
ing.
"And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and
though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing
| From the foregoing we infer
that when the apostle wrote these
| words he had in his minds eye
something far greater than simply
almsgiving. He had thoroughly
studied the composition of man,
as pertains to the godhead, and
had become convinced that too
many were resting their case for
future reward upon the simple act
of momentary relief of the many
little acts of suffering that the
flesh is heir to in this world.
Hence he continued:
HCharity suffereth long and is
kind; charity envieth not, charity
vaunteth not itself, is not pulled
up, doth not behave itself UNI
seemingly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh
no evil.''
It is very clear, to our mind,
that by proper understanding of
that foregoing paragraph he in
tended to dispel the narrow con-
t struction, by the masses, of the
word charity, and present it to
J them in grander, nobler higher
, sense. He intended to show them
that if actuated by proper con-
ception of its true meaning they
would overlook and forgive the
! many shortcomings of their breth-
t rem, and in doing SO would not
: proclaim it from the housetops OF
4 communicate it privately to a few
: select friends. Rather would they
3 whisper privately in his ear his
! failings and to the outside world
: cover up his foibles.
] If, good brother, you are actu-
. ated by that charity which is the
! bond Of peace and the perfection
3 of every virtue you will never be
found peddling out your brother
wrongs or taking sides with those
Y you have no interest in. His faults
3 will be locked in your breast, ex.
n cept to tell him Of them, and his
g need of succor will be yours tt
: give without heralding it to The
r world. No whisperings con the
Q square, or confidential tips" az
b to his condition, either financially
0 or morally, will go.
Q There are too many of us in Thu
Q fast day and generation who d.
Y our charities s'to be seem of men,
8 # we give aims we are very care
p full that it shall be known; if W.
a conceal a brothers. wrongs we ar
not slow to whisper it; if we tel
him of his shortcomings we alst
Q tell others; and if we get a ittl,
: miffed at him we forthwith unbos
: ON ourself to some busybod,
f whom we know will "keep it go
d ing," and finally supplant him il
his laudible undertaking. An,
s all this will be done through con
8 fidential charity.
d O, charity, sweet charity, tina
Q kind contained in our 'sgrea
/, light" what wrongs are commit
Il ted in thy name! o, the anguish
o the trouble, the tears and bursting
q heartaches that are caused in thi
world by q misconception of til,