Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05
Wrecks and Fragments.
observations Of a Philosophical Friend)
'Res sacra est miser."

ReS sacra est miser."
-Aligns.
"a miserable man is a sacred thing"
All the world is strewn with wrecks
and fragments. Any way you take it. it
is the same. The stream Of time bears
along on its bosom the debris of empires.
and families. and the scintillatlng dust
Of individuals that were great or small
in their day. And in its course all these
sink out Of sight, or are cast aside, or,
as we say, eliminated. But the Present
face of things has for its own new ruins
and dsmembermcnts and broken pieces,
all suggestive of some beautiful whole
of which each once formed a part, or for
which was intended, though never called
for or set I'm place. The fragments or
neglected parts instinctively long for
their lost places or those for which they
were made The stones neglected by the
builders or thrown aside wait for their
honorable places, or grieve over their
displacement. These are natural and
fundamental truths and facts. And each
individual recognizes them in his own eX-
periences and observations.
The wonder Is how society. made up Of
broken families and individuals, and
crowded with social. individual. physical,
financial, intellectual, and moral wreck
age, moves on and preserves its life and
spirit and brightness. Fortunately, we
are not all bound up IN the same bundle
Of life. Though members one Of another,
we have, each one of US, certain inde-
pendence Of existence that allows US TO
i've even as fragments, that enables US
TO preserve our identity. that is ground
or worked up IN the wise and living
providence OF God.
In very truth these entireties of which
wo at times find ourselves parts-fami-
lies, associations societies, circles.
friendships, and these conditions Of rich
es or poverty, Of success or failure. OF
happiness or misery-do but represent
the divers processes through which the
human material is made TO pass for It's
perfect development. Paul, the Apostle,
was no doubt early a member of happy
family. Passing through a careful edu-
cation, he reached mans estate and was
ready for work. lie was broken and
separated from all his previous connec-
tons and wrought for another purpose.
great exemplar Of manhood and power
for good ne was made to work for the
establishment Of Christs Kingdom and
the diffusion OF divine truth. Marvellous,
indeed. were his experiences. And
strangely was he a living stone. built into
the Temple Of God. The Apostle Peter
cares for the wrecks and fragments Of
his days-strangers scattered abroad.
These fragments and broken pieces, he
says, are lively stones built into q spirit
ual house TO the Makers honor In one
view Of the case it is deplorable 10 see
nothing but fragments and wrecks of hu-
manity manned. blind halt disappOint-
ed, impoverished, hopeless, aimless,
awaiting the tide TO take them Off. In
another we seem 10 be sitting in judg-
ment on the providence Of the infinitely
wise Worker Of All Things. We are look
ing at His raw material. We are lament
ing over His half-fnished work in its
transition stage.
And yet these broken parts md pieces
feel their sorrow and their separation.
and their dosOlation. The sympathy. the
patience the tenderness the pity that
We owe 10 ono another, that each I'm his
state Graves, is necessary for our life and
for our growth. Intelligent and honora-
BILE charity makes the atmosphere Of HUI
manity. We contribute 10 It, We live
upon IL. Our Lord moving about among
men, saw them as they were; contrasted
them with the happy conditions for which
they were made, and was moved with
compassion for them. SO He ministered
hope And He made consciousness OF
their imperfection a ground Of blessing
Indifference 10 or ignoraneo Of the ideal
was hopeless and deplorable. And His
words are: Blessed are they that
mourn" We little know how TO estimate
these wrecks and fragments. for what Of
ice each is being prepared In the coming
kingdom. Only we know that many that
are last shall be first; that when earthly
ties are least. readiness for Heaven may
ke perfect.