Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-13
A CARDINAL VIRTUE
Or. Smith Discourses Gratitude at
Epworth NJ. {, Church.
A Profound and Comforting Discourse
Gratitude Cardinal Virtue Proceed
ings of tho Methodist and Presbyterian
Pronohors' weekly Meetings.

Sermon by Rev. A. Coke Smith, ID,
at Epworth NJ. e. Church Sunday
morning:
Text. Psalm Gill: is.
He said. in part:
Gratitude is cardinal virtue in HUI
man character and absolutely essen
tial to the Christian. It is q creative
grace. as faith and hope are, and can
not be predicated of God. 1t is essen
tial to all virtue in men: and n man
destitute of it would be Stunned and
regarded as capable of any vice. Graf
itude springs from a sense of depend
ence and of appreciation Of obligations
conferred. 1t is the root of piety, the
source and power Of social unity. Re
move 1t, and men would have to be
governed by power or society would
laii TO pieces. 1t cannot exist where
there is not this sense of dependence
and obligation. No man who feels him
self sufficient In and of himself to be
and to do. or who feels that he de-
serves all that he gets can be crate
1ul. He may esteem what he has and
congratulate himself that he has re-
celVed what he has merited. but he
is not grateful. 1t is this self esteem
which abounds so In us all that pre-
vents our gratitude to God and men.
Gratitude Is the index of a firm ma
ture, the soil in which virtues flourish.
lngratitude marks an evil and thin ma
lure which can produce little but the
noXiouS weeds Of selfishness Some
people feel and, manifest but little
gratitude. They receive what comes
10 them with no response of thankful
ness, and If they do q favor they feel
n 10 rrfry - a.
and by so much impoverishing them
selves. In others gratitude Is genuine
Tor a while. but they soon forget. and
the sense OF obligation is dissipated. A
truly noble nature recognizes obliga-
ton and responds to every touch of
God and man.
Gratitude is the foundation of Chris
tian character. Out of 1t springs our
love for Christ; I'VE love Him because
He first loved u.s." 1t is impossible to
be pious without thankfulness. A man
may cultivate God as a merchant Gull
tiVates a customer or as fortune seek
err man of wealth for favors which
he hopes to get, but this is not piety
Our gratitude is the measure of the
senuiness and intensity OF our piety.
Gratitude is always pleasing to God.
lie commands us to give thanks. When
Christ healed the ten lepers only one
and he n Samaritan, returned to give
thanks, and Christ commended him.
The woman. who was a sinner who an
ointed His feet with ointment in token
or her gratitude, received an enrlching
blessings, and was set by the Master
In striking contrast with the Pharisee
who.with patroniZing condescen sion, in
Vted Him to dine. Gratitude compen-
safes him who cultivates it, It pro-
notes cheerfulness. and cheerfulness is
no inconsiderahle element in the
nac nj 4 1yoa
a disease which kills more people than
the plague. The reason why our re-
ligion wears us so is the absence of
gratitude in it. This makes 1t burden
some to us and gloomy to those who
observe us. Some people seem to think
piety requires righteousness, and the
longer a mans face is the deeper is
unWorldllness; but grateful heart is
n mine of wealth and a spring of health
and the piety 1t produces is full of sun
shine and good cheer.
Gratitude prompts to obedience. Two
motives move men to religious work.
love and fear. Only love is acceptable
10 God, and WITHOUT GRATITUDE in us love
10 God Is impossible. Love makes labor
easy; it counts not sacrifice, and will not
allow another to discharge its obliga-
lions. 1t is not held back In its ex-
preston because of the failure of an
other to do his duty, nor does 1t have
to be driven to dot longs for oppor-
tunity to express Itself Gratitude
gives patience under Affections. and
lightens all the burdens of life 1t
prompts to charitableness toward our
fellow-men in our Judgments and in
our dealings with them. 1t Is the main
spring of that large benevolence that
includes all men in the arms of its char
ity
Gratitude can live only in the
thoughtful heart. Isaiah complained,
of Israel's ingratitude springing from
lack of thoughtfulness: "The OK know
eth his owner. and the ass his mas
ter's crib. but Israel doth not know, my
people do not consider" Here is our
think continually of what is denied us.
and forget the multitude of benefits
which come daily to us from our
Fathers hand. Our disappointment
will dim thousand blessings and
day Of pain will make us forget years
of health and joy.We cultivate gratitude
by dwelling on Gods blessings "Thou
shalt remember all the way by which
the Lord thy God hath led thee" What
floods of grateful recollections would
whelm our souls If we would only dwell
on the blessings we have received and
compare them with the return we have
made for them. The psalmist puts
Stii ilu<ii OlcSoliSS itlSl anu tHlS Is the
| natural order. Only when we have be-
come spiritually awakened do we appre.
ciate the temporal good which comes
to us. God gives temporal blessings to
all. but He does not cast pearls before
swine. His choicest gifts can be gained
only to those who love Him.
Gratitude must find expression for tt
self. Without this 1t dies. Expression
increases 1t and gives strength to faith.
He who forgets Gods benefits is full Of
fear; he who remembers them is buoy
ant with hope; and we will forget IL we
do not express our gratitude for the
good we receive. But how shall we ex-
press our gratitude? Not In words on