The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-09

sympathy is one of the virtues of
the human race that seems to have
survived the deluge of corruption that
swept over the world" said Rev. James
Hughes in his sermon in the Adams
Avenue chapel last night.
I'm nearly every child of Adam we
find traces of this noble trait of char
acter in n fainter or more pronounced
degree. Where it does exist promi-
nently 1t blazes forth in resplendent
glory as one of the richest ornaments
of human character. While it is found
in nearly all persons, yet in some
cases, because of the perversty caused
by moral regcneracy, 1t takes an OBJ
lique course and expends itself on in
ferior objects.
For instance, while the Turks are
proverbially cruel to those of their
own species, they are very kind to all
animals. While they have been known
to torture to death a human being on
the slightest provocation, they are
very conslderate of dumb animals, and
Will punish with undue severity any
person who Is guilty of wanton cruelty
to dog, or indeed any beast or bird
Among all classes, both in civilized
and savage life, we still find indica-
tions of this heaven-born principle
! Missionaries to the heather have found
among the unsophisticated barbarous
tribes of the earth conspicuous evil
| dence of sympathy as some exotic
plant of exquisite beauty, growing in
stunted form, among the ruins of
what once was the paradise of God
CT Nf ,A1, Il
trait of character as we discover
among degenerate mankind furnishes
us with some idea of the dignity and
| eXcellency which once adorned our
race.
MUST HAVE SYMPATHY.
Man is so constituted that he cam
not enjoy life without n consciousness
that he has the sympathy of some one
There is a strong craving for this in
every person. 1t seems to be an es-
sential part of human nature Stole
ism would make an eHcision of this
and thus destroy the humanity of our
| race. Even the Son of God, the per-
feet One, both gave sympathy and de-
sired it.
while He felt indescribable lone
liness in the garden, He pathetically
appealed to His three disciples, say
ing: Gould we not watch with Me one
hour?' When there appeared to be a
revolt on the part of many who had
| received His teachings. He turned to
His disciples and said, viii ye--also
go away" And even after His resur-
rection, after all that was material
and mortal had been changed into the
ETHEREAL and immortal, He said to
Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lowest
thou me.
Thus We see that even the immacu-
late Son of God desired sympathy and
no doubt obtained it in John, Mary,
Martha and Lazarus.
Wherever humanity is found and
where humanity is most human there
will be seen a craving for sympathy.
Where this is not found, mans heart
has become ossified and his instincts
more brutal than the beast of the
field.
again, where true sympathy
abounds we have the nearest approach
to a likeness of Christ. Lord Bacon
says, Being desirous of the veal of
men, which is what the Grecians call
philanthropia; this of all virutes and
[,
being the character of the Deity; and
without 1t man is busy, mischievous,
wretched thing, no better than a kind
of vermin. Christ had compassion ron
the multitude and this was sympathy
in action, for He fed them.
REFLECTS NOBLENESS.
THUS we find that sympathy wher-
ever found and in whomsoever ,when
exercised reflects nobleness of charac-
ter. 1t is a spurious dignity to affect
supercilious, stoical attitude in the
presence of the surrounding woe and
want, by which we are sometimes en-
vironed. No man should consider his
life an island cut off from all other
lands, but should consider himself part
of the great continent of human exist
enCe.
His heart should be like the minosa
plant which is effected by its sur
roundings, or like the noble tree that
is wounded itself before it can give
the balm that is needed to heal an
other. True nobility of character con-
sists in being able to weep with those
who weep and rejoice with those who
rejoice. and to be touched with the
feelings of other persons infirmities.
This is indeed Christ-like in spirit and
in action.
mo one can estimate the effect of
sympathy. There is no more potent
force in operation for the uplifting of
humanity and the enoblement of the
character of man. Perhaps the best
definition that we can give of sympa-
thy is to describe it as fellow feel
ing. After all, the word is better un-
derstood than II can be elucidated. 1t
is one of those words that is better
felt and explained by the heart, than
it can be seen and defined by the in
telect. The Great Teacher has set II
forth in bold prismatic colors in the
golden text, DO unto others as we
would have others do unto u.s..
1T is an inward force whose ten
dency is to transpose a persons feel
ings into the condition of those less
favored than himself. st. Paul gave
very strong and striking exposition
of sympathy when he said that he
could wish himself anathema for the
sake of his brethren.
NO AFFINITY.
'Much that is called charity in these
days has not the remotest affinity
with true sympathy. What we call
charity nowadays, may appease hun
ger and afford comfort in many ways
TO the INDECENT and needy, but If be-
slowed by an icy hand 1t has no moral
value or enobling tendency.
Don't suppose for a moment that I
am condemning riches, or rich men
just because they are rich. No, / can