The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-08
LIE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT


ton is right. or at least nearer right
than any other Interpretation.
If among all the sects and churches
all are wrong but one what an awak-
ening there will be in the day when
the secrets of all hearts are disclosed!
But, until that day comes, we shall
rest in the thought that nothing will
ever induce men to think alike upon
religion, nor to accept any one of the
historic creeds as the only true one.
Every historic and theological prece-
dent in the worlds religious annals
points to variety instead of to uniform
ity of belief So when the
advocate argues that only his
church and his theology are
Christian, and the other persons
church and theology are un-Christian
or non Christian, we do not become an
cry or feel hurt We smile. There is
relief and safety in the saving grace Of
humor.
But if men in and out of Christendom
have never agreed in their definitions
of religious truth, they have often
agreed in their appreciation of the
common spirit of faith and love and
hope. This forms a bond of union be-
tween Christian and Jew, Moslem and
Buddhist, Agnostic and Pagan.
Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel was
wont to say: All the days of my life
have been passed among sages and
have never found anything better for
man than silence. Not research but
practice is of the most importance. He
who talks much cannot avoid sin.
He also said: Three things support
the world-truth, justice and peace.
In these wise words of the famous
Jewish sage we find the true spirit of
the law of charity which is only anoth
er name for the Christian spirit.
The Christian spirit assumes many
forms and is capable of many defini-
tons.
The Christian spirit believes the best
of everything and everybody. It is the
spirit of appreciation with no sym
pathy for either the cynic, the icono-
clast, the pessimist or the Phariaee.
There may be a fly in the ointment
there usually is-but the Christian
spirit does not magnify the Importance
or the insignificance of the fly.
If, as sometimes happens the Chris
tan spirit is criticised for believing too
much, the reply is, it were Better to
believe too much than too little If
asked for its reason for believing, the
answer is ready. We believe because
it seems to us best If our belief is
false, it is because there is a better
which we have not yet discovered.
When we discover the better We viii
accept it. When we see the best we
will acknowledge it.
The Christian spirit cherishes feel
ings of charity toward all men. 1t
seeks to conform to that high imper-
alive Of Jesus: Love your enemies"
It finds love or charity, as St. Paul de-
clared, the greatest of these" be-
cause the hardest to attain and keep,
and the most potent and Transforming
in its influence for the refinement, pu-
Sir Thomas Browne in "Religio Med
lei" says: This I think charity, to
love God for himself and our neighbor
for Cod" 1t is a mystery how one can
pretend to love God who thinks, feels,
or speaks hatefully, or despitefully of
his neighbor He that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can
he love God whom he hath not SEEM"
John Milton another competent
witness, writes in civil Power" our
whole practical duty in religion is con-
tanned in charity, or the love of God
and our neighbor."
The Christian spirit does the best, or
what it thinks the best, for all men
including ones own self.
1t is clear that one may think high
thoughts and do low things. 1t is true
one may feel like an archangel and act
like an inhabitant of the Internal re-
gions. The test then of the Christian
spirit. from a practical point of view,
is neither thought, or feeling, but con-
duct.
Matthew ArnoId's declaration that
conduct IS three-fourths of life" is
only another variation Of the Masters
saying, Not he that crieth Lord, Lord,
but he that doeth the Divine Will" is
truly the son or the daughter of the
Highest
If we desire to manifest the Chris
tan spirit We must somehow arrive at
the clearness of spiritual vision which
uttered itself in ST. PauTs statement
that lin every nation he that doeth
righteousness is acceptable to God" If
acceptable to God one may bear as a
part Of life's discipline, as a cross Of
glory. the prosecutions and obloquy
cast upon the faithful by the unappre-
ciative and the ignorant.
No noDler prayer can be lifted for the
moral and spiritual welfare Of us all
than Tennyson in his sweet song
breathes out as he thinks Of the gentle
and beautiful life of his lost friend
Il would the great world grew like
thee,
Who growest not alone in power
And knowledge, but by year and hour
In reverence and in charity"
FRANK L. PHALEN.