Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-14

The pre-eminence of charity may be
shown from what it does for others. In
deed, the peculiar glory Of charity is that
"she thinketh not her own" 1t puts
generous construction on the words and
actions of others. is not sensitive and sus-
picious, having it's feelings all the time
spread out for others to tread upon. 1t
delights to look on the bright side of
things and make the worse appear the.
better reason. It is tolerant of the opin-
ions of others. whether these opinions be
social political or religious. 1t grants to
every man the privilege Of worshiping
God according to the dictates of his own
conscience and furnishes the motto: In
essentials unity, In non essentials liberty,
in all things charity" IT delights to re-
Heve the necessities of others illustrating
that pure and undehled religion which is
to visit the fatherless and widows In
their aff1ictIon and to keep himself I'M
spotted from the world" But prefer
here to consider the pre-eminence Of char
ity from what IL does for those who prac-
tice II.
While the charitable man is utterly OBJ
livious of his own interests it is still true
that
''The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from
Upon the plane beneath. 1t is twice blest.
It biesseth him that gives and him that
takes"
II enables us to enjoy life as we other
wise could not. There is luxury In do
ing good and nothing so tends to produce
the souls calm sunshine and the heart
felt joy.
"The man may breathe, but never lives,
who e'er receives, but nothing gives;
Creations blot, creations blank,
Whom nobody loves and none can thank.
The word miserable comes from miser'
and many a one has been known to seek
death to escape the pangs Of avarice
read some time ago of one who, driven to
madness from the fear of losing his gold,
went to a deep, dark, flowing river to
drown himself. AS he was about TO take
the fatal plunge he looked at his gold ana
thought as it would be of no more use to
hin, he would take 1t to a poor family
near him. whose sufferings had often ap-
nealed TO him in vain, as II would DO
them good. He did so. and the moment
he had donated Il reason returned ana ne
discovered that he had something to live
for He devoted himself to life of
benevolence and was happy ever after
ward others dread death because 1t viii
deprive them of their gold. One Of them'
diving in Alabama said to his physician
when told he must die: Doctor, can't
take my gold with me?" NO, said the
doctor. land if you could it would do you
no good in the country where you are go
ing II would all melt" Surely we are
renaid for our charity in the evidence
which Il gives of our acceptance with
God. OF course I speak now OF that
charity which embraces love to God Tor
real charity is obedience TO that COM
mand which says, Thou shalt love the
lord Thy God with all thy heart and thy
neiphbor as thyself" 1t is the golden
fruit which grows on the Christian tree,
| ana while some may exhibit 1t who have
not salvation. vet he who has 1t not is
| not Gods child. Whose hath this world $
goods and shutteth up his bowels OF COM
passion, how dwelleth the love OF Goo IN
him. -
But we are often repaid in this life by
the very people we relieve. Worthy
beneficiaries are not ungrateful, but so
/ long as they have hearts to feel and
| tongues to speak, those hearts VIII en-
shrine the memory and those tongues
| Hear Robert Burns as he speaks Of his
noble patron:
'sThe mother may forget her child
That smiles so sweetly on her knee,
But I'll remember thee, Glenedira,
| And all Indl lnou mast hohS III AAS-
notable case occurred in Georgia
many years ago. Some pious Presbyte-
rian ladies concluded to educate an or
phan boy who lived at Crawfordville in
/ that state The school and their home
/ was two days journey distant; and the
boy twelve years of age had to walk In
/ order to get there. He followed wagon
which kept the same road he was travel
/ ing till nightfall, when he sorrowfully
/ saw the wagon take another road He
/ looked and there were two large imposing
/ homes on the right side of the road as
/ night set in. He went TO the first along
/ a beautifully paved walk bordered with
/ flowers and rang the bell. A morose
| looking man came to the door and the
/ little fellow falteringly asked him II he
might stay all night. The churl replied.
| mo sir, we don't take tramps in here
| and slammed the door in his face. He
/ went out, out into the darkness alone and
i tearfully pursued his way till he came
to the other house. He made another at