Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-08-07
LAND THE GREATEST OF THESE. )

There is quotation often on the
lips which familiarity has robbed of
much of it's meaning, but which is
worthy of being incorporated among
the rules by which to regulate conduct
in the affairs of life. 1t is, Charity
covers a multitude of SINS"
Charity is something more than the
giving of aims, although that is the
meaning usually attached to the word
when that quotation is made use Of.
The rich who head subscription lists
for charitable purposes are supposed
by many people to be actuated by the
desire to thus gloss over the short
comings of which they are guilty. In
this day, when it is fashionable to sup
pose that all rich people have become
rich by unfair means, it is too often
said that the man who has more of the
worlds goods than his neighbor, con-
tributes literally to public subscrip-
lions because "such charity covers a
multitude of sins"
| But that is not the true meaning,
nor the best, conveyed by the saying
Charity, "the greatest of these" is a
virtue which transcends all others. 1t
is the virtue which prompts kindly
feelings, which actuates kindly iudg-
ments and leads the individual to
place the best construction upon the
acts of those with whom he comes in
contact.
In moro homely phraseology it may
be expressed in the slang phrase,
Don't knock" Give others credit for
good intentions. Try to believe that
although their conduct is not what it
should be, it is not prompted by evil,
is not deliberately wrong, but is caused
by circumstances which, acting SINH
larly upon others, would produce sim
liar results Charity would prompt
correction of errors in conduct in
charitable manner. 1t forbids the con-
demnation of others unheard. 1t i'm
putes no motives but good ones. 1t
believes the best and condemns the
wrong-doing of ones fellows only after
all possibility of the verdict being
harsh one is removed.
There are too many who find delight
in discovering in others something to
condemn. They are often prompted
by jealousy, not less often by sheer de-
light in finding and exposing the weak
nesses of their acquaintance. They
revel in the opportunity of knocking"
Such people are not confined to any
! particular walk of life. They are ev-
eryWhere. In business how often men
will throw cold water on anothers en-
terprise, not because it's success means
any loss to them, but because to de-
tract from another's chances of pros
perity or the enjoyment of honors is a
pleasure.
In fraternal life, despite the pledges
made in the lodge room, how many
there are to whom the placing of OBJ
stacles in anothers path is pleasure
not to be foregone. And it is not al
ways jealousy that prompts it. Broth
ers who have not the remotest chance
of obtaining the promotion which by
their efforts is denied another, will
"knock" that other merely for the
pleasure of doing it. And even IN the
oh hn
thought may be, there are people who
will Illustrate the good efforts of pastor
or other member because of no other
conceivable reason than that it gives
them satisfaction to do so.
! In social life how many "knockers"
do you know? How many who will
seize on the shortcomings of a new
acquaintance and magnify them to
others? It is not necessary that they
shall belittle the new acquaintance to
maintain their own position in the good
opinion of their circle. The new ac-
quaintance may possess an untold
number of good qualities and enjoy
the favor of ali whose good opinion for
himself the "knocker" values, and yet
not cause that good opinion to be les
sened. But the "knocker" will knock
just the same.
1t is good rule and worthy one,
which, without the endorsement of the
worlds greatest teachers, would COM
mend itself to right thinking, right
acting men and women, that of "Judge
not, lest ye be judged" Be magnani-
nous, charitable, broad minded, above
petty jealousy, trying to find the good
and not the bad qualities of others.
Drop the hammer for good and all and
when you see man or woman in
need of your helping companionship
and that of others, help them to &C
complish better things than they alone
are capable of. Don't take a delight
in handicapping the man who already