The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-01-22
'The Greatest of These is Charity"

| in Florida, and was handed to US by a
friend here in town. 1t was published
under the heading of Sunday sermon
by the editor:
Faith, hope, charity; but the great
est of these is charity."-1 Cor. 1913.
Man is the greatest yet the weakest of
Gods creation. He is prone to evil. 1t
is part of his inheritance. He should,
therefore, be treated with tender pity, COM
passion, love, tolerance and charity.
The principle characters mentioned in
the holy scriptures are almost repetitions
of mans weaknesses and wickednesses.
Very few led stainless lives.
Adam, the first man, ate the forbidden
fruit and cowardly attempted to fasten
his sin upon the woman, and Eve, no
better than her husband, tried to shield
herself by fastening it upon the serpent.
Cain, in fit of jealousy, slew bis
younger brother.
Noah, who alone with his family
escaped the awful destruction of the flood,
celebrated his rescue, as soon as he could
make the wine, by getting drunk, and
Ham, his younger son, who wanted to ex-
pose him, received curse which will be
felt by his posterity through all time to
come, and Shem and Japeth, who gently
hid their father away from exposure,
were blessed.
That is the first temperance sermon on
record and it is entirely different from
the Carrie Nation performances of our
times.
Abraham, to save his own life, was will
ing to sacrifice his wife's honor, and by
DENYING that she was his wife, permitted
her to be seized and placed in an Egyp-
tian Seraglio.
Isaac, for fear of his life, denied his
wife, also, and Jacob stole his brothers
birthright.
Moses slew the Egyptian, buried him in
the sand, and when he found out that his
crime had been discovered, fed in order
to escape punishment.
His crime was condoned and Moses was
greatly honored of God He talked with
him "face to face" He was selected to
deliver the Israelites from bondage, yet in
a fit of rage, ne threw down the tables of
stone containing the commandments and
broke them.
David had Uriah slain in order to Sc
cure the beautiful Bath-Sheba for his own
evil purposes, and Solomon had entirely
too many wives.
We find that human nature was the
same in new testament times that it was
in old testament times.
Christ selected twelve men for his dis
ciples. They recognized Him as the
Master and vowed Him their allegiance.
Though all others would forsake him
they would be with Him to the end of the
world, yet they fed upon the first scent
of danger.
When Christ was arrested by the
Roman soldiers only one of his disciples
stood by him to defend him.
Judas betrayed him for money.
Peter, upon whom be leaned more than
the others, deserted him.
He even attended his trial d:guised or,
at least, did not let himself be known.
and said: Thou also vast with Jesus of
Galilee."
Peter lied to her.
He said: Il know not what thou
sayest:"
Still another damsel recognized him
and said to those about her:
This fellow was also with Jesus of
Nazereth."
Peter again lied fatty.
He said to her: Il do not know the
man."
Murder, intrigue, adultery, betrayal,
unfaithfulness and other ugly crimes,
form large part of the warp and woof
of bible history.
Even those the most highly favored of
God sinned.
So the church and the world should
not condemn too severely those of US now
who occasionally stumble and fall by the
wayside.
See how severely Christ condemned
the Pharisees-those who proclaimed
that they were better than their fellows.
Then see what a beautiful place all
through the New Testament is given to
"Charity."
1t does not mean merely the giving of
aims. That is its smallest meaning. In
it's broader sense it means forgiveness. 1t
means tolerance-tolerance of the faults
and opinions of sinful men and women.
Christ knew that men were weak. He
knew that there was no such thing as
perfection in human nature. He knew
that it was impossible for men to see
alike, or feel alike, or do alike. He knew
that difference would arise in scriptual
interpretations and fierce and bitter an
tagonisms would result, SO the most beau
tiful tribute is given to this word in his
description of it, and He personally ex-
emplitjes it in his last act and in his last
utterance.
Speaking in behalf of the rabble who
were attending his crucitiNiOn, splitting
upon him and mocking him, He said:
'.Forgive them they know not what
they do"
That is the loftiest explanation and ex-
emplitication of charity that is recorded.
So the followers Of Christ ought to. be
imbued with the same lofty spirit. They
SHOULD not Judge in haste. They should
not be ope-sided.
Their whole creed should be expressed
i'm the one word;
"Charity.!"