The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-22
DIR. BROUGHTON'S SERMON
The Woman-A Plea for Kindness.

hNoF. L. u brougntOn, pastor OF The
, Tabernacle Baptist church, of Atlanta
finishes this week his series Of sermons
on the representative women of the ole
6iole and will next devote his attention
10 the New Testament His text was:
And 1t fell on day that elisha
passed to Shunem. where was q great
woman; and she constrained him to eat
Dread And so 1t was, that as aft as he
passed by. he turned in thither to eat
bread IL Kings ", s.
For real helpfulness there IS no more
important character in the Bible than
this woman of Shunem She IS introduced
to us rather abruptly. but she is in very
good company. Shunem itself furnished
very good recommendation. 1t was
noted for its beauty of scenery and hos
pltality of its people. There is no tell
ing how much she embibed from her peo-
pie. Communities are like people. They
put their stamp upon us
The Shunammite had embibed the kind,
hospitabe spirit somehow 1t was spon-
taneous. She did not have to be worked
up 70 it. She was ready when the occa-
sion presented itself.
Her Career of Blessing.
First of all is her regard for human
comfort. The first we learn of her is
that she is a rich woman in the business
Of finding Elisha the humble. homeless
prophet of the Lord One day as the
prophet passed her home she invited
him in to eat bread. Did | say invited
him in? 1t IS much stronger language
than that. She constrained him" Lit
orally, she laid hold on him, and brought
him in. She doubtless saw that he
was tired ana hungry, and her heart
went out to him. How different her con
duct from that Of many rich people TO-
day. 1t Is a sad fact that the benefac
lions of the rich look more in the direc-
ton of the well to do than the needy.
The woman of Shunem sought out
homeless tramp that she might bestow
her hospitality upon him 1t seems to
me that there is a good suggestion in
this for US today. For the past sew
eral years I have Observed the trend Of
the benevoence Of the country; and
barring the impulse that come from spe-
cial calamities. such as our recent
Gainesville disaster the most of our
Oenevolence Is bestowed where II viii
make the biggest show or upon causes
that represent people who are not de-
pendent Take Nj. Rockefeller's gifts
no higher education MI Carnegie s gifts
70 high class libraries and other great
gifts from great and good philanthropy
lists. The whole trend of great phian-
thropy is toward cutivauug the better
classes What humanity needs, especial
3y In the south at this time is help to
help itself. The fellow on the roadside
needs q constituting hand. instead OF
50 much money going into the cause OF
higher education and the Ike, il does
seem to me that q great part OF 1t
should be used for the wholly dependent
for the homeless and he helpless. They
IfrylqF
II IS not only Christian to give II, but
St IS wise. The masses Of the people
cannot he touched only Indirectly by
she majority Of such benefactjons. Some
thing must be done TO lift them up.
They furnish the backbone of our coun-
try. From them we get our strength as
nation. The wise benetaCtor IS ne who
builds for the lowest strata OF life.
Advanced Benevolence.
Bur not only was her kindness properly
bestowed; she sought out the opportunity
70 bestow It, Most Of MS are doing our
best to get rid ~ every call for help.
We had almost as leave see "A book agent
WHOM we don't want book as 10 see i
man who needs help. though he may be
over 50 worthy The woman Of Sunem
went out after this stranger ana con
strained him to eat" What worthy
example. have found that the most
worthy causes for help are those for the
most part who have to be gone after.
Right at our own door perhaps is a case
of this character Not long ago I was
sent for to see a woman who was sick.
she was not q member OF my church,
hut somebody had led her 70 believe /
would comfort her When ! got TO see
her found that she had turberculosis.
She could not get into hospital or in
Urinary. She had no relatives to care for
her Her wages had stopped . nd she was
too proud to Jet her friends know any
thing about her actual need. Thank God
for the honor she did me in acquainting
me with the facts / had rather have
~ +hourht thar had a heart for such
zo,,Ie than to he a king.
Tho world is full of good opportunities
for helm Had if not been for a good
woman who hunted me ont one time 70
offer me help ! would not now pc tax
she 10 80, ~ - ,i,i,S 1oe+ for me
go "" 10 o,Ijt erbooI R,It thank Cod.
FOR the woman who mad somehow learned
Of nv predicament and came to my aid.
There are thousands just such instances
in this country + "" Wofld TOOK tnem
up J. neF can ne 1uiil[a 4" 8 7''
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