The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-11
BRANCH OF IRISH LEAGUE
 ORGANIZED IN BIRMIN CHAM

ORGANlZEDl !
 A branch of the United Irish league was organized last night in St. Pauls hall, about forty men being rrestnt.
 The meeting was ,allod to order by Hugh McGeever, temper ary chairman.
 The following were elected officers of the new organization: President, Patrick McCrossin; secretary, H. E. Bishop; treasurer, B. B. Martin. It was decided that the branch be styled and known as The Joseph Devlin Branch of the United Irish league.
 The following were enr oiled as charter members: M. Casey, James M. keeffe, P. M. Mcclure, John B. Cahalan Pat Morgan, M. Clifford. H. E. Bishop, P. D. McNuty, J. J. Kennedy. Patrick Me- Crossin, L. P. James, S. c. Burchill, J. T. Thornton, T. Jt James, Sterling A.
 s-~>>-@ @>-~-s->-~-~-s-%S-~-~-es years and ten, if he had learned anything of it. and with lips that parted with sigh he answered, nothing and then with a tired and sad expression. he said I wish l did know Nature does not tell us, history does not tell us, philosophy does not tell us, and experience can only answer with sigh, I do not know Who by searching can find out God, or who can know the Almighty to perfection? And we answer, no one. God alone can give us the answer to our eager ques- tioning and this He has done in lang uape none need miSunderStand.
 " God commendeth His love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for US Mans extremity is Gods opportunity, for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe Yet we see the magninimity of God in the act of commendation.
 God Gives the Knowledge.
 "When man has exhausted every re- source and tried every means to pene- trate into the hidden mystery of the Most High, and found such knowledge too wonderful, God, out. of His own good pleasure gave the needed knowledge God desires that we do not misunder- stand Him, and therefore make the fatal mistake of doubting His interest and af- lection; and He 1t was who took the initiative and spoke to us from heaven and gave us the needed assurance, so that every mouth should be stopped and none should say that he was only follow ing the law of his nature and giving hatred for hatred or indifference for in- difference.
 I'll. But if the magnanimity of God is displayed in the act of commendation, it is even more conspicuous in the ob- jects to whom 1t is commended. Judging God by our own nature, we should be justified in expecting Him to wait until there was some evidence or repentance, some display of interest, on our part. It is not in human nature to send assur- ances of affection to those who are open- ly hostile to us and have given no evil dence of any desire to be our friends. And yet contrary to all human prece- dents, and contrary to all that we may reasonably expect. God does not await our repentance nor any evidences of our love, but rather while we are sinners, and openly at enmity With Him, com mends His love to us 1t is here that many stumble, for 1t seems too foreign to all our experience and observation in this life; but I frankly confess to you that this Is the highest evidence, to my mind, that this Is of God, for the human heart does not rise to such heights. If 1t was a human being who had thus com IufnQeu HIS lONe l S1Oulu QutSllDH It, Dul God-His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor are His ways as our ways
 Method Is Conspicuous.
 "III. But after all infinitely more con- spicuous still was the magnanimty dis played in the method employed to com mand this love. It was commended through thirty-three long years of a suf- fering life, ending with a great tragedy upon the cross itself. I do not, my friends, profess to be able to understand how God could suffer, but beyond doubt, it was a great sacrifice on His part when He gave his only begotten Son. that who- soever believeth In Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
 This was compassion like a God,
 That when the Saviour knew
 The price of pardon was His blood,
 His pity ne'er withdrew.
 'Who can doubt after so marvellous an exhibition, that the love of God is wider than the measure of mans mind, and the heart of the eternal is most wonder fully kind.
 T once thought that the pulpit was too severe upon the sin of neglect that it was called ingratitude; it seemed to me that if could not be a sin of such great magnitude that men did not listen to the appeals of the pulpit and the word of God But all this being true if God has sent a great invitation, at such an infinite cost, surely there can be no sin to compare with it. It Is nothing less than spurning the outstretched hand of love. It Is to repay marvellous and infinite exhibition to supreme love, with open neglect and count the cross of Christ as thing to be despised. Rather let us say with Dr. George Matherson this morning: o love that will not let me go
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