Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-10-09

4 u navy >'ttt TUG
OF watervliet. Mich. make the purest
and whitest writing paper. From even
the modern Peters of the three denials
there have been developed the Peters
OF the martyred blood. One day Cen
eral Charles George Gordon. more
widely known as Chinese Gordon
saw n handsome Chinese youth being
led out TO execution. The condemned
had been guilty OF many crimes. Cor
don was struck with the looks OF the
lad and begged for his life. He said
that be himself would guarantee that
the boy would do right Gordon's re
quest was granted. The famous soldier
OF Queen Victoria and of Jesus Christ
took the lad TO bis own quarters. He
made the Chinese boy then and there
promise never to do wrong again Did
he fulfill his pledge? From that day on
the most faithful servant Gordon ever
had about him was that boy, rescued
by the Christian general from the exc
cutioner's ax. He followed Gordon I'm
his Chinese mission work. He followed
Gordon to Egypt. And the Chinese
lads blood mingled with Charles
George Gordon's blood when the mas
sacre at Khartum ended the earthly
life OF England's most famous Chris
tian soldier. All. the Peters OF the
three denials are worth saving.
Be patient, I'm the next place, with
those sinners who have no sympathy
with their fellow mems sins. II Is very
easy for us to pass Judgment upon 9th.
ers- 1t Is very hard, however, for Us
| TO be willing TO let others criticise their
neighborr when they themselves are
fiagrantly guilty OF the same sins. Yet
everywhere we find that those phar-
isaical people who themselves are most
open TO criticism are the most critical
| OF others.
Sit any day you win in a crowded
city street car and And an illustration
OF what mean When the poor old col
ored washerwoman tries to enter with
her bundles and drops some packages
who laughs-tbe educated gentleman
or the refined lady. the man whose
cerebral development indicates the
| dome OF his skull covers well deveI-
oped bvaiu. or are the lauahers aud the
scoffers found among the ignorant and
the stupid. among those whose intellect
4 In all probability " not even as great
as that OF the old black woman, who
never had q days schooling In all her
hfef Who Is hardest upon the young
girl or boy who has gone astray? The old
Christian man and woman who from
their very earliest days have prayerful-
| ~ followed Christ? Oh, MOI The per-
sons who Will be most apt to pass the
hardest criticism against the fallen
are the men and the women who dare
not have the search light OF investiga-
ton turned upon their own lives, So
some OF us can we'll make the asser-
ton: 1--WE despise sin. but we despise
worse the sinner who is criticislng sin
when he himself Is guilty OF the same
or even worse sins"
Avoid Harsh Criticisms.
But. steady. my brother. Be patient
also with those ~ho are harsh I'm their
criticisms OF others. Remember that
for them day OF reckoning Is coming.
or perhaps has come. Who among your
brothers and sisters today is having
the hardest times? Is II not the sister
who never had In her heart any love
for the common people? Is II not the
sister who felt she was socially and
mentally n little higher than. any one
else? Who today Is most mercilessly
laid upon the dissecting table OF criti-
cism and having his whole life cut to
pIeces7 Is IL not the man who himself
once most vigorously welded the cen.
serious scalpel? DO not worry that
these SINNERS who are so harsh In their
criticisms against the sins OF others
VIII not have their Just rewards. Yer
lily. verify. | say unto you, their con
domination will come from God. IL 81
better for us not to try TO snatch the
divine thunderbolts cut OF Gods hand.
BE patient even In your criticisms
against those unjust critics. LET your
moderation be known unto all men,"
But there Is still another class OF ag-
gressive critics against which I would
plead with you TO apply the teachings
OF my text. They are those who have
no sympathy with you in your work. 1
10 not mean those who are maliciousIy
classifying, but those who honestly.
truthfuily and positively do not ike
your way OF doing things. Now, my
brother. the best way for you 20 over
come such criticism is not by going out
and trying to destroy your neiyhbor's
influence for good. but simply by being
patient; by simply saying nothing
against your bonest though antag-
onistic ncighbors. but by going ahead
and doing your own work In your own
way and proving beyond all peradveu-
ture that God has blessed you and will
continue to bless you in what you are
doing In his name.
II
Let me suggest one other overmas-
tertnG consideration which ought to
control all your iInpatience with 9TH
Ts: How much does God bear with
from your When he. who Is so wise
and pure looks upon yeu ana secs you
more clearly with ell your faults than
You can see yourself. - IL not surprIs-
ing that he does not give you up? Yet
be bears with you and loves you sfili.
Cannot you who owe 20 much 10 Gods
forbearance bear with the faults of
your fellow menu u
The Hsrhes os safety.
Nine-tenths OF ali the criticisms made
against us would soon die 81 we our
selves did not go forth 70 fxht those
criticisms and thus make matters
worse. Hugh Clifford. the old jungle
traveller. once /, wildly described q
startling experience he had when trav-
cling In the Malay peninsula. He and
his men We're attacked by huge swarm
or angry. revengeful bees. Immediate
ly the party swung their blankets
around their heads and tried to fight
them of, but 1t was useless. They
were stung on head. arms and legs;
they were stung everywhere. Take
to the water" Clifford cried to his men.
The Malays ran for their lives. The
bees not only drove them into the wa
ter. but continued singing them there.
The furious insects threatened to kill
them while they were In the river it.
sesf. with hands like boxing gloves
ana heads Ike inflated footballs from
the awful singing" vote Clifford.
my suffering party then limped away
N a will y.lA a