The Washington herald., 1906-11-25


The lesson taught in this poem IS one Of
the most beautiful and useful outside of
the teachings OF Christ. Seneca says very
truly. There is not anything in this
world perhaps that IS more talked Of and
less understood than the business Of a
happy life. II Is every mans wish and
design; and yet not one In thousand
knows wherein that happiness consists:
The doing Of good to others we are
taught in the Scriptures is not only a
duty, but a means Of happiness. Charity
Is a virtue of the heart, and not Of the
hand, says an old writer. Gifts and aims
are the expressions, not the essence. of
this virtue. 4 man may bestOw great
sums on the poor and INDECENT without be
ing charitable, and may be charitable
without bestowing anything. Gifts and
deeds for selfish ends are trees without
roots, fruit without buds, streams without
fountains, manhood without Infancy. sum
mer without spring, and days without a
dawn.
one writer has defined happiness as
pursuing something without the ability
70 catch it, and Shakespeare tells us IN
The Merchant Of Venice. that all things
that are. are with more spirit chased
than enjoyed. Perhaps in many cases
this IS true; but all Scripture all eKpe-
rience. and all observation teach US that
happiness is only 20 be attained by doing
good. To love God and our fellow-man
is not only our duty-fulhIling the law and
the gospel-but the only means Of such
happiness as is given Us IN this exist
enCe.
Consider this. that in the course OF jus
uce none Of us should see salvation. We
do pray for mercy. and that same prayer
doth teach us ali 10 render the deeds Of
mercy Hence i'm all countries and IN all
ages those who have enjoyed the greatest
distinction and respect who have been the
happiest and most contented. were those
who loved their fellow-men. Hence, when
the angel told Ben Adhem that the names
he wrote We're those who love the Lord -
he was not disturbed because his name
was not among them. for exceeding
peace had made Ben Adhem bold" and he
spoke CheeTily because he knew that his
love for his feIlOw-man would gain for
him the love of the Lord
In contemplating the character Of Ben
Adhem, "oue who loved his fellow men. 20
we must regard him as open. honest, be
nev0lent and charitable. We cannot think
Of him as "a pretender. or conventional
Christian. for as Charlotte Bronte well
SAYS.
"Conventiouality is not morality. Self
righteousuess Is not religion To attack
the first is not 10 assail the last To pluck
the mask from the face Of the Pharisee is
not 10 lift an impi0us hand to the crown
Of th0rus. These things and deeds are
d.amctricaliy opposed, they are as dis
unct as vice from virtue. Men too oftea
coufound them. they should not be con-
-ouGcd. Appearance should not be mis-
taken for truth. Narrow human doctrines
that only tend to e,ate and magnify a few
should not De substituted for the world
redeemiug creed Of Christ"
We must remember that we are not sent
lntC the world 20 please only ourselves.
He who studies only his own satisfaction
viii find the proper business of his station
either too hard or too easy for him But
If we keep continually In mind our reIa-
U1n 20 the Creator by whom we were
placed in this world. and who has allotted
us our part in the general system Of life.
we viii bee persuaded 20 resign many OF
our own iuciinati0us 90 the Supreme Be
ing, and do the work ass gned TO US with
chCeriuiness and diligence.