Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-01


that II the Lord God should once more
as Of old. walk in His earthly garder
in the cool Of tho day. he would no,
repent that he had made man and made
this earth for him to dwell in.
Let us then, whenever and whereye,
we can, revive in the memory of the
new generations the deeds of the good
and wise men, leaders OF Thought and
enterprise, OF morality and religion. and
let us place memorials OF them where
they will proclaim the admiration and
gratitude due from our generation IL
the memory of those whose sacrifices
and heroisms have given us our bet
ter place in the worlds life.
We pass on to the larger reflection
suggested by our theme-what wc dc
for our brethren and companions sokcs
This Is not the question which con-
Germs our relations with our fellow men
in general-with those whom our Lord
has in mind when he says "whatsoevcr
We would that men should do unto you,'
mot those he elsewhere calls "others. ;.
1t Is not question of altruism--it is
not concerned with that benevolence
which great philosopher defined as
love to being In genera!"-it Is not
cosmopolitan good Wilt ia what
we think and say and do for tho sake
or that select group OF souls who are
our brethren and companiona-thosc
who are dear to us by kinship and
those whom we endear to us by choice
and wont and who walk the way Of
life with us. 1t needs but little re-
Election to be convinced that what we
do and what we are by reason of tho
mutual Influences which pass to and
fro between us and these our brethren
and companions. make MP a large part
Of all we do and are. How many
choices do We make on purely alb
stract grounds. rs being in Themselves
right, or prudent. or beneHccnt-v,ith
regard. as our philosopher said to "be-
ing in general" or any considerations
in general? II we put on one side
those purely selfiAn considerations
which surely are far fewer than the
accusers OF mankind aver, and IL we
FIRST analyze and then group the con-
siderations which come to us from
family, neiEhborhood. friendship, vo-
cation. party, city, country. church
how many are left to he determined
by strictly non-personal motives
How much for instance Of the esthetic
element of life would be left If We
should cease TO create and embcllsh
and dignity for brethren and compan-
Ions sakes? How many flowers would
be cultivated for any ones personal en-
toyment II there were no occasions for
expressions OF sorrow and svmpa ny
and affection? What would become of
half the smiles of the tears that flow
not from pain, of tho right hand deeds
that the left hand knows not Of, the
stealthy charities that blush to find
themselves fame? Which of the graces
and amenities of st Paurs 18th of Cor
inthians would survive If we had to
do only with men" with "others"
and not with brethren and compan-
ionso OF course we are theoretical
individualists. We are not creatures
Of our environment--oh no, We were
never In bondage to any man. not even
in tho dear bondage to our brethren
and companions Nevertheless we do
what we do and we are. largely, yes
mainly. what we are for our brethren
and companions sakes.
And this Is well--and right-and in
accord with the divine constitution OF
men and things. AS Pope says:
God never made an independent man:
'Twould mar the concord Of his
general plan.
Such a one, such an impossible he
would be less than man-less even
than some brutes for they arc gre
garious and do things for each others
sakes. The non-sccial brutes are al
disadvantage and dies out soonest. n
the lions would combine for each 9th
ers' good they could put Nimrod and
all his following TO flight History
shows us how men originally became
strong and dominant and permanent
by learning to live together as breth-
ron and companions. The personal
tie is the germ of social order and
furnishes the norm of all tribal and
national cohesion and development,
Mere mocha meal organization does
not attain the highest results--it needs
personal affinities to get its greatest
strength, Thereby II secures not
strength only-not mere solidity, but
genius and enthusiasm-wh we
mean by esprit du corps. The finest
humanity comes of IT, II is what
makes homes ont Of households. It
builds great and noble cities. It be-
gets brotherhoods. II inspires botn
the human and divine side OF all true
religion. The old HYMN some of MS
learned when we were children lament
ed.
our nearest Joys and dearest FRIENDS.