The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-01-29

teSrs or JOY because SOD VINO was
lost Is found. and having been dead,
is come to life again.
But nothing is more manifest In
the Gospel than the sympathy OF
Jesus for the poor. He wished TO
stamp with condemnation the spirit
OF the world. which estimates a mans
dignity by his wealth. and his degra-
dation by his poverty. He chose to
be born OF humble parentage. in an
obscure village. in a wretched stable.
Nearly His whole life was spent in .
town which was looked on with con-
tempt. The saying was: Can any
thing good come out of Nazareth
He led a life OF poverty, not from ne
cessity. but from choice. He could
say 10 Himself what could hardly be
Of tramp: The foxes have holes.
the birds OF the air nests, but the
Son OF Man hath not whereon TO lay
His head" He chose His twelve
apostles from the humblest walks OF
life: men without wealth or learning
or influence or any OF the Qualifica-
tions regarded as essential for the
success OF any enterprise. He COM
manded them TO preach the Gospel
especially 10 the poor. He wrought
His greatest miracles In their behalf.
His choicest promises are made 10
them: blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom OF
Heaven" THE Spirit OF the Lord Is
upon Me. Wherefore He hath anoint-
ed Me 10 preach the Gospel 10 the
poor: He hath sent Me 10 heal the
contrite heart"
have set before you these fea-
lures OF the life OF Christ not merely
for your admiration, but still more
for your edifcation and example. He
is the ideal we are 10 follow. The
closer We resemble the divine model,
the nearer we shall approach Chris
tian perfection.
We are social beings. we were cre-
ated TO live in society. No man IL
sufficient unto himself We are all
mutually and reciprocally dependent
one on another, just as the organs OF
our body are sustained by one an
other. AS an injury 10 one organ
involves a shock 10 the entire human
| system. so should the community at
large feel a practical sympathy for
their fellow beings in any grievance
by which they may be oppressed
l care not how rich and powerful
you are. You might possess the
wealth OF a millionaire, but
what would IL profit you II you had
no servant TO minister TO you. no
companion TO cherish you. no friend
to grasp your hand? You would be
poor and miserable and blind and
naked
What would Il benefit a man TO
own all the coal coal mines OF West
Virginia and Pennsylvania. IL there
were no hardy sons of toll 10 work
those mines, TO extract the coal from
the bowels OF the earth and transport
IL to the various centres OF popula-
tion7
care not how limited may be your
resources, or how circumscribed your
influence, you have personal mission
| from God in the Christian common
| wealth, and you can exert some good
in your day and generation.
Society is like the planetary svs-
tenn. which is composed o; greater
and lesser bodies, held together by
| reciprocal forces. The moon is the
smallest body OF our system; and yet
what control she sways in the flow
| and ebb OF the ocean tides; how
much we would miss her monthly
visits. when she sheds over the earth
her pale and silvery light; she gen.
| erously shares with us the effulgence
she borrows from the great orb OF
| the day.
And so, no matter how insignif-
| can you may be. you can exert some
| beneficent power over the tide and
| flow OF human passions, and diffuse
calm and blessed light on those
| that fall within your environment.
The benevolence OF Christ was not
| exercised in promiscuous almsgiving.
| His benefactions usually consisted in
| removing diseases from the bodies OF
| men. or In bringing them such timely
relief as would enable them TO stand
on their feet and resume some honest
| avocations OF life. Thus we find Him
| healing the paralyZed man that he
| might use his arms 10 support life,
| cleansing the leper that he might
| take his place again in society. and
| feeding the multitude to enable them
TO return 10 their respective homes.
But perhaps You will say: Why
| should | concern myself about other
peoples affairs? / have my own
| business 10 attend to. Am ! my
| brothers keeper" These were the
words OF Cain, the first murderer.
What would have become OF you and
me IL Christ the Lord had said, Am
| I my brothers keeper" We would
| be cropping to-day in the darkness OF
| idolatry or infidelity What would
have become OF society ~ the apostles
| had said, Are we our brothers
| keeper" and II they had returned 10
| their homes and closed their ministry
after the death OF their Master? We
would be deprived to-day OF the price,
less blessings OF Christian civiliza-
| tion.
say you are, you ought 10 be.
| your brothers keeper. You cannot,
| indeed, like the Saviour OF the world.
give sight TO the blind, or hearing
10 the deaf, or speech to the dumb. or
| strength 10 the paralyzed limb. But
you can work miracles OF grace and
mercy by relieving the distress OF
| your suffering brethren. And never
do you approach nearer TO God than
when you alleviate the sorrows OF