The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-18


and mind OF each OF them light
from One Source even from Hin, the
deepest principle of whose being and
the law of whose life and death was
love.
What is charity Charity has gem
orally become identified with almsgiy-
tns, while love is appropriated to one
particular form of human affection
with which self and passion mix in
evitably. Philanthropy is a word too
cold and negative. Let US define Chris
ttan charity thus--the desire to give
and the desire to bless.
To give, whether aims in tho shape
OF money bread, or cup OF cold
water or else self. and to BIO sure
sacrifice. in some shape. Is the impulse
OF love, and its restlessness is only
satished in giving. This IN truth Is
Gods own love. the will and the power
10 giyo--"It IS more blessed to give
than to receive Al love desires TO
bless; even the weakest Iovo desires
happiness of some kind for the creature
that IT loves.
What we call philanthropy is often
100 cool and calm 70 waste upon IT
the name of charity, but even II calm
and cool. there is back of II desire
to make human happiness possible
The highest love is tho desire to
make men good and godlike, to make
them cease to quarrel and envy and
cease SANDER and etaliation-"This.
also, we wish" said St Paul. even
your perfection"
Christian love is not the dream OF
a philosopher, sitting In his study and
bencvolently wishing the world were
better and perhaps congratulating him
self on the superiority shown by HIM
self over other less amieble natures.
Rather would we wish to be the man,
who, instead OF retiring to some small
circle where his own opinions are re-
fected, can mix with men where his
tastes are Jared and his views are OPP
posed at every turn and can still keep
himself Just and gentle and forbear-
Ing as Christian.
We cannot create love In tho soul
by force from within itself; but We
may move 1t from a point outside
itself. Gods love is the point from
which to move the soul Love begets
love. Love believed In produces a re-
turn of love; we cannot love because
we must. Must" kills love; but the
| law OF our nature is that we love In
reply to love. Here Is the central truth
of Christ's Gospel: we love Him
because He first loved us"
Every emo OF US has his or her faults,
fatlings and peculiarities and We are
all crossed by these faults of others
from hour to hour, but were we to re-
sent or even notice them all, life would
become lntolerable. Tho very science
tact which avoids contact with the
l5sharp Irregularities of character and
does not seek to adjust or cure them
all, but covers them as If 1t did not
see. 1t Is the spirit OF Christianity
which SO many of us lack, and this we
can never get until we begin each one
with his own heart and plant there
the root of Chrstianity-charity-
which enables us to bear and forbear.
Then there is the last and most diff
cult lesson of love, to make allowances
even for the uncharltable. For surely
below all that observation-disclosures which
IS so common. there Is often a. germ
| OF the life of love; and beneath the
| intolerance which often wounds us, a
loving eye may discern zeal for God
st. Paul saw even in his bitterest foes
that "they had a zeal for God, but not
according to knowledge" And st
stephen prayed. with his last, breath
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge
Earth has not spectacle more glorious
Rto show than th!s--love toleratina
iintolorance; charity covering. as with
Veil, even tho sin OF the lack OF
charity. "Beloved, il God SO loved us
We ought also to love one another"
----=---------------=---::=---
III is rumored that Governor Elect
! Coleman Legarel Rlease has decided
| that he will discontinue the custom
~ Governors in wearing, the cons
ventional frock coat, and will appear, In
the full dress uniform OF the command
az -in-chief of the military forces Of the
| fState. t3E asastS stai