The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-26
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
What Church Folk Are Think
ing Abont and Doing
The International Sunday School Les
son for July 81 Is "A Lesson on
Forgiveness Matt. 1S: 21-35.
nv William T.E1llS.

denied by the Christian religion
Peter was not the first or the last to
ask this perplexing question IN ethlcs.
He had advanced somewhat beyond
the primitive eye for an eye att-
tude. and he even went farther than
the rabbinical precept to forgive three
times. for he suggested seven times as
the limit Of endurance and forbear-
ance.
The form of the question showed
that quick. bald retaliation was below
the plane on which Peter stood. None
so ready with a word or a blow as he
and of ali the group Of strong men
who followed the Nazareth Carpenter
he was the least likely to be termed
a weakling. Yet even Peter realized
that to get square, and to pay
back for an injury belongs to n
is most primitive and puerile in man.
Vengeance is bitterest in the most
backward people. 1T is the crude, un-
tanned fellow whose animal Instincts
have never worn the bit and bride
Of the spirit who boasts that he never
forSlFeS an enemy Civilization has
get beyond that stage.
'TIlc Brave Days Of Old"
More interesting to read about than
to experience were those brave days
OF old when mems peculiar sense Of
honor kept them engaged in continu-
Gus vendetta. AS society is organized
today, 1t has no place for Rob Iioys
and Robin Hoods. Men face more
truly the real obligations and duties
of life; the needless making of widows
and orphans is no longer looked upon
lightly. The individual must subor
dinate his personal feuds and feelings
to the general welfare. SO much has
the heaven of Christianity accom-
p!lshed in delivering us from the
matchmaking stage
Inc lauTelS OF today go to the men
who promote the cause of peace, rath-
er than to those who incite his life in
the search for an aHti-toxin; to the
d~iscoverer of new arts Of healing and
SERVICE; TO the men and women who
promote the cause of charity and
goodwill. The noble mind. which is
brave enough to forgive, is held in
higher esteem than the quick temper
winch draws sword or pistol on the
instant. The %outlawry of the frontie
mas Itself been outlaWed here.
The Deadly Bee-Sting.
tnforSlVeness we now see. is worse
than malaria, Or infesting robbers. 1t
diseases the soul SO that the whole be-
ing is contaminated. Somebody has
llkened vengeance to the bee-sting: it
hurts the person attacked, but it kills
the bee. | have recovered from ooh-
mes OF blessings, but eacn one meant
death to the bee itself. 1t is less hurt
ful to suffer wrongs than to avenge
h'NAii- " iAJtIN Tx al enemy can
1nflict can be half SO hurtful as the
spirit of unforgivemenss.
Ihere IS a better reason than his,
however, for showing forgiveness. The
parable related by Jesus in answer to
Peter brings it out. The servant who
was forgiven a great debt bv his king.
yet refused to forgive a fellow-seryant
a small debt. Wherefore. swift and
severe punishment was melted out to
nm. Because he to whom much is
Drr I>-,Il
give.
The Highest Motive.
Ihat is the principal consideration
of this lofty lesson-the bringing Of
the highest truth to bear upon the
lowliest conditions. The motives
which nov God are not too great to
apply to his servants. The principles
which are an essential part Of the ma
ture of God should be the rule of the
HE OF his servants. Because God is
merclful, and forgive the penitent be
yond all calculations, so men should
forgive, not merely seventy times, but
seventy times seven, or indefinitely.
Thus do the som take on the Fathers
character.
Do l hear the voice of today CRYING
out tor a more "pratical' teaching?
n man who cannot see beyond bet
ter sewers, improved tenements, pub
lie Fairgrounds, tuberculosis camps.
better b laws, and a multitude of
other desirable and near detectives, is
with us in power. His craze for "prac-
teal reforms is seriously in hanger of
afhctiag him with that form of bind
ness o. which the apostle speaks
ability to see only that which is near.
We need all these reforms, and a hun
dred others. but far more DE- we need
new natures in the breasts of man
kind This Is the fundamental serv-
Ice which can be rendered to man
kind-the imparting of new ideals to
the race. Thus 1T comes about that
Jesus is the one supremacy practical
retormer of the ages.
ReIigion's Hardest Test.
In all this man-making business in
which the Gospel is engaged. perhaps
US most olHlcu1t feat is to teach men
10 forgive. That goes most sorelv
against the old nature, even as it par
takes most sub1imely of the essence of