La Junta tribune., 1911-06-10
TRUE SPIRIT OF FRATERnAlIsm"
n Rey. RAYMOND c. FARMER

to think OF the brotherhood OF man
apart from the fatherhood OF God as
1t is to conceive Of this earth as
separated from the warmth and light
OF the sun.
The true spirit OF fraternalism must
have the element Of hope. Hope Is
the stimulus Of success. The hope
less man never saw a vision. never
discovered q continent. never won a
battle. never set the earth on fire
with enthusiasm. never made the
world happier or better by his having
lived In 1t. All progress, all science,
all civilization. all philanthropic
achievements. in fact everything
worth while are accomplished by the
hope In the hearts Of men and
women. a hope that success and re-
ward will await their efforts and la.
bors In the end.
Nor does hope stop here but looks
beyond this life. There are men
born In obscurity and reared in pow
erty who have been failures all their
lives as far as worldly goods are
concerned. but who have hope of
heaven which to them is more prec-
ious than rubies, of more value than
diamonds. This earth Is scene of
suffering: al more or less must en-
dure pain and the ravages of di-
sease: troubles of every kind afflict
| us. death takes away our loved ones
and sooner or later knocks at our
own door. but hope bids us not to
despair but to rejoice and directs
our eyes towards Calyary's cross. the
empty tomb. and. beyond. the shin
ing pinacles OF the Heavenly City.
"Oh, who In such world as this
Could bear his lot of pain,
Did not one radiant hope OF bliss
unclouded, yet remain?
That hope the Sovereign Lord has
given,
Who reigns above the skies.
Hope that uni,es the soul to heaven.
by faiths enduring Ties.
Then the true spirit OF fraternal-
ism contains the element Of love.
This is the greatest constituent OF
all. Though l speak with the
tongues Of men and of angels and
have not love, ! am become sound
ing brass or tinkling cymbal." 1t
might be possible for one to become
such an expert linsuist as to enable
him to speak the language OF every
civilized nation on the globe and
yet lack this principle that has power
. with God and man. II Is quite pos.
sible to WELD An eloQuence like that
Of Demosthenes. Mirabeau or Inger-
cited crowd or hold spell-bound the
most cultivated assemblies and still.
like them, be devoid Of love. \ thous.
and strings struck at random, will
make a terrible discord but Paganini.
with one string OF his violin. could
make the sweetest music. The pos
~ rrtoH VI may oV ah WI
fusing as Babel when divine love Is
lacking. but single element Of
Christian love is music to the ears
of God. II is net the violent earth.
quake. the do solaiing tornado, the dis
astrous tidal wave. the dangerous vol.
cano. the wond. rful evidences OF
h.s xh gAr,h h.. s.h a. /,
OF God: T. is His gift to the world.
His Son. Jesus Christ. who WAS Love
Y clothed with flesh. that gives Us
the truest conception Of our Creator.
In like manner. the language OF
Che heart Ia more cstes med by God
than the utterances of ten thousand
tongues Of angels and Of men"
Love performs the noblcst acts Of
service. Look with admiration and
delight upon the glorious achieve
mcnts Of this active and benevolent
principle. What are all these noble
and different institutions; The hous.
ing Of the poor. the home for the
helpless and unfortunate. the nuner.
Gus orphanAxcs for children. the free
; hospitals and dispcnsari.s for the
sick and wounded. the rescue mis-.
sions. the relief stations established
} In times OF great cAismiticn. mission.
sry societies. Bible societies. free
schools. Anti.saIoon leagues and the
J hundreds Of frHtcrnai and benevolent
orders throughout our country and
! the world; what are these but the
triumphs aud xiories Of love! What
arc the tears Of commiseration which
} floW for human sorrows but the drops
} that fall from the eye Of love! What
the 10y that 10 excited By the sight