Evening star., 1911-08-19
Gpmortb league
Topie
REV. SAMUEL w. GRAFFLIN.
Sympathetic Service.

Sympathetic Service.
Scripture basis: Romans. 1918: Hebrews, Is:
Is: Peter, :5:S.
~ ACK OF not a little of the mis-
SDa understanding that exists between
the poor and those who dispense
charity. and underlying most of the an
tagonism that 1.-The masses feel toward
the classes. is the fact that while gifts
are bestowed and splendid philanthropies
are carried through, there is lack of
real sympathy and fellow feeling be-
tween Giver and recipient that defeats
the very end for which the service was
rendered. Well does Lowell, in The
Vision of Sir Iaunfal' have the Christ
say:
Not what We give but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare;
Who gives himself with his aims feeds three,
Himself. his hunSering neighbor and me-
And in the matchless thirteenth chap
ter of Corinthians Paul makes it equally
clear that IL is not the deed alone, but
the deed that is sanctifed by love that
Is acceptable TO God. Three scriptures
are given US. and these lead us to think
of sympathetic service under three
captions. First: Heart interest in our
service for God and man. 1t is weary
task that we attempt when we have
no heart for it." and in no sphere of ac-
tivity Is this more true than In the serv
Ice of God, in the persons and needs of
His children. The heart never grows
weary in a sympathetic service devotion
is the child of love. and courtesy and
kindliness, twin children of this same
divine attribute, all flow to make the
current of our service deep and strong
1t is the heart that feels, in pain, or
want. or woe; so in the response to
the heart cry or those whom we serve,
heart interest must be the key that
opens for US the door to the inner sane
tuary, that our service may accomplish
its true end
keeping the less fortunate in mind.
Probably nothing in the whole realm Of
human experience acts more effectively
as corrective for selfish, indoent or
aimless living than the habit of keeping
In mind those who are less fortunate
than ourselves. II is better for us
and better for them. In that the remem-
brance of them and their need stimu-
lates our sympathy, our liberahty and
out interest I'm the best means of alleviat-
ing or removing the cause of the COM
plant; thus we are made humble by
the thought that what has come to others
may also befall us and carefulness and
seif-restraint are added to our other vir-
tues.
The third thought concerns klnsman-
ship In service. 1t is said that when an
for carrying a heavy child across a
crowded street. saying, That child is
too heavy for you," she replied, why
he isn't heavy. he's my brother" Right
mere lies the nedrt OF the WHO3e mdtter
OF sympathetic service" II Is the
thought of knmanship with those whom
we serve that gives us the tender SYM
pathy, the heart courtesy, the Intangible
something that makes IL possible for
one person to do act of kindness
where another would find IL impossible
But underlying this virtue of which we
have been speaking there must be a
great two-fold faith--a faith I'm God and
His son Jesus Christ, Savior, brothe
and friend. and there must be a great
hopeful faith in those we serve: a faith
that believes that they will respond to a
sympathetic service and through Us
reach out to Him.
X
The Epworth League OF the Baltimor.
conference is holding it's all-day meet
ing at Emory Grove camp outside o.
Baltimore today. Rev. Edgar Cordel
Powers of Brookland and Louis F. HES
ton, president of the Washington Dis
trict League, are included in the list o.
speakers Mr. II. s. Omohundro of thi.
city is president of the organization, pre-
siding over the meetings.
X X X
The first department Of the Washing
ton District League Is to hold its frs
fall rally Sunday, September -. Mr.
George Merryman viii be in charge. Rev
Charles L. Pate, pastor OF Dumbartol
Church VIII be the speaker.
x 4 X
Former District President l.. l.. Der
rick lead the league service at Metropoli
tan Church last Sunday.
y \ +
Corresponding Secretary Finch Of tn
vacation trip to the west shortly.