Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-29
JUDGE NOT

JUDGE NOT
Dear Household: Having seen and expert
enced 50 many cases Of injustice Of those who
don't mind their own business, and having
VIII try TO give you some thoughts which were
suggested 10 me thereby: praying that even II
in one instance 1t will cause some soul to stop
ana think before they speak II will not have
been In vain.
How dare we judge another human soul7
By what right can We sic In Judgment over
the acts Of anotherT Has God gifted us with
eyes that see the scars upon souls and ears
that can hear the battles between viii and
weaknessf When have we walked IN Geth-
semanet Have We lived so long and traveller
30 many countries that we know the lures
and temptations that face all men and Wom-
en-. the creeds upon which they we're reared
the early Influences that were theirs. the
griefs they have undergone. the hurts they
have borne and the storms that beat upon
their heartss Have we been all the roads
where duty and desire cross?
What tests have you withstOOdf What pri-
vations and restrictions have been yoursf
Have you ever been despairing that God
was leftg Did necessity ever hurl you to
your knees and leave you cropping In darkness
for 4 straw TO catch to;
We cannot all be like Job and very few
are. but can keep from adding more
misery 20 an already overburdened soul.
You cane accurately estimate any motives
In any life but your own. and II your life
Is Christlike you viii find there is good In
all bis children.
II isn't your place. il isn't your right, II
isn't your duty TO WELD the lash.
Are you so perfect that you may set the
standard for perfectionf Are you so truthful
50 virtuous 80 unseIfish that You may direct
the misguided? Have you ever thought what
you yourself might have done had you been
placed in the same position as another whom
you condemned! Would you 10 betterf Would
you be better than other Daughters OF Sor-
row II destiny had placed you in their place
How can you know how brave and strong you
would be unless YOU have passed through the
fire and proven yourself pure goldT Be fairl
It's easy 10 destroy and so hard 20 rebuild
one q Gods temples each time and II can
not in this world be rebuilt. but thank God,
tons. He win rebuild His temples with added
glory in that beautiful home OF the soul. We
may all say. "None Of this applies 20 me, but
Mrs. Brown ought to read it, she Is always
talking about somebody; I am above gossip
would not wrong anyone" and perhaps most
Of US do not mean any harm, but when a
story Is told there is always some one to be
lieve Il and carry II on The trouble lies
chiefly in the fact We can see beams but
can't feel notes.
Judge not. The working OF his brain
And OF bis heart thou can'st not see;
What seems In thy dim sight a stain,
In Gods pure sight may only be
scar. brought from some well fought field.
Where thou perehance would fan and yield.
The. look. the air that frets thy sight
May be the token that below.
The souls engaged in deadly fight
with some internal fiercer foe
Whose look would seorch thy smiling grace
And cast thee shuddering on thy face.
The fall thou dsrest 70 despise
May he the ANGELS slaekened hand
Has suffered IL. that he may rise
And take a firmer. holder stand:
And trusting less TO earthly things.
May henceforth learn to use his wings
Then nudge none lost. but wait and see.
With hopeful pity. not disdain;
The depth OF the abyss may be
The measure OF the height OF pain
And Joy snd glory. that shall raise
That soul 20 God in after days"
Sincerely,
A. BRAND.