The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-06-18
Hasnan Rssponsibility-Am My
Brothers Keeper?


the greatest thought that ever occu-
pied his mind he replied: s'The most
= important thought that ever occupied
NY mind was my individual RESPONSE
bilisy to God" If this be true, the
SECOND greatest thought that ever
occupied mans mind is his response
bilisy to his fellowmar. Every one Ct
us is to the extent Of our ability to
help, shield and defend our fellow
man.. responsible for him. This is
abundantly taught by the highest of
ali authority, the Bible: The first MUIR
derer tried to escape human RESPONSE
biity by asking, cam my brothers.
keeper?'' But God clearly taught him
that he was by the declaration: 'The
voice of thy brothers. blood crieth
unto me from the ground" Gen. All.
Human respo> ;:;hi''+y is clearly taught
by Ezekiel when he declares that un-
less We warn the wicked that he turn
from his wickedness he shall die in
his sin, ssbut his blood will I require at
thy hand" Eek. 3:1S. The Saviour
teaches it by the act of the good Sama-
ritan. "He did not rob and wound
the poor man by the road side, but he
was responsible for taking care of him.
st. Luke 10:3o:57 Also the person
who causes some one else to go wrong,
ssit were better for him that mill
stone were hanged about his neck and
that he were drowned in the depth of
the sea-" Matt. 1856. Paul teaches
the same truth again and again. In
Rom. ISL ne says, Eve that are
strong ought to bear the infrmities of
the weak, and not to please ourselves"
Also, "Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfill The law of Christ" But
the strongest proof of human resporsi-
bility, if we have measured accurately,
is Paul's position with reference to
eating meats offered to idols. Read
Rom IA and l Cor. 8. The account
and explanation is too long for the
purpose of this letter. But this much
can be said: Paul teaches here that as
far. as he is concerned, personally, he
can eat such meat, but if ty eating
thus, he caused some weaker brother
to sin, then for the sake of the brother
he wonld eat no flesh as long as the
world sstandeth. We have .refrained,
for the sake of space, from developing
tdese points. But certainly nc fair
mind can read these references and
say he is not the extent of his ability
responsible for his brother.
As far as we know, whiskey wrecks
more homes, blights more lives, breaks
more hearts, impovisfes countries,
fills more jails. alns-houses and asy-
zlpms for the insane and sends more
gsouis TO hell than all other causes COM
bined I believe we all agree that
Mnnkennsss is great evil. But who
isFesponsihIs2 Ah, there comes the
rub. Here, Gain, like we, cry out.
rsAmI my brothers keeper?" And
the blood shed in drunken brawls and
g4shing from broken hearts and wall
mn from the torments of hell is crying
odt against some of those who make
tie Interrogation.
GLet Us locate the responsibility.
Hare is q. moderate, respectable. (?) l
dranker, stands well In society, church
and stsee. He DOESN'T go toos,fsr. |
He has backbone. But boy sees him,
aud hoping to be a moderate, respect
able drinker, he goes from bad to
worse until he is q confirmed drunk
ard. Who is responsible? At whose
hand will his blood be required? A
mother spikes the punch at the social
function. Her boy has an inner. Led ap.
petite, and, like the young lou with |
first taste of blood, he finally lands in !
the gutter. Who is responsible? At |
whose hand will his blood be requir-
ed? Here comes friend (?) bent on |
a good CD time. The social bottle is |
passed. But he said he was going to /
quit. "Ccme on" he is urged, and |
the poor boy, fighting the devil within |
and without, falls. Who is response
BILE? At whose hand will his blood be
Here is voter who has |
the God-given right to legalize its
sale or to outlaw it, and he votes to |
put it to the mouths Of the youth of !
his land, By this many homes are
ruined, hearts broken and souls lost. |
Who is responsible? At whose hand |
will his blood be required? The dram
seller, by bar, dispensary or blind |
tiger, for the love of money, snatohes
the boy away from the home and |
makes him a drunkard. Who l.
At whose hand will his |
.--:..9o H., :, :, won I