The Washington herald., 1913-03-22
Human Love and Practical
Aid Best Easter OHeril1g
An Act of Service Extended to Some One "In
His Name" Means More Than All the
Flowers and Music.
BY FRANCES SHAFFER.

BY FRANCES SHAFFEH.
1t was q month ago that newspaper
story. rich in the deep "fnasmuch' spirit.
persistently sent the thoughts drifting
ahead to the glsdsome Eastertide.
And one is minded to repeat II now,
because it seems that Of all the beauti-
ful tributes to lay on the altar at this
glorious season. there is nothing quite
so full of meaning as an act eloquently
telling that the love-message sent out to
the world on that first Easter morn was
not carried in vain.
In Lancaster, Pa, young man, in a
moment of temptation. and at time
when need was crowding hard, stole a
suit case containing 800 worth OF cloth
ing from a man from whom he had rented
a room
He had pleaded guilty. but before SEN
tence was pronounced the judge had re-
ceived letter which made him pause.
1t was from the man whose property had
been taken and wa. one of the intense
ly human documents that come to judges
once in a while.
He wrote that IL il was consistent with
his honors pleasure and sense of official
duty to suspend sentence upon the youth.
he gladly would do all in his power to
turn the current of his life in another
direction and would act the part of .
real big brother
Had sons Himself.
He said that if wise counsel, assist
ance and lucrative employment could
avail to take the warp out OF his twisted
nature, they would be his for the asking.
He had two sons himself. he added,
young men who never had committed
any wrong to entangle them with the law:
but il the day ever came when either
was sadly in need of such help he
was ready to give. he would be grateful
for all time to any one who took the
young man by the hand. with the kindly
warning. My boy, don't do il again"
The case had appealed to the judicial
mind Of the judge but the letter reached
mis- heart, and he read the message aloud
In court, and then-suspended sentence.
But before he granted that grace he said
that while judges, in the course of their
work, often met men who We're STEPPED
in crime, they occasionally found others
whose moral soil only needed working a
bit to make it right. And he was glad
TO know that in their community were
men who would interest themselves in a
Youth gone wrong and would try TO lead
him back again.
As for the youth-he would be granted
his chance, for sentence was suspended
and he was paroled under the guidance
of the man who promised to steer him
Alright.
And the incident beautifully shows what
'lnasmuch" may mean when it means
as much as II can: shows. too. that not
even the pealins anthems and the gra-
cious pure-white lilies have so radient
way of telling the greatest of all love-
stories as has an act of service to some
one who has stumbled and fallen, an act
extended in His Name
Room for All Of II.
The whole Christian world will rejoice |
in the wealth of song that will ring in
our churches tomorrow and in the great
banks of floral offerings. all proclaiming
the glad resurrection morn. In thou
sands of pulpitS the story of the first
Easter dawn will be feelingly re-told. and
there will be giadness everywhere be-
cause the time of the lilies is at hand,
the day emblematic of the great gift of
Immortality.
And there is room for all the glad an
thems, room fer all the stately, glowing
blossoms that beautifully mt in with the
day. But somehow there is greater room
and maybe greater need-for the offer
ing of human love and OF practical serv-
ice. Fer they have a very warm. true |
way of telling that the greatest example |
of all was not given in vain.
In that letter written to the judge, |
the man said his effort to redeem the !
youth might be quite a risk, and might |
end in dismal failure, but he was reach |
ing the close of his earthly race and want |
ed to do what little he could to help |
along humanity.
Yes. his effort may fail. but there is |
song in the effort that will outlast Easter |
morning and will ascend to the very
skies
For when the pure, fragrant flowers /
have faded and the rich strains of music |
have all died away. when even the Easter
sermon has quite slipped from memory.
there will remain the tender .'Inasmuch."
And that will never. never die.