The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-31

sAS BL'SE SSIS q DISSSlnB WneIneE the
gift is wisely bestowed or moi, and.
whether the receiver is profited or not.
Hence, even though we may subse4
quently know that some Of our gifts.
were unwisely or unworthily bestowed,
we need not mourn, but rather realize.
that according to the Divine arrange
ment we have had a blessing, never
theless. However, no one will dispute.
that the spirit of a sound mind should
be used in connection with our chari-
tiles, as well as in all our other affairs.
Very frequently many Of the pro-
visions for the poor in our day are no
longer rated as private charities, but
as public, and evsn sometimes as mere
~ justice. For instance, provisions for
the blind, for the infrm, asylums for
the mentally weak and hospitals for
the sick, are now considered to be a
duty Of the community and are provid-
ed for by general taxation. Thus
benevolence Is asserting itself, and
combining and dividing its honors with
Justice. That which previously would
have been left to a few Of generous
disposition Is now provided for by the
whole community-generous and self
tsh. Who can question that this Is an
advanced step; and, II so, that all
should co-labor along those lines and
cease to encourage mendicancy, the
solicitation of aims, the appeal to
sympathy through the eye?
If our social Arrangement has pro-
vided for such cases, 1t should be con-
sldered a ~mlsdemeanor to ignore such
provision. If our public charities, hos
pitfalls. city Homes, ETC.. be not upon
such a scale as have the approval Of
generous. reasonable minds, then the
entire system calls for reorganization.
that 1t may be made right, proper, suit
able for the use Of any having need
thereof. The community should be
ashamed to provide for others what
they would not be willing to accept for
themselves under the same circum-
stances. The Pastor expressed a hope
that these reasonable sentiments might
through the public press be brought
effectively to the attention Of Poor
Boards, Charity Committees, etc.
God Loves Cheerful Givers.
Gods gifts are given cheerfulIy. The
Bible tells US that He appreciates a
cheerful giver-one who enters into
the spirit Of his gift, who accompanies
the coin with a cheerful word. a kind
look, helpful advice, or what not. II
these cheerful givers belong to Gods
Family, the Father will love them and
manifest His love for them. Their cuI-
tvation Of His Spirit will bring them in
to closer relationship with the Almighty.
How generously shall we give? some
may nsk. The answer is: God has
given us u minds, our judgments,
wherew1th to decide all questions. The
OF the needy, the amount OF our
surplus, the claims of others upon that
surplus-all these things should. prop
erly enough, enter into u calculations.
and help us to decide how much should
properly be given to charity.
In order to get a great blessing out
Of u charities, we should give until
we feel 1t. The person who gives one
coin out Of a thousand which he
would never miss-is not likely to get
a great blessing. He must
continue in the exercise of this God
like disposition until his gifts .ah.aLl
necessitate his restraining of his own
luxuries or, perhaps. his own comforts.
Then he begins to be really charitable
and to really appreciate some Of the
joys which the Lord designs shall be
granted to generous souls.
Giving Related to ForalvIns.
Every advance In true charity has q
bearing upon the character. Whoever
is generous with his fellows will find
1t more and more easy to be forgivtng
toward those who do him injury.
Charity, love, ~benevolence, affects the
entire being. 1t tends to make its
~possessor more kind and gentle In
word, action and judgment 1t de-
velops his sympathy. All this is q de.
Of G~odlikeness. The Apos-
ties point this out in order, assoctating
meekness, ~gentleness, f%aithfulness.
long suffering, brotherly kindness,
charity-all elements Of the one great
Of Love.
The Fathers Holy Spirit OF Love is
also the Spirit of His Son, our Re
deemer; and all who will be accepted
as members of the Bride, the Lambs
Wife. we are assured, must be copies
of Gods dear Son. They must all have
this kind, generous, charitable quality.
We are not meaning to say that such a
would be acceptable to God
without Christ, our Redeemer; for the
Bible clearly sets forth that no man
to the Father but by Him.
John 14:6.) But the Sons method
Of preparing US for the eternal glory,
we have become His disciples,
Ia by tnstructing US along the lines Of
the development of this Divine Char.
acter-ikeness. If Christians could re-
alize this more fully, how kind and
charitable they would bel
The Lord would have His people
wholehearted In their sympathies-
broad, deep, generous. To give either
money, forgiveness, sympathy or any
other good thing grudgingly. half-heart-
is to spoil the matter. True, many
u the Lords people r by nature very
narrow, mean, spiteful, contrary to
what the Lord would approve. But
He is willing to overlook all the natu-
raj defects II He sees the right heart
c~ondition-sees that we are endeavor.
Ing to the extent Of our ability to v
come our natural weaknesses and to
put on Christ.