The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-09-26

day to institute some reforms. How
she could and should increase her in
fiuence and augment her power for
good in the world. She needs to love
more. This Is the chief of all the vir-
tues. 1t is the sign of Christianity. 1t
is the first test of our Christianity 1t
is not what man does not do so much
as what he does do that marks him as
Christian. Has he love for humanity,
love for souls. This is the supreme
test of the church. Some of the shell
torn, cannon battered church buildings
of Europe as they are seen on battle
fields, are but representatives of the
SIN wrecked specimens of humanity that
have fallen under the power of Satan.
We look upon them with pity, express
regret may be. yet pass on by the
other side and Pharlsee-like leave them
to their fate. The church must remem-
Der that Christianity is love.
Is she going down into the slums of
our cities. into the novels of the poor,
into the shack of the miner, or the dug
out of the settler carrying the living
example of the love of her master to
all IN need? Is she going, as she should
to the benIghted heather India's coral
strand, or Afric's sunny plain carrying
the banner of His gospel, and scatter
ing His pure and life giving light. |
know We are apt TO wrap our robes a
bit closer about US, as we come in con-
tact with the poverty of the poor. We
justify our non action by saying, their
poverty is due to their thrlftlessness
and drinking habits. Some times this
is true, but not always by any means.
Some of the very poor, never touch
liquor, while many of the most thrifty
are starving to death. I've seen whole
families living in one and two rooms.
Tell me how can a woman practice
thrift under those conditions with no
oven, or cupboard, and not even a boil
er.
We held up our hands in holy horror
at the sinking of the Lusitania and de-
nounced the perpetrators of the in
famous deed in no uncertain terms,
but is the church Mortified at the sight
of thousands Of men and women and
| children drowning in darker and deep
er sea than that which swallowed the
nusitania?
How do we know mother loves? Bv
her deeds. She applies soap and water
to the children, does what she can to
keep them clean and neat, to educate
and train them for service in life. Can
not the church show its love in some
such way? Will she not have some
| thing to say about rents and wages.
| houses and shops, food and clothing,
drainage and garbage. It isn't hard to
go to church once day at least, to
| obstain from drinking, swearing and
gambling but it is hard to love and to
show we do love hy our deeds. Yet
deeds are the only fruit of love Love
means labor. self sacrifice and sorrow.
1t means giving when you do not ex-
pect returns.
Its hard to be true Christian. 1t
means giving up all for Christ, if needs
be. 1t may require US to turn on the
oppressors of the poor, and in the heat
of righteous Indignation scourge them
as Christ did the money vendors in the
temple. If Christians loved as thew
should vast expanses OF poverty would
be wiped out of existence, and the re-
proach we have brought on Christianity
would be removed.
AlasI we pass by on the other side
and leave the robbed and wounded to
be cared for by others who have not
named 1.-The name that is above everv
name"