South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-10
POWER TO FORGIVE
MANS BEST ASSET
Indiana Ave. Christian Parish
Hears Pastor Preach on
Forgiveness.

me power 20 forgive - one or me
Creates assets a man can possess,
according 20 Rev. John BellvHe Of
the Indiana Avenue Christian church
who preached on Forgiveness" yes
terday morning,
Among other things tho preacher
said. "As long as there is sin Ia the
world so long will there be need for
learning the art Of getting along
with people One needful thing must
be learned in the process OF getting
along and that - 60 forgive and be
forgiven. II makes high place IN
life when one has attained 90 for
giveness Nothing was more clearly
taught by Jesus chan the necessity
OF forgiveness n we would be the
children Of our. Father. who sends
rain on the tust I'D unjust and
causes the sun to shine on the evil
and good.
Must BE Great
Jesus gave ia the example Of for
giveness when ne prayed for those
who were taking his life-Judas Is
CARROT. PLATE. those who secured the
sentence OF death and the soldiers.
Father. forgive them He was
showing the forgivius; spirit Of God
IN that hour Of his agony. In fol-
lowing after him we must know thai
we are never nearer God than when
we succeed in building up that at
titude toward our fellows which
makes It possible for Us % fully and
freely grant forgiveness. We must
be great 20 prevent happenings OF
any sort whatsoever from marring
friendship.
''To be able 20 forgive IL not
Sign OF weakness. but OF strength.
4 walking can hold a grudge. but
81 takes man 10 be bigger than the
erudge. Through forgiveness we are
able TO win 10 ourselves those who
have transgressed against us We
do them good and IN turn their fell
iowship IS ours Forgiveness Is tho
one acquisition OF ones life that can
recreate situations and give new val
ues and motives to life When we
have become bigger than unpleasant
happenings Of any sort whatever,
we have reached the place where
the past IS eliminated from having
a bearing on brotherhood. Jacob,
returning after many years. IS met
BY Esau whom he wronged shame
fully in the days Of his youth. Jacob
found God in his flight from his ma
tive land. and Esau during their
separation was a changed man as is
witnessed in their meeting. Jacob
was fearful but repentant. Esau
never mentioned the old wrong
They kissed each other and wept on
each others neck, for they we're
brethren - brethren in spite Of
wrong
"Abraham's herdsmen and Lots
herdsmeu had trouble. but the pa
triarch healed the difficulty when he
said. Let there me no trouble be-
tween thy herdsmen and my herds
men. Cor we are brethren Then
Abraham told Lot 20 go his way and
he would go in his way and that
brotherhood WOULD he preserved.
Asks Guilty Spared,
ssThese Old Testament examples
OF brotherhood in spite OF differen-
ces ennr hasize the example OF our
Lord when he prayed on the cross
his first saying from that instrument
Of death. Forgiveness for those un-
worthy OF pardon was the burden Of
this suppiication An imitation Of
Christ was found in that first martyr
stephen who after testifying for Je-
eus was led outside the city and
stoned. and in his dying breath pray
Lord. lay not this sin to their
charge. What fellowship with Je-
sus in 1areeness OF SOUL One stand
Ing near holding the clothes OF the
executiouers hears the prayer (hav-
ing heard Stephens defensel and
after saul the prosecutor becomes
Paul the preacher. we read his mes
sage 20 Timothy and ne. too. fol-
lows his Lord I'm forgiveness
paul is old and weather beaten
and in prison. but there is no sign OF
bitterness I'm his life. rather ne is a
sweet spirited servant OF Jesus. lie
writes: At my first defense no one
took my part, but all forsook me;
may n not be laid to their account.
How the chain Of hallowed influence
has been wrought and coming down
70 US the message OF Jesus and His
Arosttes calls: Let all bitterness
and wrath. and anger, and clamor
and railing be put away from you
with all malice; and be We kind one
to another tender hearted. forgiv
ing each other. even as God also IT
Christ forEave YOU"