The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-17
Address of
Father Mahoney
Delivered at Annual Christ
mas Fund Meeting at City
Opera House Sunday
Afternoon

OCN1C Ct AAoSAOS ~
Afternoon
The motive which prompts us tc
assemble here today is one OF the
most noble that instinct, either hu-
nan Or religious can suggest tc
us. AS I look out into this vast
and splendid audience and remcnl-
ber the thought which calls US
! here, l can but feel what blessins
it is for us to live in this cosmo-
politan city, where the lines that
are merely social can be cast aside
where nationality can be forgotten
and where the dogmas Of all re-
iisions can be blended SO har-
lnoniously in the sweet thought OF
charity. It is q note which has It's
response in the heart of every no.
bic man, for we all know that the
true secret of happiness consists
not only in what we do for our
selves. but in the measure Of hap,
piness which we give to others.
The proverb Charity is its own
reward" is so true that the sc!loo,
boy understands it as perfectly as
the most learned philosopher.
The most of US have been bless
cd by God by what we may justly
call the abundance Of His goodness
Our health, our homes, our families
these and many other assets of hap
piness prompt us to pause in the
! attitude Of gratitude and as we
recall in our appreciation, the un-
seen hand which has blessed u.s.
we can but sometimes remember
that Providence has not thus bless
cd all Of US.
Charity is then our theme of TO-
DAY. Charity with its thought OF
others. Charity with its deeds OF
Kindness and love.
And if there is any time when
the word charity" especially ap-
peals to us. it certainly is at this
season. when the whole Graves to
be happy.
We are passing through what we
consider to be q period Of depres-
sion and melancholy, and while
absorbed in the thought Of our
| prosperity of the past, we seem as
it were, to forget that God gives
and God takes. The vision OF the
world beyond the seas is enough
! to prompt us as an American peo-
PIE TO fail on our knees before
Him, who sits on Heavens throne
and pour out from the very depths
Of our hearts, the prayer of graft
tude.
Is there one Of us who can be-
hold the frame Of the starving babe
can see the tear in the eye of q
mother, and can, witness the dis
tress which weighs down nations OF
an old world and will not praise
God for His blessings to us.
The man who has not charity
| thinks of none other than himself
We are a blessed and a fortu-
nate people, and in the enjoyment
of plenty, we owe it to God and
ourself to be thoughtful Of others.
For every good deed there is ar
! impulse, and do you not know that
the cheerful giver is blessed? Ex-
ample teaches us when all else
fails.
When we wish 70 become perfect
in any art or science. we strive
to become so by the imitation OF
the most perfect OF models. The
artist and the sculptor are not un-
mindful Of a Raphael and a Mich
acl Angelo, the musician hears
again the sweet strains Of a Mozart
and if we would have our names
! written on the page Of future liter
ature, we must not be content to
read alone the authors of the day
in which we live, but we must
mcandcr back through the past to
hear again, the orations of Cicero
and Denlosthenese. to hearker
to the voice OF Horace, and TO hs-
ten to the sweet lines of Virgil
and a Homer. And this is rot
only true of the higher walks OF
life. but it may be applied to every
avocation.
In our nature there is a.. innate
trait to initiate the example OF 9TH
ers. In the history Of the past, an
abundant example is given us OF
the worlds marvellous charity. The
true and perfect model Of God and
the well-nigil perfect example OF
God-loving and God-fearing incl.
These are the examples which
bring to our community the idea
of doing good for others.
The spirit Of charity has been
difused throughout the world we'll
nigh since its beginning. God show
ed his love for man even when
Adam forgot his God. The cX-
ample Of divine charity has in
spircd men in the doing of good IN
all the ages Of the past. and TINS
world has its measure Of JOY. OF
happiness simply because man to a
great extent has been obedient to
our Common Father, who SAID
Love one another.
Every man who believes in God
I presume, and l feel justly so. be-
lieves also. that God gives to us
three gifts. which are commonly
called the theological virtues OF
fnith hone and charity