The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-12-07

| fessiOn of which he boosted and he
could do nothing else than give the
answer in terms of relationship in
stead of in a recitation of rules. His
mind was ready enough but even he
was scarcely prepared for the laugh
ing-eyed reply from the unsmiling
lips, Right" 1t was as though he
had been under examination and the
Teacher had pronounced him "pass-
ed" The next word was worse yet,
it took his own word "do" and applied
it to life. This man had so easily
taken away his blade and was actu-
ally laughing at his attempt to en-
tangle Him that he lost his temper
and there is a testy note in his de-
mand, "Who is my neighbour" Nor
is his temper better in the final
phrase where his lips utterly refused
to speak hated name. Completely
discounted he may be dismissed with
thankfulness that his self confidence
and dislike have given us the match
| less story of the text.
THE TESTING.
When the Browning gun was offer
ed to the Government it was set going
until it had elected $4,000 shots, after
which it was treated to sand blast
more severe than any exploding shell
would ever give it and ordered to fire
another hundred cartridges. Clogged
and fouled, it still pumped on where
all others ceased to act. Ones relig-
ion must be equally effective under
the most racking tests. Here is a
group Of men, religious, all Of them,
who met a sudden call to practice
their profession. When the Inflated
Republics went down DR.. Goucher was
carrying a flash light along darl,
rooms and passages to see if any per-
son had been overlooked; it is the
emergency in street, store, mine, or
ship that tells far more about a mans
faith than does an hour in church.
Where did Christ get the story?
Perhaps from Matthew whose modes
ty would forbid his telling it but the
experience Of it would explain the
space given in his Gospel for invec-
tive against the pr!estly rules. L
would explain also why so passionate
a lover Of all things Hebrew should
become a publican in the employ Of
Rome. But whether it were Matthew
or not some one was in desperate
need along the rocky road and peri,
lousy near death. Hope must have
ieaped at seeing the Priest. Fresh
from the temple and from the pres
ence of the compassionate God here
was the place to cash in on his emo
tons. Church tears grind no grist.
If any mans religion is 100 per cent
it ought to be the preachers but this
one left others all the practicing.
There is grim irony in the word of
Jesus that there "came down" a CT
tain priest. He was going down a
sleeper road than to Jericho. Then
came Levite fresh from the wonder
full pagaentry Of the temple ritual
who paused long enough to see who
it was that was hurt. Perhaps he
had held the lamb for this very man
who had also worshipped this very
day in Jerusalem and it may be that
the passing Priest had been in charge
of the offering so that it was a fellow
churchman dying at their feet that
they passed. One can readily enough
find a road around every dirty duty
if he will. Clara Barton didn't have
to chop wounded soldiers from the
frozen ground, Billy Rough didn't
have to give his leg, Christ could have
escaped the cross but it is their glory
that they stood the test.
THE FIRST RED CROSS
The Samaritan had not been to
church in Jerusalem for there would
have been a riot if he had attempted
it. Nor was his religion shipped with
his baggage, checked thru so that he
would not be troubled by it on the
journey. Samaritan dog" they had
called at him as he left the city gate
and if this Jew was conscious enough
he may have spat visciously at him as
he stopped over him. But it made nc
difference to the kindly soul who per-
formed first aid and then tugged un-
til he got his unwieldly burden uror
his horse and held him there until the
inn was reached. There was a rec
stain upon his sleeve where his arm
had steadied the bleeding form, EARL.
est emblem of that body of burden
bearers who have girdled the worlc
with helpfulness. All that night he
gave his best service to the needs Of
the wounded man, for he would not
shirk anything of the task by resting
himself while he put a slave at tn,
work Day brought his own duties
but it brought also the continuance o.
his care. This man had lost his pursl