Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-09

lessened II our mere extras and luxuries
were had at the expense of some one
who was without the bare necessities.
As st. Paul remarked--or was IL Our
Saviour He that seeth his brother
have need and shutteth. up his COM
passion from him, how dwelleth the love
of God in him?" How indeed.
In short, If you are a spontaneous
giver, 1t Is the giving that makes your
reward the getting in return is side
issue which in most eases can be dis
penscd with without any loss to one $
pleasure in the transaction.
But to give to some one who is un-
gracious or unappreciative or whose
manner leaves you with the feeling that
what you have given Is regarded as
though 1t was a paid debt by the recip-
icnt-well that pretty well picks the mo-
tive that you actually had in the giving
right down to the bone. Certainly If there
was any patronage in the gift. or any
splurginess of feeling rich and indulging
In the feeling, or any sense of power
over the person to whom you are gen.
erous. you have gotten mighty left for
hasn't shown up. But II you gave be-
cause there was real need or because
you wanted some one to have something
she must otherwise forgo, well. then,
no curtncss or even forgctfulness on
the part of the recipient Gun rob you
Of the thing you paid for when you
gave that present. Your gift has filed
need or a long g-felt desire. -
Whether the person is worthy or
unworthy. grateful or careless, be Is
benetiting by what you have been able
to procure for him, and that being your
chief aim. you have gotten all you set
your heart upon when you gave.
A VERY soft" way of giving, 1t
"A sounds stated that way But we
10 back us up in that way of giving.
He called the attention of His disciNles
to the fact that that was Gods way
of giving: He maketh His sun 10
rise on the evil and on the good :"
And in urging them to be like God. He
gives that trait as being the mark of
their veritable sonship, the character
istic that shows their kinship with God.
Parents who cut off ungratcful chill
dren in their wills. masters who look
for deep appreciation before they dis
pense their gifts, friends vino bestow
lavishly and then count the benefits as
though they remember there were so
many creditors, bencfactors who support
this charity or that. this individual or
that, and then expect n return of humble
praise. we'll sustained. have all missed
the God like way Of giving. Giving fos
them is not necessity. fulfllment. a
satisfaction of love. rather is it pur-
chase on their part of something that
they wish to possess. perhaps peace oi
mind. perhaps adulation, perhaps u re-
turn birthday present.
II they are poor bargainers in that
purchase. so much the worse for them
One does not exactly pity them: fol
under the guise of givers. they have
really been would be gctters Of whar
they want most
In getting acclaim or appreciatio,
they have. as our Lord remarked
| their reward"
TO BE able to give freely in such a
way that even the most sensitiv,
friends or even strangers can take free
ly. as the just and the unjust alik,
take the rain from heaven-nh, thai
Is test of the perfect giver Anc
to give wisely so that 1t does not hur,
the recipient either in his sensitive
ness or in his character, that tnke,
imagination. 1t is fine art, the ar,
Of giving. Very little children can he
gin to learn it and the oldest. poores,
pilgrim can practice it to perfection
One OF the most charming of the com.
ments that We're made on Christ wa.
that admlring appreciation of His art OF
giving by one of his followers: III,
being poor, yet made many rich :"
SARAH d. LOWRIE.