Evening star., 1924-09-28
EVERYDAY RELIGION
By RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, D. D.,
Bishop of Washington.

pain has come from those who might
very properly be called the highway
builders of the human race. They
have helped those less strong and
skillful than themselves, they have
been benefactors to countless thou
sands whom they never knew, and
generations yet unborn will call them
blessed" But, quite apart from
these gifted few who have wrought
miracles in art, science, literature and
mechanics, there are those who, lik e
John of old, did no miracle" and yet
in their time and place have con-
tributed to make this old world a
filter place in which to live. We find
these helpful people in small and OBJ
Scure places as well as in great
cities. They seek no notoriety or dis
tinction, they ask for no acclaim or
applause. All they ask is the privi-
lege of doing their bit, contributing
their modest part to the common
good of all. ..
There lived in New York some
years ago a gentle women who con-
ceived the idea OF ministering to the
unfortunates in the city prison. She
had nothing to give of material gifts,
but much in the way of a glowing,
buoyant personality. Week after
week and year after year she gave
herself without reserve to those who
for one cause or another had suf-
fered misfortune, and so helpful did
her ministry come to be that she won
at length the proud distinction, THE
Angel of the Tombs." Her accepted
task was to try to make crooked
paths straight-straight not only for
her own feet but for the feet of
others Thousands of men and women
felt the healing touch of her gentle
life, and when at length she passed
to her great reward the metropolis
itself paused in its mad haste for
wealth and power TO do her honor.
Not long since 1 officiated at the
burial service of simple country
woman in one of the little villages in
southern Maryland. The scene was
a homeiy one-a country churchyard
the plain people of whom Lincoln
said that God made SO many because
He loved them so much, the simple
yet beautiful setting of a glowing
Spring day, nothing of ostentation
no eulogy; only the exquisite Ian
guage of the burial office. Yet there
devotion and love that needed no
spoken word to give it expression.
Pathmnker for Community.
She whom we laid away had for
many a year been the pathfinder and
pa MOI VI lHt iltlIe
She had Softened many a hard pillow.
brought sunshine to many a darkened
home, courage to many a tired and
discouraged neighbor. played the
homely but helpful role of good Sa
maritan to many an unfortunate, and
had won a place of unfailing devo-
ton in the hearts of the people of
the entire countryside.
It's really wonderful how much
such a life can accomplish through
little.deeds of service, and yet thou
sands stand and wait for something
great to do. There's nothing quite
comparable to this business of build
ing straight paths-straight paths for
our own better and more satisfactory
pilgrimage, but straight paths for
others, especially those who have
been bruised or famed through ad
versity or misfortune; yes, through
sin. To know that somehow we have
been helpful, that we have brought
comfort, that we have Iightened a
heavy burden-that is really to know
that we have not lived in vain. He
went about doing good"-what sub
liner testimony to the Great Masters
life might be. written. This was His
unfailng lesson to His followers-to
be pathmakers, to learn to go in
straight ways ourselves. and then to
help others to do the same. This
means life at its best-the life of
deepest, most enduring satisfaction.
fCooyright 1924)