Marching along the road came the Salvation Army. A crowd of juveniles bent on hilarity followed in line, mimicking and ridiculing them. The crowd on the sidewalk jeered, and a high dignitary in church affairs joined his voice with the rest, remarking that this rabble never ought to be allowed to parade the streets Sunday. Who knows how many degraded lives have been elevated by this much ridiculed religious body who do good work in the slums where religion is most needful, and in so doing follow more closely in the footsteps of the Christ than those who spend their energy in striving among themselves for precedence in the public schools and everywhere? Why all this contention? Should not real Christian worshippers work in harmony? Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Malachi ii, 10. And there was also a strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest. But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Luke xxii, 24, 26. Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians ii, 14. Shun profane and vain babblings. II Timothy ii, 16. Be at peace among yourselves. I Thessalonians v, 13. Seek peace and pursue it. Psalms xxxiv, 14. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Philippians ii, 3. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. From which some having swerved have turned aside into vain jangling. I Timothy i, 5, 6. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Be of one mind, live in peace. II Corinthians xiii, 5, 11. Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus iii, 9. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James iii, 16. Now I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians i, 10. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. I Timothy ii, 8. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say: Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as noonday; And the Lord shall guide thee continually. Isaiah lviii, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes xii, 13. He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah vi, 8. |