Imagine a prisoner, a dangerous character, who conducts himself properly
while under the eye of the keeper and in sight of the lash, compelled by
fear to conform to rules, does the work appointed him, not from a
consciousness of doing right, not because the doing right is a pleasure,
but through fear of the consequences if he disobeys. He serves his time,
is discharged, but what kind of a citizen does he become? If fear only
restrains him from wrong-doing what object will he have in doing right?
Leave out the doctrine of reward and punishment, teach and train the
mind to something higher and holier than mere personal gratification.
The religion of humanity is a grand, a noble belief. To remember that
each and every one has some claim to consideration, that the way to
restrain from wrong-doing is through the human heart. A warm hand clasp
and a sympathetic tear will do more to strengthen ones belief in heaven
than all the tracts which were ever written. Can we believe in the
goodness and loving kindness of God, when we see nothing but coldness
and selfishness in our fellow creatures. Ah believe me, the chords of
the human heart are very tender and if touched by a sympathetic hand
will produce sweet sounds but if touched by the unfriendly hand of
coldness and indifference, the sounds will be harsh and discordant.
There is no one so low, so ignorant, so fallen, but has claims upon our
sympathies. The Turks collect every scrap of paper that comes in their
way, because the name of God may be written upon it. Deal tenderly with
every fellow creature, for all are made in the image of God. A few kind
words have saved many lives from shipwreck. Phariseeism says to itself
after hearing of the sin of some poor mortal "I am holier than that
person. I have never sinned in that way," forgetful of the fact that
they have never been tempted in the same way. The religion of humanity
says "here is a poor mortal who has been sorely tried and tempted, we
will show him his error and help him to do right." Phariseeism sends to
the boy who has been arrested for stealing a loaf of bread, a tract with