Chapter XII

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.