Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1915 — NEED HELPING HAND [ARTICLE]

NEED HELPING HAND

Preaching, Teaching and Stem Laws Not All That Men Require. It Is more than preaching that men need, more than teaching, more than stern laws, more than true and righteous living before them. It is our taking hold of them with such love that vitality and power will gb from us to them and lift them up toward God. Just as Franny Crosby expresses it In her hymn composed 45 years ago and sung so often and with such effect: Down in the human heart crushed by the tempter Feelings lie buried that grace can restore. Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness. Cords that were broken will vibrate once more. It is most interesting to notice the many instances of Christ’s personal touch as he effects his cures among men. He leads the blind man of Bethsaida by the hand out of the town, and there, away from the companionships of earth and sin, he labors with him, teaches him how to discover the diviner things, asks him if he can see aught, puts his hands of strengthening power upon him as he looks up and says, “I see men as trees walking.” Again and again Christ stretches out his hands of power until he sees clearly. Such was the persistency of Christ’s Gospel of the outstretched hand. Inspires Confidence. We all know, too, in our sicknesses how much of confidence is inspired and how much of desire to regain health and strength is brought to us by the presence of the skillful physician or the ever vigilant and faithful nurse. It is not merely that they possess the knowledge of the effects of certain drugs upon the physical system, nor that they understand so well best sanitary rules and equipment. But I think, most and best of all, it is in the way in which they bring these very facts into touch with us. The hopes which they awaken, the courage which they impart, help us most of all to become brave in the great battle for life. As I go along the streets in my parish there are some children who always grasp me by the hand and cling thereto with a love which I can easily recognize as throbbing in their hearts as they walk with me for a part of a block and whisper their messages of good cheer. I cannot fall to hear and to heed a message of the Gospel of love in those little outstretched hands. Have you not felt It, too, dear parent and teacher? And has it not cheered and vitalized you for daily service? I assure you that it means even more to us than the Gospel of an outstretched hand. It is as the glad tidings of an outreaching heart. This Gospel of an outstretched hand which I commend and emphasize has been only partially realized by us. We have too often drawn back and lived within ourselves our Christian lives when we ought to have expended ourselves for others. Peter declared, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I.” And out went his hand of sympathetic strength in the name of Christ, which was powerful enough to put the man on his feet and to quicken him to walk. Mighty Possibilities. Too many of us have been sheltering ourselves behind the first part of Peter’s words, declaring what we would do if we possessed what so or so does. But we do not complete with Peter his declaration of determination to give to others for tbeir uplifting such as we have, so that when men and women of the world come into our society and companionship they would say as a certain Robert Barclay declared of himself, “I felt a sweet power among God’s people which touched my heart, and as I gave way to it I found the evil in me weakening and the good .raised up.” What mighty possibilities are before us if we will just live and exemplify this Gospel of an outstretched hand as Peter did so well for his Lord! Our times are disturbed by stupendous problems and changes. But the Word of God standeth forever. Character is made unique and rendered irresistible through communion with the mind and will of God. It is Christ in us which is the hope of glory both for the individual and the state. It is this Gospel of the hand of helpfulness which will quicken the church and the nations in moral vision, in intellectual perception, in emotional discernment. It is by such a Gospel that we shall be judged. May God fill us with compassionate, daring heroism for our Lord in these days of opportunity! And may we move amid the changing circumstances of life in the very spirit of our Lord and present everywhere the helpful ministry of the Gospel of an outstretched hand! Rev. Andrew Hageman.