Friendly Societies.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 26, 22 September 1894, Page 9

Friendly Societies.

Murlhiku Tent, 1.0. R.

“WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?”

In preaching the annual sermon to the Eechabites in the Elies Eoad Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday evening last, the Eer. W. Woollass chose as his text the question addressed to Christ by the rich lawyer who had got himself into a difficulty by asking questions and w ishing to get out of his difficulty and beat graceful retreat, asked “And who is my neighbour?” (Luke x, 29), in reply to which Christ told the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan, This beautiful story has its simple lessons for us in childhood, and its truths grew more telling upon us as we advanced in years. The idea of kicking a man into the gutter and telling him he must be content because Providence placed him there seems absurd, and yet that was what many were doing at the present time. The will of Providence was not that we should cause evil to befall one another, nor even pass by on the other side as the priest did when we saw a brother erring or in trouble. We were commended to love one another and to assist each other. It is one part of the world that knocks the other part down and then makes a'profession of pity at their fallen state. The Samaritan did not care to what creed the man he assisted belonged, nor had he any selfish motive, as many have now-a-days, in offering assistance. The priest was too busy attending to his religious duties to pay any attention to him, the Levite could not ou any'account have anything to do with him as he was a Jew, but the Samaritan, between whose race 'and the Jews there was a bitter hatred, had the love of Christ in bis heart and recognised no distinction, and willingly rendered help. The teaching of this parable was that the true religion breaks down a'i class distinctions, and teaches all men are brothers and neighbours. In early times cultured and classic Greek taught the survival of the fittest, but Christ had taught us that all are equally precious in His sight from the king to the outcast. Friendly societies were built up cm these principles. Their object was to iosier a spirit of brotherly love, to banish strife and work in harmony with one another. The growth of the Good Samaritan spi ' vas also to be seen in the societies for p itmg cruelty to animals, for commendin of humanity and courage in saving life ;:i our hospitals, infirmaries, alms houses, i > i ther organisations for the relief of the suffering and needy. The missionary vho goes into heathen lands also carries out the same spirit : that we are all brothers. The'organisation of Eechabites was ;«. highly commendable one for the reason tbar .it not only provided relief for the suffc ;id help for the needy, ta but it had pled,,( i -elf against one of the greatest evils of ih vord—the drink evil. Statistics and utterances of scientific and medical men denounced this evil in the strongest terms, and proved it to be the great curse of the age. Its mouo ■•■ as “ For self,” while the motto of the Temperance Organisations was “For God, Home, and Country.” The word of God commanded that we should not only be sober, bid also righteous, and love our neighbor as ourselves, and with this spirit within us we could help one another and hasten forward :bo great cause of righteousness.