James Galloway Cowan

“ It is true indeed that the co-operation or opposition of other men may, in some measure, affect the bearing of these burdens; but still mainly, if not entirely, is it a question between him and his God—with which a stranger intermeddleth not—what he shall suffer, what reckoning shall be made with him: "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father;" "Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own work;" "Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." ”

“ While they could help themselves, they would not ask, they would not have, help from others, and even now, when all is gone, the spirit of independence, the abhorrence of pauperism, the desire to bear their own burden, will hardly let them receive, on much persuasion and entreaty, the miserable pittance which is called "relief." ”

“ There has been much talk, as you probably know, about the backwardness of the mill-owners generally to sustain the hands which built up their fortunes. An increased rate, or a loan upon the rates, has been suggested. The intervention of Government has been invoked. But while men are disputing about the agency which ought to remove the burden, it is lying sore upon those beneath it—it is crushing them to death! It is true that "private charity" has done something; according to the world's standard, has done much. ”

“ Regard, then, the offering which you make to-day as the pledge that you will give again and quickly, and at once set about redeeming the pledge. Resolve to waste nothing, to spend nothing on amusement, on luxuries, on what is not absolutely necessary, till the hungry are all fed, and the naked all clothed. Infuse the same spirit into your household and all that approach it. Be a mouth to plead for those who will not ask for themselves. ”

“ There are certain burdens which every man must bear for himself, which none can bear for him. Such are the burdens brought upon him by sin—fear, remorse, punishment. Such again are the burdens of responsibility which belong to his gifts and opportunities from God. Of these it is not the Divine will that he should be relieved by others. Rightly is he made to eat the fruit of his own wilful doings; rightly is he accountable to God for all that has been lent to him, for all that he has been commanded to do. ”

“ Consequently, the mill-owners have either suspended work and closed their mills, or have reduced the number of "hands" to a small fraction of that usually employed. Thousands and thousands of able, active, industrious men and women are thus, with their families, deprived of the means of subsistence. Theirs is not the case, remember, of men who will not work, and who, therefore, according to the Apostolic rule, may justly be left to bear their own burden: "If any man will not work, neither shall he eat." They want to work. They are compelled to be idle ”

“ If he must go forth bearing the cross even unto death, let us bear it with him, like Joseph of Arimathea, and give him the precious peace of knowing that he is not alone. At the worst this shall keep his soul alive while the body is perishing; it shall make him walk calmly in the valley of the shadow of death; it shall bear good fruit in eternity, if not in time. ”

“ No man ever came into this world, certainly none was ever incorporated in the Christian Church with license or power to live to himself or by himself. Christ has constituted us all in Him members one of another. Faculties and gifts He has bestowed on some, which cannot be used but in communicating to others; needs He has created, and burdens imposed, for the relief of which men must look to their brethren. Hence the richly endowed are to hold their possessions in common, and to distribute them liberally according as every man has need ”

“ Let no one meet you and part from you without being stirred to respond to this most imperative call. Hold out a ready and eager hand to receive what he will give, and what you receive be prompt to hand on. ”

“ We may not refuse when there is a cry for help, and we have it to bestow; we may not plead another's liability to exempt ourselves. We may not give just what we will, when more is wanted, and we possess more, or can get it. ”

“ They have drawn from the savings' bank the little fruits of their prudence and frugality: "one by one they have parted with their few luxuries, their half-dozen books, and their musical instrument, whatever it was ”