Manifestations of Love and Duty
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At some points or in certain forms, we come in contact with society. A portion of our inner operations may be deeply hidden; so hidden, that neither stranger nor friends can intermeddle with their secrecy. Trains of thought, passing through the mind, may be unrevealed; feelings may arise and subside, which are tight concealed from the outward world; motives, by which we are actuated, may prompt our conduct, but be beyond the power of the most sagacious to analyze fully and clearly define. The inner man may be trained to keep much of its dominion private from the public human gaze. Yet, unless he be a literal hermit, each one is so connected with his fellow beings, that he and they act and re-act on each other.
The duty to love our neighbor is binding, whether or not he can be reached by our actions. The duty to act with reference to him and depends upon the possibility of his receiving what may be done for his benefit. If he be so com-
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-pletely secluded, that no outward at acts of ours can affect him, directly or indirectly, our part is still to love him and commit him to the care of the almighty hand. Or, if we be so hampered as to prevent any active effort on our part, this does not release from prayer and the possession of the right feeling. Yet, neither of these restraints is the general condition of society. They are but exceptions deserving notice to prevent misunderstanding, while before the mind is the propriety of sympathy with our fellow-beings, extending the cordial hand, and possibly bestowing the needed assistance.
Man, as a whole, is in contact more or less close with his fellow-man. Similar air is breathed, similar food in its general character eaten, similar joys and sorrows speak in the countenance. The links of the society are in every direction - on the land and water; on the mountain and in the valley; in the family, the state, and the church; at the trade, the merchandize, the profession, and the seat of learning; in the camp, in the in the senate, and the sacred temple; where men meet for business or social intercourse; in the coach or car or vessel; during the period of health or sickness, prosperity
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or adversity; while laboring for sustenance, or getting gain to increase the store, or spending what has been secured; amid the scantiness of poverty, or the abundance which wealth can throw around its possessors.
The field is wide, and the relations numerous, in which all may find an opportunity for the exercise of their benevolent feelings and friendly acts. Noting the exceptions specified, the pressure upon us for action is almost as pervading as the surrounding atmosphere; the calls, some loud, some silent, are as eloquent as nature’s tunes uttered by her own expressive voice; humanity exhibits attitudes, by day and by night, beckoning forward those who would give unto it its due, or relieve its necessities, or empathize in its sorrows, or elevate its position. To hear or to see, none need but open the eye or keep ready the ear. The seeing, like some terrible battle-field, so abounds with demands upon the beholders attention - here a drooping head to be raised, and there the cooling draught needed; here the dislocated arm, there the shattered limb; here some member of the body gone, there the blood oozing from many wounds in the same person;
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here the yawning sabre-gash, there the bayonets-thrust; here the bruised mass, there the severed body; here the tears and groans and cries, there the stupor that knows no waking; here the prayer, there the curse; here the message to the loved ones at home, and there the eyes needing to be closed by a friendly hand - that instead of an opportunity to work, the magnitude of what is to be done, if we not lay hold of individual cases, will embarrass us in our attempted operations.
The manifestation of love and duty is love in exercise and duty attempted to be performed. It is the outward form, which touches the points where we come in contact with our fellow-beings. It embraces signs and words and actions. It appears as to truth, equity, restitution, meekness, forgiveness, peace, temperance, beneficence, prayer.
