p. 10 | A Wonderful Mantle by R. B. Buckham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 28, 1904

A Wonderful Mantle

By R. B. Buckham

ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a very wonderful mantle, by means of which he was able to do many strange and curious things. The spell which it cast about all who wore it, and all who came in contact with it, was simply marvelous, and the transformations which it worked were sometimes almost beyond belief.

Whenever its owner put it on and went abroad in it, he always appeared to all who saw and met him to be surpassingly noble and high minded and generous; a great, good man. If you had ever met him coming down the street with this mantle of his on, you would certainly have said that he was the ruler of some populous city, or the head of a mighty army, or the chief executive of some powerful nation; his bearing would have seemed so courteous, and his step and manner so regal in his magic robe, although he himself is said in his person not to have been especially handsome or imposing.

But this was not all, by any means, that his priceless robe could do for him. Besides this he could actually work miracles with it, and so change a person that you would scarcely know him. He could make a rough and surly and disagreeable man gentle, and peaceable and friendly disposed toward him, with it—a friend out of an enemy.

He could place it upon the shoulders of a person who had always been regarded as mean and selfish and brutal and unkind, and, lo! under its wonderful charm all his bad qualities would fade almost out of remembrance, and his good qualities, such as he had, would in their turn begin to shine out brighter and brighter, as dazzling as the sun in their brilliancy. And many other wonderful things he was able to do with it.

Who was its owner? and what of his robe? Let me tell you: His name was none other than St. Paul, and his robe was the beautiful garment of charity. He always wore it when he went about doing good, endeavoring to follow in the footsteps of the Master; and he carried it with him when he went on his missionary tours among the Gentiles. He invariably placed it upon the shoulders of his enemies whenever opportunity offered, no matter how despitefully they used him, and all his friends were urged to take and wear it whenever they desired.

He said and wrote much to induce men of all times to don and wear it, as he did, and even composed a poem about it! Would you like to read St. Paul's charming verses descriptive of his wonderful garment of charity? You will find it in the thirteenth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. You can not do better than to turn to it and learn it by heart.

All young readers are familiar with the story of Sir Walter Raleigh, and how he threw down his cloak for the queen of England to walk upon, that she might not be compelled to step in a puddle of muddy water which lay in her way. It is accounted one of the most courteous and gentlemanly acts recorded in history, which will be remembered and recited for ages. But the mantle of charity will smooth life's way in a manner such as Raleigh's cloak never could, and he who generously casts it down for the benefit of another does in reality a much more gentlemanly and courteous and commendable thing.

In all your dealings with your associates and fellow schoolmates and acquaintances be just as charitable as you possibly can. Forget and forgive and overlook and make light of their defects and shortcomings. Be slow to take offense, and generous and open-handed with all. Then will you appear to be one of the wearers of this courtly robe of charity.—R. B. Buckham.