“Religion Takes the Mad Out.”
So said a little girl of five summers, during our late meeting. This little girl knew quite well that her father, who was a member of the church, was at variance with an ungodly neighbor; for she had often heard the matter talked of in the home circle. When that neighbor, who would not speak to her father, became a seeker of religion, the subject of their difficulty was often discussed in her hearing. She came to the just conclusion that they were mad with each other. When this little girl, who was a member of an infant class in our Sabbath-school, saw her father approach that penitent neighbor at the mourner’s bench, and saw the once revengeful man leap from his seat, and throw his arms around the neck of her father, and rejoice aloud; and when she saw him meet her mother also in the aisle with similar demonstrations of forgiveness and joy, her little head began to reason, and the conclusion she reached was this: “Mother, religion takes the mad out of people.” Here is embodied thought for a volume—a fine motto for a sermon. Let who will work it out.