A RELIGION THAT MAKES WRONGS RIGHT.
About the year 1870, says a local paper, a farmer named Gleason, living northeast of Independence, Iowa, one morning found one of his colts dead, and there was certain evidence that it had been killed by some one. The young man supposed to have killed the colt left the country about that time, and very little was heard from him for some time, when it was learned that he had been converted and had joined the Church. Years afterward the young man returned to Buchanan County for a visit. While there, he went to Mr. Gleason’s farm, and meeting Mr. Gleason said: “I believe you lost a colt several years ago.” “I did,” was the reply. “How much was it worth?” was the next question. “About eighty dollars.” “Will this pay for it?” said the visitor, handing out one hundred dollars. “Yes, and more, too,” said Mr. Gleason, handing back twenty dollars. The other person took the twenty dollars and departed, starting for Nebraska that day. This is the kind of religion that is needed, and needed by some persons who were converted a long time ago,—so long ago that the strength of their religion apparently needs renewing.830 The only way to correct a wrong done is to make it right, or confess it and be forgiven. Denying it does not make it right. Setting up bogus counter-claims and offsets does not make it right. Gagging a wronged man and voting to pay no attention to him does not make it right. Lying about a man and trying to crush him does not make it right. Employing crooked lawyers to outwit him does not make it right. Slandering and boycotting the men who know the facts and dare tell them, does not make it right. Keeping quiet “till it blows over,” does not make it right. Getting a majority to vote that it is all right does not make it right. Employing cheap partisans to abuse and misrepresent him does not make it right. Bribing those who have eaten his bread to lift up the heel against him does not make it right. Long prayers, loud talk, and reports of perfect peace and unbroken harmony do not make it right. When men have started on a wrong road, the only way to get right is to turn about and retrace their steps, cease to do evil and learn to do well, restore that which is taken away, confess the fault, and be forgiven; and then all will be well.