Appreciation by Jos. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1860

Appreciation.

By Jos. Clarke

Is a talent, says a certain writer; and a talent which few possess, we may add. True most people appreciate themselves and their own interests, but to appreciate the sentiments and good deeds of another, and to appreciate the interests of another as we would be appreciated, this, this is the test.

I do not mean that we should try to turn dross into gold, nor to hypocritically exalt another, using dissimulation, but to try to discover as many virtues in our brother as he possesses; if he speaks try, to notice his good points and make as little of his errors as is consistent with integrity, truth, and candor.

Now having found his best capabilites, draw out his good qualities, by a course of kindness and cordial, Christian intercourse, not laying up his mistakes and errors but correcting them, if at all, at the moment they occur, and not afterwards bringing them up, vexatiously alluding to and dwelling upon errors which have probably been confessed and pardoned in the sanctuary where Jesus pleads.

Appreciation. Who can appreciate the favor of having fellow workers, companions in our pilgrimage? But says Bro. Captious, it is only a burden to have such erring brethren, always out of the way, always disgraciing the cause; better be alone than have such poor representatives of the truth. Stop Bro. Captious. Don't you realize that we have all been and are still great burdens to our great High Priest, burdens to God? Have not angels made long tedious journeys to, and weary stays in our earth for us? And perhaps you and I are as burdensome to them as any of our weaker brethren. Jos. CLARKE.