SHEPHERDS. (Cosmopolitan.)

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 188, 24 July 1873, Page 2

SHEPHERDS. (Cosmopolitan.)

Whilr good women, like Mi»s Rye and Miss Stride, are doing wonders, and from alley to alley brigbten " the da^i shadows" br the junshinc of their presence — while their* noble efforts "to sa\e" are comparatively productive of little, ' in proportion to the work to be done, ajid the unbounded charity of the British people larger than erer— how is it that our poor are poorer, our women more miserable, our little children more sickly, our schools but thinly attended ? There must be darkness somewhere— an abysa that swallows the charity of the public — seeds planted on a barren rock, productive of naught! The love of the good Shepherds of Exeter Ilall for the welfare of lambs in far-off lands ha» \ something to do with this condition of things. One of them is before me — his long black coat buttoned to, the neck— his white Cio wound round and round his holy throat — his hair resplendent with Maceassar oil— the black gloves on his emaciated hands aro too long, and the ends of his fingers turn inwardly like the claw oi a vulture. Ido not mean to say that all Shepherds nre birds of prey ; but let us compare notes, and, by directing the charity of England's tender hearts, stipplj relief to the wants of our own poor. " O let us be joyful and praise the Lord," exclaims the shepherd at Lndy _I ' 8 tea party, ° for we have redeemed the soul* of those heathen negroes m Africa." The missionaries in China (with the aid of a few rifled cannon) are converting the Chinese to the truths of the Gospel. The tea is delicious, the clisurs nif comfortable, an immense fire blazing — a velvet puise roundf il by many duplicates of her Majesty's gracious pfliiiv is, on tho table, for the noble ladies who give excellent dinners bave put their guests to contribution, and the gentle pets of Dahomey and Timbuotoo will be taken care of. The glasses of the Shepherd brighten, his eyes, covered by the bluiah speotnrle*, shoots fire — he has measured tho velvet purse, and venJy the Shepherd is well pleased ! " The Lord is merciful" We shall ha»e a sermon next Sunday— a gloomy picture of the sufferings of our poor colored brothers far away will, no doubt, bring forth an addition to the collection we have made. The Shepherd is eloquent— " But all was pale and hollow, though his tongue Dropt manna, and could make the ttorw appear Tho better reason." Yes, tin* black Shepherd is the pauper* fiend ! In \he> dark alley where typhus fever rule* and emaciates the future mothers and son* of the labouring classes, eturwng^e/* mele, regardloo ot soxor relationship, the Quod Shepherd is nevet^ seen. Their eyes are artificially bright by some exciting™ cordial got at the " Public." Indecency, vice, crime, delirium tretnens, Ac , &c The shepherd is never at home, his lofty mind overleaps space, and distance presents no inconvenience to his hrroisnv Our Shepherd of the Period 13 a martyr — the lender of a great movement in the religious world. Does he <iot fly high ? Does he not risk to ho carried away hv the currents of lolty latitudes ? Is he not the noblo matter of public opinion 3 Iho crown he wears is one of thorns — his oily word* we lull of unction — the Lord is praised in evory sentence. He sing* hi* triumph* in per<"nined boudoirs : intoxicated with the elegance of our palncieunes he hai but one ambition— notouety without

danger, commendation without rmk. If the crown he wears be spinou. in appcarauee its thorns are padded. The nerves of the Shepherd aie soft and d.-licate, anci now could ho labour like Miss Ejo and Mua Stride, or many a hardworked and underpaid curate, and other philanthropists i Is he not the champion of the Nigger and tlte Chinese.-' Let everyone tnke wire of himself— ehai-itv bci?iua at homo ; but for the tk-|»heid "homo" is Inmsi'lf first. Let the poor East-ender shift for himself— the damtj person of the Shepherd is only fitted for a West-end atmosphere. Christian souls are at a discount There are thousand* of men, women, and children in this metropolis who have never heard the name of God except in blasphemy, whose souls are considered as nothing compared with tlio-e of Chinese, Hindoos, and Negroes, whose homes have never even been seen by any philanthropic Shepherd, and who, from their experience of too many missionaries, could have no respect for their teachings. The claims of our white Heathens are iguored because they he at our doors j and Sydney Smith's scathing sarcasms upon our interest in that which is far from us are strikingly justified by the enormous amount of money required to convert a colored •oul (?) ns compared "with the sum which would plaeo many a Christian family in comparative comfort. Let our amateur philanthropists* beware ofjExetor Hall— let them tnit eli t ho operations of the Chaiity Orgiinisahon Society, for let ns remember that he who gives well gives twice.