DEAR BROTHER: You said to me the other day, "I do not believe brother B. was ever called to preach." Did you ever tell that to him? If it is necessary for you to express your mind on that subject concerning one who has been ordained to the Work of the ministry to me, is it right to let him remain under the mistaken belief that you have fellowship for his gift as a gospel preacher ?

Not long since, you remarked to me that you feared that brother C. is in the habit of making an intemperate use of intoxicating liquors. Have you ever mentioned this to him? Do you answer that you have not done so for fear of hurting his feelings? But ought you not to have more fear of hurting his character, and doing both him and yourself a great wrong and injury by speaking of this suspicion to others instead of himself? Your suspicions may be groundless; but if they are true, then by speaking to him in tenderness and brotherly love you may be favored to convert him from the error of his ways, and so "save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins."

You said in conversation with me that brother D. does not control his strong temper as he ought to; that brother C. appeared to have acted dishonestly on one occasion, and that you feared he was 'liable to give way to dishonest inclinations; and that brother E. is too much addicted to levity, and to vain and foolish talking and jesting. These things may be true, but was it right and according to the gospel rule for you to speak of them to me or any one else, and not to the brethren themselves ?

Do I take this course myself? Do I always speak of one's faults to himself instead of any one else, if I consider it necessary to speak of them at all? That is a very close question. I am sorry that I cannot present myself as an example of right acting in this matter on all occasions, if at all. I am so full of faults myself that it is hard for me to speak to another of his, even when circumstances make it clearly my duty to do so. Yet it is not right to neglect a duty on that account; and I fear it is selfishness and pride that would prompt me to do so instead of humility. But I try that if a brother hears at all of my disapproval of his course he shall hear it from my lips instead of those of another. I try that one shall not mistake my feelings concerning him in any important matter. I have to acknowledge, however, that I find myself lacking courage, or honesty, or both, at times, and so fall at the important moment to do what I ought to have done.

For instance, I ought to have said to you when you began to speak to me of these things that I must not hear them unless there was special reason--gospel reason--why I should be told with a view correcting the evil, and restoring the erring one, and vindicating the truth. I ought to have reminded you that it is a reprehensible, principle which would prompt one to speak or to hear of the fault, of a brother in Christ, except with the single, unselfish desire for his good and for the glory of God. I might have said truthfully to you that the same principle which prompted you to speak to me of the supposed faults of another, would lead you to speak to another of mine.

We may, by lightly speaking of some rumored fault or sin of brother, do him a great and widespread injury and a gross injustice, when a word to him would have made the matter plain, and shown him not at fault at all. And the one thus unjustly and unkindly dealt with may see and feel the consequences of our thoughtless and unbrotherly course in the coldness of brethren without at all knowing what the trouble is, until the injurious rumor reaches some one who will act the part of a faithful brother. How careful we should be to "strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," moved by that charity which "thinketh no evil." How careful we should be that we do not exert the evil influence of that proverbial character who "separateth chief friends."---Prov, xvi. 28.

I am satisfied that it is not true tenderness and gospel charity which makes us hesitate and fail to tell a brother his faults. It is very hard to speak to a dear brother of that in his course and conduct which we clearly see to be wrong, but can we, in the fear of God, avoid doing so? Would not the tenderest feelings of love cause us to act most firmly to turn a child from danger?

Let us read our duty in the words of the dear Savior and his apostles, and may we take up our cross daily. "Let us have grace that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear."

April 5, 1898.