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Show JUST FOLKS By Edgar A. Guest ! RELIGION AND FRIENDSHIP. , "What's liis religion?" quick sayfi I As we observed him walkln' by, !An' slow, says Ezra Brown to me: "I've no ideo Jes' what it be . I've never ast him where he goes On Sundays for his soul s repose, An I don't care so long as he Stands up as man to man to me. That's how he got to talkin' then Of churches an' the ways o" men, An' 1 jes sat there listenln while His tongue ran on in SOS style; "All churches do the best they can To make a chap a better man, An' no church 1 was ever in Encouraged me to go an' sin. "Cath'lic or Protestant or Jew Or Scientist or Thoughter Ne Ain't never raised a wall so high ,That 1 can't rliinb, or Jes. sneak by, jTo claim the good friends that abide An' wait upon the other side; Ri li. ion cannot draw n line To keep me from a friend o' mire "Supposin' you an' I were bound To live on 'Piscopalian ground, Or Baptist or whatevei creed Wo thought was fashioned to our need. An' couldn t step outside or meet The folks upon tmother street, But from one faith alone must choose Think of the good friends we would lose! "Why ask what temples they attend In church or out a friend's a friend. An' dreary this eld world must be If men yvere slaves to bigotry ; Run down your list o' friends an" see How many worship differently There is no church, whate'er it be. But what has given good friends to I me." |