the love or
the hate. To hate a single one of God's creatures is to harden the
heart to some extent against all. Love is the centre of a circle,
which broadens out in ever-widening circumference. Dante tells us in
_La Vita Nuova_ that the effect of his love for Beatrice was to open
his heart to all, and to sweeten all his life. He speaks of the
surpassing virtue of her very salutation to him in the street. "When
she appeared in any place, it seemed to me, by the hope of her
excellent salutation, that there was no man mine enemy any longer; and
such warmth of charity came upon me that most certainly in that moment
I would have pardoned whomsoever had done me an injury; and if any one
should then have questioned me concerning any matter, I could only have
said unto him 'Love,' with a countenance clothed in humbleness." His
love bred sweetness in his mind, and took in everything within the
blessed sweep of its range. Hatred also is the centre of a circle,
which has a baneful effect on the whole life. We cannot have
bitterness or resentment in our mind without its coloring every thought
and affection. Hate of one will affect our attitude toward all.

If, then, we possess the spirit to be reconciled with an offended or an
offending brother, there are some things which may be said about the
tactics of renewing the broken tie. There is needed a certain tactful
considerateness. In all such questions the grace of the act depends as
much on the _manner_ of it, as on the act itself. The grace of the
fairest act may be hurt by a boorish blemish of manner. Many a
graceful act is spoiled by a graceless touch, as a generous deed can be
ruined by a grudging manner. An air of condescension will destroy the
value of the finest charity. There is a forgiveness which is no
forgiveness--formal, constrained, from the teeth and lips outward. It
does not come as the warm breath which has had contact with the blood
of the heart. The highest forgiveness is so full and free, that it is
forgetfulness. It is complete as the forgiveness of God.

If there is something in the method of the approach, there is perhaps
more in the time of it. It ought to be chosen carefully and
considerately; for it may be that the other has not been prepared for
the renewal by thought and feeling, as the man who makes the advances
has been. No hard and fast rule can be formulated when dealing with
such a complex and varied subject as man. So much d