[To THE EDITOR. Or TU..'SPECTAT08-1 Sia,—In the interesting article in
your last issue entitled "The First True Gentleman" the writer has omitted, 'no
doubt through lack of space, one note of Christ's character' which, in all reverence, may be said to distinguish a gentle- man,—viz., considerateness. This is a higher, subtler form of compassion which, as Bishop Butler says, is a call of Nature. Compassion has to do with the sufferings of others, considerateness with their feelings. This feature receives ample illustration in the Gospel narrative. It is enough to quote the interesting account given in St. Matthew xi. 2-11 of the embassy from the Baptist. To him our Lord certainly returned a rebuke, but as the embassy was on the point of returning, He passed His eulogium on the forerunner,—i.e., He would not suffer by any words of His that the Baptist's reputation among his disciples should be impaired,—and so proclaimed him to be an ideal preacher of righteousness. What a refinement of consideration for the feelings of others
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