Cause is treated with cold neglect by a large portion of the human family. All gaze at effect--but few trace it to its producing original. Especially is this true with men in forming opinions of the conduct of their fellow-men. Petty errors are construed into crimes--petty crimes into felonies. Often have I known this to be the case in sectarian churches where charity was loudly professed but sparingly practised. The causes that operated upon the erring brother may have been extenuating but are not examined. _Away_ with him is the simultaneous cry. Kindness might have reclaimed and saved him. Too rarely are extenuating causes sought for--too partially are they credited when brought to light. But a limited number stop to analyze human nature--divest themselves of prejudice and become competent to pass an intelligent, impartial judgment upon the conduct of others. They do not inquire how formidable a force of temptation _they_ could vanquish if attacked by the arch enemies of ethics and Christianity. They can never fully know their own strength in morals until they measure arms with the foe. In the balmy days of prosperity a man may act justly in all things and be the censor of others. Reverses may drive this same man into great error--perhaps crime. Keen adversity is a crucible from which but few emerge like gold seven times tried. Charity is the specific to ameliorate these evils but too cheap to obtain a wide circulation. Abstruse dogmas cost more labour and by many are more highly prized. There are crimes so flagrant that no extenuating circumstances can form a legal excuse--crimes that blight like the sirocco--crimes so dark that they hide the noblest deeds--the most brilliant talents--the most towering genius--consigning the perpetrator to lasting disgrace--enduring infamy. Treason stands high on the black catalogue. But one traitor was found among the disciples of Christ--but one was found among the sages and heroes of the American Revolution. That traitor was Benedict Arnold, a Major General in the army of the illustrious Washington. He was a native of New London, Connecticut. At the commencement of the struggle for liberty he resided at New Haven and was captain of a volunteer company. When the hoarse clarion of war was sounded on the heights of Lexington he was among the first to march his company to the American headquarters at Cambridge where he arrived in ten days after that painful event.