The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-19
Correspondence Baiiia.ose Ceaa,y raion.
THE MUTUALs & THE BENEFICIALs

Messrs. Eiifsr..--it u undoubtedly weakness
that blinds the eyes Of men 10 what 10 good aud
right In others. Some men cannot rise above the
plane Of their own observation. The sphere Of n
mans thoughts IL measured by The largeness OF
contraction Of his own heart. His heart usually
warps his judgement aud forms his opinions. Sell
Eshness runs through all his mental operations
and therefore he can see no good outside o. him
SELF To such minds "nothing good can come out
Of Nazareth" / mn led TO these thoughts on ac-
count Of the bilious disposition that u manifested
20 the Mutual Associations Of the present day.
These Associations are Of recent date but no
sane mind would say that every thing new. u
fraud, n humbug, &C., &c. IL Insisted on that en-
terprises Of recent date doubtful In character
perhaps many men might have the impadence
even 10 think that the objector himself Of re-
cent date. None will cry "thief" quicker than
the chief" himself
Well, suppose they arc new. whato ~ John
johnson IL n noted character and he tells US that
these associations give opportunity TO speculate
on the lives Of men, which he holds TO be- q great
crime. Very well crime u may be, and undoubt-
ediy IL " the motive be purely to speculate.
Equally criminal would Il be for John johnson
not 90 make correct returns In settling up the
estate Of y deceased husband, or keeping an In
correct book account, or TO take advantage Of the
ignorance Of men In dealing. This may be merely
n misdcmeanor under the very pious rule "take
care Of No. l." This Is surely good rule for John
Johnson, but u depends upon the motives whether
this rule will answer for all men. In minding
No. the rule may be get the lion's share ofevsry
thing. II John johnson lives ina glass house he
should never throw . stone.
But there 10 m Andrew johnson who has very
tender conscience, who tells Us that n certificate
transferred by an aged person himself TO any one
who may be able TO meet all the requirements 0f
an association. 10 . very dangerous act and Is in
truth temptation 10 use improper meast RS to
get his subject out Of the way before his time
Very well. would ask Andy, why temptation
In such transaetionl Would Il be 10 get the
benehts1 Most eertsiniy that would BE- the
motive. Very well again, and as n member Of an
Association Of this kind would say 10 ALL old and
young, avoid the man men. Spurn from your
presence NIL such whom you might suspect OF hav-
ing srch motives. They are murderers In heart
aud are not ft TO run at large among men. And
would say 20 Andy, kindly, that as an Assoca
tien We would respect and honor him were he To
inform US Of such nefarious characters. As an As
ISOLATION we are not responsible FOR the motives
and murderous disposition of such men. We are
only responsible for correct and honorably work
ing out the plan aai spirit Of our Association.
Permit me 20 ask Andy whether Il Is in case. Of
risks on old people only that there I. bid 10 take
q mans life for bis money! No, Andy knows
better than that. Then why doe. he single out
the Beneficial Associations and charge them with
the crime Of laying isnoblr plan. for men to
take the lives al these aged and inGrm. Why not
crime In keeping sirychnine, alcohol. gun powder.
pistols aud butcher knives. According Go Andy .
reasoning they are all a set Of scoundrcis, murder
ers and cut.throats.
As n member Of one Of these Associations
would say in heart. " not in act, that man IL u
murderer who would take n risk upon an aged
person with secret hope and wish that his sub
jet would soon die and IL his or her life would
be in danger and he would do nothing 90 save IL
when he could do 30. I say in such u case IS that
the man would be pronounced both by Col and
reasonable men n murderer In heart. Sush a dsnd,
u known 20 be such, should not receive q ccrtih.
cate on the life Of any man, and most assuredly
he would not u the writer had the issuing Of IL.
IL Is question that should not be ignored why
one man will see good in almost everything and
another will see evil In almost everything zone
man loves grapes. but the other does not because
they have seeds in them" The one would care
| for the aged and in6rm IL they we're receiving n
| benefit from them the other would neglect them
and leave them lie. The one would smooth the
pillow Of the dying; the other would scarcely at.
tend their funeral. would like to know on which
side grumbling Andy would be, Who can tell us
why Andy cannot attribute good motives TO his
fellow men rs we'll rs evil! Did the wise man give
the solution when he said, As a man thinke,h in
his heart 80 70 he" G. LEPLgY.