The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-07-13
The Tendency to slander.

Ihe Tendency 70 olanuer'
Surely among the weaknesses of the
human heart there is none so utterly
despicable as the disposition to depre
ciate the character of our acquaintan-
ces. There are many persons who
go through life under the (false) impress
sion that the surest way to build up
your own reputation is to pull down
the reputation of others. Some per
sons never under any circumstance,
have a good word TO say for another.
| If it is praise. it comes with such hesi-
tation as to be half-blame /; brt if it Is
blame, it comes right from the heart,
and leaves no doubt of it is sinceri-
ty.
/ met a Mason at my railroad station
the other day, who wore a Masonic
emblem. spoke to him as Mason,
and he responded in an appropriate
manner. This is one advantage Of pre-
senting a breastpin, ring, or other
badge having our mystical characters
upon it, that the wearer claims to be a
Mason, and challenges your approach.
When opportunity offers, always
greet such an one as a Brother, and
often make pleasant and valuable ac-
quaintances thereby. In the case men.
toned, / told the stranger who l was,
and in reply, he told me that my name
and Masonic labors were familiar to
him. This was good enough opening
between us, and soon began to recall
the names of Masons resident in the
place from which he hailed. lie knew
them all knew who were living, who
had removed to other parts, who had
taken the returnless path which all of
us soon must tread. He knew who
were the present officers of the Lodge,
and could even tell me who were the
subscribers among his fellow members
to the Masonic Review-indeed he left
no doubt upon my mind of his linden.
tity.
But when asked HIM relative to a
particular friend of mine among those
Masons, "Brother HIS a swindler.
He owes me bill, and | have had to
sue him. He won't pay an honest
debt. He ought to be expelled y Gen
tly | chided him, ''that it was wrong
to speak in that way of Brother
that the good name of a Mason is a
precious possession, and that our obi
cations bind us closely to cherish each
others fair fame" But the more Bit
terly he Illuminated his charges, and
| was constrained to change the sub
ject
50 much was | exercised over this
matter that felt constrained to write
a confidential letter to another Broth
er living in the same place---a minister
in the church to which belong, and a
prudent, careful man. I wrote him
conidentially what l had heard so pub
licly asserted for half dozen strang-
ers were within hearing), and asked
him for true statement. He replied
that there was not word of truth in
the charges that the Brothers charac.
ter was spotless that he was famed
for promptness and honesty in his deal
ings, etc. The only ground for the
malicious and acrimonious statements
| have heard was that as a guardian of
some orphans he had refused to pay an
exorbitant bill until the Courts should
pass upon its validity.
After reading this letter, I fell into
fit of musing. 1t is possible, thought
l. that my character is at the hazard of
such men Shall member of my
Lodge, going from home and falling
into casual conversation with stran.
ger at a railroad station, have in his
power thus to blacken me and spread
abroad such false, cruel and calum-
NOUS statements 1t is 50. The pow
er for evil rests in the hands of the
weak and wicked, and who shall stay
the fire of scandal once put out into the
meadows OF human society Oh, ac-
| cursed thrice accursed tongue of sland-
err! Well does the Gospel writer ami
madvert upon it in language almost as
bitter as that which he deprecates
"Ihe tongue" he says, "can no man
tame. 1t is fire, word of iniquity it
detileth the whole body, and setteth on
fire the course of nature, and it is set on
fire of hell"
Sand the worst of this infection of
slander is that it makes its marks indel-
IDLY upon the hearers mind. | can
never again think of that good man,
who was vilely slandered in my hearing,
without some discount from my for
mer exalted opinion of him. He
has become the prey of the pretty re
taller of scandal, and much as | desired
to believe him innocent, he has been to
some extent lessened in my estimation.
In spite of my affection for him, in
spite of my better judgement, in spite
of my very self, accept portion of
the scandal TO the lasting detriment of
his fame
What language can | use too severe
for such evil minded men ? Let me
turn again to the sacred pages, and, as
! copy, the reader shall say if the de-
scription does not fit them "These
are spots in your feasts of charity (;
clouds they are without water trees
whose fruit withereth, twice dead,
plucked up by the roots wandering
stars, to whom is reserved the black
ness of darkness forever"