The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-13
THE GOLDEN RULE.
When Doubt Arises as to How One Shou!';
&C; Toward Another i VIII Su'e.y
Ee Solved by Turning to this
Prece3t.
: Baltimore San.

Baltimore Sun
From The earliest time philosophers
and religions teachers, reasoning !nGe-
pendently Of each other, have set forth
the important guide to right actlon-
Treat others as thou wou, ,,;>st thySe!!
be treated" That is the form in which
it was set forth by Zoroaster. About
the same time the Hindoos were taught:
"Do naught unto Others which if done
to thee would cause thee pain; thisis
the sum Of duty" and Coufucius also
proclaimed as the foundation principle
of his teachings: ''Do unto another
what you would he should Dc unto you,
aud do not unto aHothcr what yHu
would not like if done 20 yOu'se.f."
Christ gave special force 10 the principle
in all His teachings, and it is part OF
the essence OF the Christian religion. 1t
is important TO notice, however, that
the Hindoo priests gave the principle
negative form, whereas Christ ald tie
later writers made it an affirmative
duty to do to others what you would
have them do to you. The law as lad
down to the HindcoS would be fultilied
if one should refrain from doing an
injury or wrong to another. The Chris
ton doctrine is founded on the prin-
cipie that it is ones duty to Go good to
others-"T shalt love thy neighbor
as thysef.n A little reflection will show
that obedience to this law would bring
about moral revolution. It Is called
! foundation principle because it includes
within it all the mora! principles in
volved in the relations between men.
It IS a moral rule of conduct wholly in
dependent of religious beliefs or even Of
unbelief, and arises from 4 considera-
ton of what is necessary to the social
| life of mankind. Few, if any, succeed
in living fully up to the command,
some ignore it altogether, bat society
never reaches a high degree of civiliza-
ton uutil large majority OF its MEM
bers recognize the justice of the prin-
ciple and at least try to observe it IN
their intercourse with each other. The
more specific rules of good Conduct can
all be referred back to this and it is we'll
to give special thought to the principle
because it becomes safe guide when
there are no other precepts that fit the
case. When doubt arises as to ones
proper course Of conduct towards an
other it will be surely solved if one
turns 10 this golden rule and asks him
self hesimple question. sis this the pro-
posed course that which would have
another take towards me?" Sometinles
the man who asks himselfthis question
deludes himself with q false answer.
He is so set in his purpose that although
as matter of duty he asks himself the
question, lie frames an answer to suit
his desires. He argues to himself that
if he had done the wrong another had
committed be would deserve 10 be
punished, and from his sense OF justice
would submit to proper punishment
and therefore would have another do
to him as he intends to do. But these
arguments are usually fallacious and
arise not so much l.om reason as from
a desire to appease conscience and
permit a course Of conduct not in accor-
dance with the moral rule. In COM
munity sincerely governed by this
principle there would be no strife or
pickering and no wrong doing. Each
member being governed by love orthe
others would be unselfish and all would
live in peace and harmony. Such COM
munitcs are not altogether ideal,
though they are perhaps unknown in
the sense in which the word communi-
ties is usually understood. There are
families, however, that exhibit in the
highest degree that love which inspires
them to follow the principle within
their own circles, and that they do not
fully observe it outside Of their own
households is perhaps due to the fact
that it is much more difficult to obey
the moral law with those who violate it
than with these who are considGrate
and are also seeking to do right. Within
the family, however, it is relatively
easy to practice virtues that should be
exhibited everywhere. 1t isjust rs GER
tain that if one should fail to be loving
and consiGerate in his home circle, he
cannot follow the moral law outside. It