The Washington times. (Washington, D.C.) 1894-1895, 1894-09-23

word to inculpate ones self, although inno-
cent, or keeping back a word to shield the
| guilty party at the expense Of ourselves,
seems the really unselflsh and noble course to
pursue We have many such instances in
modern fiction, young heroes and heroines,
who sacrifice themselves by taking the guilt
| OF others on themselves and so lead to very
excellent ana intricate plots. But in real life
the ordinary husband or lover does not often
! prove equally heroic, and when he does he
gets little credit for his heroism.
One of the most ordinary and inexplicable
phases of involuntary untruthfulness is to
tell story Of our ancestors, their wealth,
their genius, their titles, their famous lives.
Every New Highlander can tell his Lineage
back to the Mayfower, although the facts are
! that a few generations back will land him not
at Plymouth Rock, but among the boys of the
! Emerald Isle Almost all the class known as
maidens of somewhat mature years will pose
10 a circle OF suburban acquaintance and OBJ
tain great consideration by imparting to their
4 friends in great confidence gruesome tales OF
! the rebellion and how they could never. never
/ be untrue to the memory of their gallant
! lovers who fell on the heights Of Chantilly!
/ But the illusion can be rudely dispelled by
showing, from all the records ofthe war, that
no such officers were ever known to exist
during the whole of that fratricidal strife.
These dear souls have so often told their
| tales and thoroughly believed what they
said OF their imaginary lovers that
they would seal the lie with an oath If neces-
saryl The question are women less truthful
than men? has repeatedly been answered in
the affirmative. because they are better ac-
tresses. and find less difficulty in sticking to
lie.
A prominent Judge now on the bench in
San Francisco, Judge Coffey, during the
past month said he would not have a woman
as his client for any sum Of money as a fee
because he would expect to be defeated by
her exaggerations. embellishments, and the
sad affection Of not being able to relate the
/ simple order Of facts correctly" But main
tain as a matter OF justice to the fair sex that
far more truthfulness exists among women
than among men from the fact of their keener
sense OF right, quick munitions. tender sym
pathies. and clearer apprehension of right
eousness.
But among all the phases Of modern lying
none are so fragrant and so often condoned
as commercial falsehoods, political falsehOods,
and social falsehoods If we make an excep-
ton to our religious liars! servant girl
not long from the old country speaking of
the manufacture OF soap, intending to say
that she had made it with concentrated
lye,'' used the words "consecrated lie, as
being an ingredient in the compound. The
verbal error was ludicTous. but, like most
things. even the farcical in the present life,
has its serious side. In many nominal
Christian communities and countries the pro-
fessed religion of Jesus seems to come sadly
short Of the end proposed that publication Of
the heart and life which it is calculated to
produce 1t was designed to cleanse from
moral impurity human society. yet all must
admit n large admixture of falsehood with the
ayowed piety Of the age. Society is vitiated
by ''consecrated lies"
Sowe find there are ''consecrated lies in the
opponents OF christianity. There are organi-
cations hoary with age which. though nomi-
nally subject to Christ, are but 'synagogues
of satan" where they steal the livery of
heaven 10 serve the devil in. In all such
religious societies Christ. while Knocked with
the title Of king. is crueiaed that ambitious
Herods and Pilates may hold place, WELD
power. and amass gains.
There are ''consecrated lies in the pulpit.
Men who profess to preach Christ and his
gospel, but who really turn the pulpit into u
political rostrum. or deal out philosophy.
esthedcs. dreams Of fanatIcism, and decisions
Of spiritism. Others. who solemnly dedicated
themselves to the gospel ministry, have been
drawn into other pursuits-iand speculations,
insurance and other secular agencies and so
have Identified their sacred functions and
falsiAed their recorded vows.
Then there are .'consecrated lies in the
pews. There are thousands who are enrolled
in the Christian churches who have declared
they are devoted TO the cause of Christ su-
premely, but whose conduct writes false
hood over their profession. They contract
debts never intending TO pay them. Grocers,
taiIors, milliners, landlords. shoe makers
dread these people more than the devil. These
people have but one conception of religion, a
means of getting to heaven when they die,
and theytry to rob satan of his just dues, and
Hades of their souls. They are dishonest in
life and would swindle beyond the grave
They are never known to relieve the poor nor
endure persecution for Jesus sake or bear
the slightest personal sacrifice. All such are
not consecrated verities but gross libels on
Christianity, and these modern liars are the
greatest hindrance 10 the growth, success,
and spread Of Gods kingdom among menI
There are ''consecrated lies' among the
doctrines and dogmas taught as Christian In
the pale of nominal Christiandom there are
thousands who have believed and cherished
pure fabrications- worshiped relics-and
adored saints. Divine sovereignty is made to
be little better than pagan fatalism. Human
agency is next presented so as to make man
supreme and sole arbiter OF his own destiny,
and Gods throne his footstool. There are
things which are false in every heart, in every
human creed. in every Christian church, and
these can be detected and purged only by the
light that shines from the lively oracIes of the
living God
Give the world to-day men of truth: let pull
pit, press, and platform ring only with the
truth; in Senate rooms and from the judicial
/ l,npob l.anipG countarc apd da-kc IF