The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-25
F. L.. and 7.

It is seldom we come across any
better expressions on the subject OF
Truth the cardinal virtue of Odd
Fellowship, than the following from
the pen o. ine editress of Harpers
Bazaar. The lady is evidently an Odd
Fellow, though she knows it not:
1.-The truth, the whole truth and moth
ing but the truth is demanded of a
witness upon oath in court of JUS
tice, but outside the precincts of the
law is it needful, is it discreet, is it
really fair to ourselves or to others
to be entirely unreserved in telling
everything that we know or think CT
feel? Toute verite nest pas bonnie
dire is maxim of the nation distin-
guished for it's tact and polished man
ners, and whose language is chosen
for the common medium of European
diplomacy In English we have the
equivalent in The truth is not to be
spoken at all times" while from the
other extreme of humanity comes the
sllrewd and pithy proverb of savage
race, Truth is only spoken by strong
man or a fool 1t is that particular
verify which would do harm were it
uttered that must be wrapped in 81
lence and the man who ventures on
the rashness of unbridled speech
should be prepared to boldly face the
consequences of his indiscreet words,
or to take refuge in the privileges
contemptuously accorded to weak in
tellects.
while the obliga ton to speak moth
ing but the truth is necessarily bind
ing upon all, yet it is not tampering
with the integrity of the sovereign
virtue to suppress it altogether if its
disclosure would make trouble or
cause needless pain. There are many
well-meaning but none the less mis-
chef-making people to whom this will
seem a pernicious idea, tainted with
the doctrine of mental reservation,
with which it really has no more in
common that it has with the half
truths that are often more dangerous
than unblushing falsehoods For they
have horror of all reserve and are
unjustly suspicious of it as we'll; and
deeming reticence a sin against the
unwritten laws of love and friendship,
they exact condolences from their in
Inmates, thereby losing the charm and
sweetness of spontaneous revelation
Plain speaking is upheld by them as a
positive duty and they pride them
selves on the frankness which charac-
terizes their speech; but they are
neither candid nor impartial. for a, GER
tain queer bias of mind inclines to
them to ascertain the truth in it's dis
agreeable phases only, and they for
bear to mention beauties or excellen-
ces, and refrain from repeating pleas
ant sayings. So, after all, it is not the
whole truth, despite their boasting.
In striking contrast to these over
righteous people are natures so ardent
and self-deceptive that they seem in
capable of speaking the truth except
by accident. They bewilder their own
minds so thoroughly that they end bv
believing their widest inventions, and
the condition of their mental atuos-
pheres and horizons is best described
as mirage" the term applied by Dau-
d6t to the too imaginative temperament
of his compatriots of the south of
France. Brilliant, untrustworthy and
perplexing as they are, they possess an
element of carless good nature and an
odd sort of kindness which keep them
from being intolerable, even after they
have forfeited all respect for their
word
Between these two extremes, and
equally removed from either, is the
right way-the way of a kind and loyal
heart which, out of the abundance of
its own goodness, speaks the truth in
love, and which proves its fidelity and
devotion quite as much by it's silence as
by it's speech. Reserve has a peculiar
charm for these sweet natures, and
WITH d IuN CONSCIOUSNESS OF possessing
delicate sensibilities, they wisely for
bear to make them as good as indeli-
cate by trusting them forever in your
face" This self-respect leads naturally
to respect for others, and believing that
the closest intimacy does not justify a
demand for unlimited confidence, they
await in patience the voluntary unfold
ing of the mind and progress Of those
whom they love, while they refrain
from the criticisms and harsh iudg-
ments which their intimate knowledge
of the faults and failings of their
friends would SO perfectly enable them
to make. Truthful and transparent,
there is such depth to their nature
that it can never be fully sounded, nor
does their companionship ever weary
us with sense of safety; but for
friends possessing such exquisite re,ti-
cence, such refined consideration, our
love and respect grow ever fonder, ever
stronger, as the days and years are
made lovelier by their affection, and
the rough ways smoothed by their dis
cretion.'
The Forum.
Salt Lake Forum No 6G2 which holds