San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-26
OTHERS MISTAKES.


There are some very uncomfortable
people in this world who go through
q it with the false impression under
8 their hat bands that they were born
and educated for the very and express
purpose of correcting the mistakes of
s other people. 1t is for the benefit of
these mistaken souls that this SER
( mon is delivered. The Light preacher
does not underyalue, nor underrate,
the high minded conscientiousnes of
those who deem it their duty to cor
Z rect whatever mistakes they detect in
the speech or actions of others, but he
has noted how exceedingly uncom-
Portable such people make themselves
: and their neighbors and friends and
acquaintances, and is moved in the
course of his ministry to denounce it
as unnecessary and unpleasant also.
a mistake is not a crime, and it is
not therefore necessary to call atten-
{ ton to- it every time it is made. A
is merely wrong take,
t3King \the wrop side of whatever
3 is considal led, and therefore should
not be noticed as 4 rule, because that
which is the wrong and that which is
the right side of thing is merely
matter Of opinion. Where the mis-
take is not so much matter of opin-
, ion as matter Of fact, all the more
reason that it should pass unnoticed,
particularly if the mistake is made
the presence of others. 1t is not
bnly very unpleasant thing to be
corrected in public, to have your mis-
takes pointed out, it is very impo-
lite thing. 1t embarrasses the party
ebuked, shows you in an ungenerous
ght, casts shadow on the prevail
good feeling, and should not be in
ged in.
s a matter of fact it is of far less
prtance what your friend thinks
Il this or that, what correct or incor-
rect statements are made as to what
has occurred, than that the good feel
jug of you both and that pleasant
freedom which characterizes really
good society should be overloaded.
If it is not considered wise or best to
reprove children in public, much
more is it unwlse and improper to
correct the statements, or the habits,
or the speech of those of ripper years.
1t is uncourteous, for it exposes them
to unkindly criticism on the part of
the censorious; it is unwise, for it ex-
poses you to the charge of Self-con-
ceit; it is impolitic, for it mayfcost you
a friend whom you really esteem and
whose friendship is valuable; it is
dangerous, for it centers attention
Hpe~Fouf>6wn mistakes and exposes
you to sharp criticism.
But, the most serious danger of all
is the open door that it throws wide
to contention upon all possible and
impossible occasions. Opinion is in
dividual. Every intelligent man or
woman has fixed ideas upon matters
of religion, dress. social regulations,
personal habits, political parties, sex
relations, the proper and the improper
in morals and manners. These opin-
ions may or may not suit you. If they
do not, is it your place to rebuke
them and argue that those who hold
them are mistaken? Who is arbitra-
tori Who is to decide whether you
are the mistaken one or the other,
whom you rebuke? If that other is
of the same opinionatedness as YOUR
self. "a controversy is in order when
l~~iver either of you meet and pleasant
Intercourse between you or where
either OF you is present is no longer
possible. This is an evil.
Who has not known, particularly
those of us who have passed the crest
of Times Hill and are ON the wester-
ing slope. some community in which
1.-TWO of these verbal gladiators lived
2nd moved and - their following.