The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-08-07
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
HABITS AND PREJUDlCES DIS.
CUSSED AT LENGTH.
The Philosopher Calls Upon History
to Sustain His Deductions.


he was bundle of prejudises. It is
fair to say that his habits outlive his
prejudices. Mine have, know. NV
order of life. my daily routine, my
food and clothing, my time to go to
bed and to rise in the morning hold
me faster than they did thirty years
ago. Habit comes from the Latin word
''habeo," to hold-to hold fast. I
can't hoe or chop left handed. Un-
consciously L dress and undress the
same way every time and always put on
my left shoe first. When my good
friend, Major Foute, lost his right arm
in battle he was young and soon learn
ed to write with his left hand. If !
were to lose mine now l do not believe
L would ever learn to use my left. I
am too old and the habit has held me
too long. 1t is hard to teach an old
dog new tricks. Brutes are subject to
the same force. / had an old mare
who contracted habit of letting the
bars down to get into another field,
and she would let them down to get
out of good pasture into poor one.
But feel sure that have got over
some OF my prejudices. Daniel Web
ster told his people they had conquer
ed everything but their prejudices.
Nothing but old age and reflection
will conquer them. They are hard to
give up, for most of them are born
with us. Our religion and supersti-
ton and political faith, as n general
rule, are inherited. Like father like
son, like mother like daughter. If the
old man shakes piece of silver coin
at the new moon or makes cross
mark in the road when ho turns to GO
back, the son will do it, too. If the
mother will not begin garment on
Frida- the daughter will not. And so
it is with oUr religion. 1 am Pres
byterian because my parents were. I
could have Just as easily been n Bap-
tist If they had been. Or I could
have been Methodist or an Episco-
palian. 1t does not shock mo to sny
so now, and 1 hope it does not shock
anybody else. Sectarianism abounds
in prejudice Inherited more than nc.
nuired from rational methods. One
Christian faith is about as good as an
other if it suits the Christian. I would
not proselyte any of them ii / could.
[ would not disturb tho peace of
Methods! family by seeking to draw
away n single member of it to my
church. like my church not because
/ believe it to be the best, but from
'ong familiarity with its mode of wor-
ship. l feel more Mt home there. The
Presbyterian habit has got hold of me
just like the Methodist habit has got
holl CT Father Wikle. In fact, / be-
lievc q better service could 30 made up
by calling out the best things in all the
churches
For instance, the Methodist and
Episcopal communion service is more
solemn and impressive than ours, and
SO is kneeling and bowing in prayer.
The Episcopal church has too much
rising UP and sitting down-thc other
churches have too little. I would like
to see the Litapy adopted in all the
churches and hear every child Join in
the responses.
But of all prcjudices tho strongest
and most unreasonable are OF n politi-
cal nature. Political intolerance is
oot tempered or toned down by Chris
tian charity. Bitter pnrti"ans may
appear to be friendly, but ut heart are
enemies. When n prominent one dies
III, ,,,l;,;oI s i.,, r1 F. A..
n'' fo''tI"' r,I 'oe, 'n"ih 'o' ioi ."''
'n",n. n:, imo,c m |no c">t' 'ne oiiices
%''i use W., W. Minus oi hSp'cf'S. 10 se'
:,; .!',in M, hi'A'" inc nn"''er 80
i,"i'"'"uS 10 'hc ""so!"te ignorance o'
; no MASSES .I .; ':i'So p"t ''snnh c'.'ce,n IL
S '',e e'P'cS ~ 'nc'i P"i's,
"non D";t' i'unhc'' 'T iili' S'f"'Rn n,enc" ~,
up "n" s'''' ~" democrat ! DIS
'..."ne .Lr,n ~ I"a o'i'ov" from " ''','''"n 1
VIZ, o"'9 an over '''' "io''" '.",
"hat "ld he mean! am sure J ito