The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01

/ There is perhaps no greater obstacle
to intellectual, social, and religiouspro-
gress than prejudice. It no doubt has
| its uses as conservative force, in pre-
venting the human race from going off
at a tangent at reckless rate, but on
the whole it is an obstacle, not to say
an enemy to progress in all depart
ments of human development. The
word implies prejudging without q
hearing. 1t Is prepossessed state OF
mind in which there is strong bias
in q given direction without, as rule,
having looked at all sides of the case.
It is q state of mind in which we
are not open to arguments which
threaten or tend to change our opinion.
The prejudiced mind has formed an
opinion, which it holds as final and
conclusive, and which it would be
sacrilege, therefore, to alter or modify.
Prejudice is therefore, the child Of
selt-imposed ignorance. 1t is usually
strongest where the mind is weak and
narrow, yet it always poses in the
garb of reason, and assumes the serious
mien of thoughtfulness. Prejudice
may be honest, but as rule it is dis
honest. Some one has said "Pre-
prejudice squints when it looks, and
lies when it talks" A prejudiced
mind is usually buried in its own
conclusions, deaf to all contrary argu-
ment, blind to all further light,
impervous to all entreaty. 1t lives in
the atmosphere OF egotism, assumes to
know all that may be known on the
subject, and arrogates to itself a
monopoly of superior wisdom. A
preiudiced man can never see any
reason for revising his opinions.
AS rule prejudice lives in the past,
though it Is not the eoclusive vice OF
the aged. 1t is extremely pessimistic
as to the methods and tendencies of
the present. Its paradise has been left
behind. 1t looks at the world of to-
day with the eyes of half century
ago. It takes no note of progress. To
its point of view all progress is back
ward. The old times were the best.
The old ways were the best. These
people are out of touch with the age in
which they live, out of sympathy with
the living, throbbing, pulsing, uplift-
ing present. Prejudiced people are
usually convinced by choice that the
world at present is going to the bad,
and that the Church is retrograding
because she is now and then adopting
new methods of work, organizing new
forces, utilizing hitherto latent resour-
ces of power.
Not only has prejudice harassed
progress in the world of thought,
but the religious world suffers untold
harm from it. Many a splendidly
| ooooo;-od o,1 tim aIxy apf orprioo ~ fho
Church has been thwarted by unreas-
oning prejudice. Some religious
minds are 80 constituted that they
look askance at everything new. Any
new departure in methods of Church
work is looked upon with suspicion.
New organizations called forth by the
Iexigencies of the time, and growing
naturally out of the developments ol
Church life, are stigmatized as wicked
because they are new, and If these
croakers who have not kept step with
the march of events could have Their
way the world would soon stop NOV
ling. Advocates of new ways Of doing
things are branded as heretics, traitors
dangerous persons. The wheels oi
progress are clogged by prejudices oi
bygone years. It takes much Chris
tian patience and grace to combat
prejudice. Sometimes it takes dash
of courage to break the lines of opposi.
ton, especially when the opposition
arises from pious prejudice, and preju'
dice in religious matters is always
pious. In fact it Is often case oi
being religious overmuch." 1t often
degenerates into sort Of piouls pedant.
ry, which cloaks itself in spiritual
pride. Pharisaical self-righteousness
is in such cases the very brllwark OF
the prejudice. Disregard for its mar
row notions Is branded as rank heresy
and a sure sign of an unregenerate.
wicked heart. Many good ching has
been crippled and crused by the power
of prejudice.
Such an attitude and state of mind
is utterly unchristian. Instead of be-
j ing Christian virtue, 1t is Cletestable
vice. It needs to be rooted out by the
grace of God. The prejudiced mind
needs to unbend under the warming
broadening influence of the love OF
God. To be true Christian is to be
progressive, honest, open to convic-
ton. The true diciple Of Jesus opens
the windows of his soul to all the light
there is In Gods boundless skies, and
seeks to keep step with Gods con-
quering hosts. From prejudice and
all narrow-minded bigotry, good Lord,
deliver us.