The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-07-20
Stra < it!orw archess
Communicated

at teaches man how to die +" ri,
might have added, and also how to live
The earliest and noblest conception.
that ever existed concerning life and its
duties we owe TO the Stoics. These
have never been surpassed. so that most
-oi our best moral ideas to-day are the
fruits OF their philosophy. Pythagoras,
at is said, devided virtue into two parls
to seek truth and to do good but the
S.oics were more active with the former
than with the latter. II is our moral
duty to follow truth, regardless Of
consequence, wheresuever it leads
Truthfulness is the highest test O
character, and when we add the doing
of good to the seeking after it. we attain
She greatest moral excellence. We are
then veracions in thought and deed
ready to follow evidence "even to the
anost unwelcome conclusions" and to
''io right whatever may happen. Sayages
ale normal liars. Veracity is the pro-
duct Of civilization, and especially of an
industrial civilization. The law of truth
so powerful inculcated by Greek
philosophers among n comparatively
,non-industrial people, IL one of the
ssnarvels of history. Melineval crcGuity,
however, with the legends and forgeries
vof the early Christian Church, and the
universal lying that followed, obscured
the rational teachings of the sloics, and
lie based the moral character of Europe
To lie was praiseworthy, provided
religious purposes could be served there
spy. There was Il slight renewal OF the
aove of veracity when cnivalry was the
mode, but this was chiefly confined the
Knightly class. To tell a lie was OPP
'posed to the VOWS of knighthood, but
any lie might, notwithstanding, be re-
'ceived as truth. Cbivalry was merely
temporary fashion, and knew nothing
sof philosophy. The ReiorMation was
produced from love OF truth and the
spirit OF tree inquiry as much as from
.the abuses Of the Roman Catholic
Church, and from the time of its in =
'ception, truth and the love OF truth and
=of scientific research. have distinguished
protestant countries throughout the
world. But, on the whole, wherever
theological dogmas are concerned, we
are obliged to believe with the great
German historian, Herder, when he |
asserted that the phrase "Christian
deserves to rank with the
phrase "Punic faith " The Romans
are pre-eminent for their truthfulness.
Tbey admired good faith, and practiced
straightforwardness as a rule, and the
lessons OF the Stoics produces great re
suits. Rome was feared for it's strength
and respected for its honesty. With the
decline OF fidelity to engagements of
dove and truth, its power declined also.
For they who had scorned the baseness
of "Punic faith" became themselves as
false and unreliable as the Cartha-
genians.
AZ we analvse society into it's various
classes, we shall see that there is still
abundant room for an increase OF
straightforwardness. We will try
few.
Take parents first. II there are any
to whom, above all others, they should
be straightforward, il should be to their
children. These require the fullest
sando1r OF treatment AZ wei. as care.
But how frequently are their innocent
questions, which are ali-important to /,
Them, put of by subteriuge or down
right falshood? The mind of the child
for information, dark and de-
string enlightment, hungry for mental |
Iood, is poisoned at the outset of lts !
by it's own misguided '
parents. IL asks for bread, they give it c
stone for fish and they give il q
'erpant. Or they stife their offspring's /
enquiries by replying, Little children e
must not ask so many questions" But 6
how long will that hard falsehood re- q
aair 'dead-weigbt upon the child's I
'oul? How long will the eerpant os
aasN ..,..l 4 H.. n