The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-02-26

NEEDLES with the Affairs OF others
I'm u Wrong Way.


Our own faults and failures would
supply, one would think. sufficient
pangs of penitence to occupy that part
of conscience which Is devoted to la
ment over shortcomings. Few of US
have reached that happy state of per-
lection in which we can give over re-
pentance. We have TO watch our own
conduct, guard against temptation, and.
when overcome. confess our sins TO our
Heavenly Father with heartfelt sorrow.
Conscience holds a rod TO check us when
erring and to drive MS in the right way.
should the kindly impulse of duty fail
to allure us; and when we reject the
rod, conscience becomes scourge to-
punish MS with remorse for our dis
obedience. This is task enough for cons
science.
But there are those who find this not
enough. Having sufficiently, perhaps,
deplored their own offenses, they ex-
pend large residuum of conscience in
deploring the offenses of their neigh
bors. Their conscience withdraws from
its primary function of guarding it's
possessor, and expends itself on the
shortcomings OF others. This is what
we mean by having vicarious con-
science.
yicarous conscience Is a perverted
conscience in it's triple function. A
legitimate conscience has three func-
tions. The first is purely intellectual.
IL decides what is right and wrong ac-
cording TO the best, often imperfect or
even erroneous, standards known To the
person. 1t may decide that self-murder
is duty, or the murder OF an infant
The second is imperative; IL commands
its possessor TO do what has been intel
lectually decided 10 be right, or not to-
do what has been decided TO be wrong
The third Is judicial; IL approves it's
possessor for having done what Mas
commanded, or disapproves him for not
having done II, In oil this the action of
conscience is purely subjective; il has
to do, In its first intellectual decision.
in its second imperative command, and
in its third approval or disapproval,
solely with the person whose conscience
Is acting. He decides for himself, COM
mands himself, approves himself.
%fO" viz 'iNhA Apho DtIFtIlA
each one OF these functions What
should be concerned with ones self is.
concerned with other people. The vica-
rious conscience makes constant and
positive decisions as to what other peo-,
pie ought to do; 1t puts an Imperative
upon them and insists that they shalt
do what IL requires; and then, when
they do not obey, IL reproyes and con-
dennis them. Conscience should look
inward, not outward; but the vicarious
conscience looks outward rather than
inward. IL is benevolence that should
do that, not conscience.
OF course the yicarious conscience
makes plumbers. Ii is itself blunder
and cannot help laundering. IL cannot
fully understand other peoples con-
victions, and cannot always tell what
they ought TO do, Besides, when it can
tell, il may blunder in uttering it's COM
mands. IL is generally well 10 assume
that other people, unless we as parents
or guardians are responsible for them.
know their own duty and will try TO DO
IT,; and when we are under obligations
to NEEDLE with the duty OF those whom
we may help, it can usually be better
done in delicate ways, by suggestion, or
indirectly through others, and not with
that brutal franlness with which ones
own conscience can speak to himself
A conscience which positively COM
mands others Is apt 10 be impertinent
and offensive. Such n conscience also
blnnders in It's approvals. and especial
ly it's disapprovals. II delights in nng-
ging reproof ms much as in nagging inc
sistence.
No doubt we have duties to set the
world right. No doubt we must put
down, even by law, evils and evil doors.
But this has to do, chiefly, with ac-
knowledged sins. Not parents and
teachers alone are obliged TO be the
keepers and the inspirers of their chill
dren's or their pupils consciences; but
we are each in way. gentle and
gracious way, our brothers keeper. We
are not our brothers jailer or watch
dog. ITO his own Master" says the
worlds Teacher. che standeth or
falleth;" and "why beholdcst thou the
mote that is in thy brothers eyeT 1t
was the yicarious conscience which our
Lord had in mind when He said:
Judge not, that We be not judged" Let
conscience, like charity, begin at home;
and, unlike charity. let IL be careful
how IL goes a-visiting.-N. Y. indie
pcndent