The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-12-12
HOW FAR May VIZ JUDGE

HUN "a -
Judge not, that ye be not judged, y
ia IN mi motion often quoted. In q
.ansa we ought to obey it. We may
not psr MS ours Ives tt judge one
another unfairly or even uukindly,
Int there is a sense in which we can
not help Judging each other. We inev
i5ably form opinions OF the character
snd conduct OF other people. To do
his is to ldge them. 1t is equally in
evisabl9 that sometimes we express the
onia!ors which We have formed Again
and again il Is not only proper but de
sirabsa and US ful TO give expression to
such continents. Sometimes a friend
sszz for q c7Lf iential opinion Of this
or that parso1, ia order to determine
whether or not to enFec into close re
lsyi7ns. perhaps 10 business, with him.
Sometimes we see an acquaintance
gradually falling under the Influence
Of another person, aud have reason
to believe this influence likely to be
c1mt powerful, and perhaps control
ling for good or i'll, aud are sure that
by a word of Communication or a
ton, the expression on our part OF q
Judgment, we may render q real ser
v.c2. Certainly we cannot deny the
propriety and at times the Christian
duty 10 ex2ress suca Judgments.
Blu We must distinguish carefully in
regard 70 them. 1; is q wrong done to
ourselves as veil as to others concerned
waen ve ufre- Judgments inpertecsly
based, IA tIg formed, or unfairly, or
ev.n uu-fsalF, expressed. Too great
e-gr5l handy is possible IN this mat
---. re nazd 10 remember that the
v.-.s ~ CT we utter hardly ever con
VIZ .l hin Who hears TEN precisely
1- meaning w1iCl We intend TO
ID them We need to De very
.- Z. I-5ssy 1nlg cha5 which We mean,
-.- g. man only tna5 which we can
=--E 0-. ana 20 utter wEas Re say and
mean aita a Gle arness HhIch shall rem
Or our intent ulmisgakaOle. DJu0ie
cgI in d no3assary w1en we feel
call. UPON to express an adverse opin
l5a Of any ons. We ought 10 be sure
!l4s ~ uldsr5sand su3l a p9rsOl we'll
enough to be assured that the facts
whiel have sha ped or estimate Of him
have been Characteristic and not mere
Is acc.d ntal.
Probably most of us have experienced
the feeling Of pain, lot co say bitterness,
du9 to haYing learned Of soma unkind
or u1j lst opinion expressed about our
selves. Even when such an opinion
has a kernel of truth In it, we often
feel that a real wrong has been done
Us bz him who uttered it, and, if we
know that it is a mistaken opinion, we
feel that the injustice does not lack
an element Of cruelty. Those Of us by
nature imoulsive need to be especially
or our guard It is our temptation
both to Judge ard TO express our jldg-
uents without suh ,ient care. It is
true that there is a I'M to speak as
we'll a. a time to be silent We may
utter our Judgments OF each other
when we have reason to believe that
Flare il need Of utteranc9, when a re
buzz has been fairly earned, when
a warning will be timely, or when
g. 90 general estimate Of character
needs 10 be pointed bY PERSONAL aliu
=5a. But re never my fail 10 JUG
.sz one another to exhibit the divine
-..rI.y uhi,n hoOetn all things and
a. sIi q love. h who REMEMBERS
..- n.s .demonts ought to DC formed
= ssed for the good both # Dim
81 .1ged, SO far as they ever may
.a nsm ard Of him to whom they
made kro N, and MT as mere ex
.1oz o. opinion, occupies the right
. .5n and viii id DIS jIdments re
ii a rust worthy and helpful
-ClereK2ti .nalisG.