The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-09-14


Mrs Hamilton tapped her gavel will
vigorous strokes on her desk as she crieC
out: Lrdies, come to order. 1t is Il
o'clock Remember we are pledged L
a punctualiiy to the stroke Of the clock
Mrs. Montgomery will be the essayist o.
the day. No gaping or whisperings be-
hind fans, ladies. Remember our motto
"Do unto others as you would have them
do to you" That rule is the true spirit
of religion, universal and all-embracing
Mrs. Montgomery--My My subject today
ladies, is
Tell the Truth. "
1t appears impossible to tell the truth
today in society. Society demands SUI
gar, while the truth is an acid not OF &C
ceptable taste. 1t is a society privilege
20 condone vice and call einners by The
qualifications OF names that enshrin'
sin in a misty interprs alton OF no per-
atty. no condemnation. Society CALI
Boni de Castellaine (whom Anna bought
with the millions of her father, Jay
Gould), a gentleman OF nobility. III
has spent nine millions of Anna Gould'i
money in their elk years Of married life
and owes four hundred thousand dollarI
in common debts Of purchase. The truth
is that Boni de Castellane is a man with.
out one degree Of honor, a cheat, 8
scamp, a swindler who, if just sentence
were imposed, would be,a prisoner in q
French Jail.
They say that mind, intellect, is the
architect Of for unes, OF honor, OF laurel
wreaths Of glory. This 10 not true.
Men of mind and characters cannot
subordinate their intelligence, their
sense of honor, to the conditions ol
finance that permits a man who begins
Oh nothing TO accumulate a fortune OF
while he sits at desk figuring
and planning campaigns ot railroad,
etock or trade aggrandizement OF heart
less consumption. Intellect to the bor-
derland of genius is today in the
of the opening twentieth cen
turies OF poor wages. Men study and
delve into science to benefit man and
the marts and ways OF life aud trade.
Some OF these men are inventors, some
college professors, students turning the
Of brain intelligence into jewels
whose radinace of truth will illuminate
the world with new light, q new
strength. Some are writer's of deep
reason and graceful diction; some are
artists; some are journalists, bat few Of
them receive the salary of the popular
ballet dancer, the comic opera singer,
the prize-hghter, the champion high
kicker and even the well shaped womaa
who can neither sing, dance nor act,
who struts the stage.
We Americans say We are democratic
IN principle. That is not true We
owe royalty, we love TO make believe
We are of royal decent; that we are
,ristocrats in birth ii not in money.
We are willing TO cTinge and be the eyc-
)phants Of millionaires and their wive'
We boast OF our coat t-of.arms, and often
)uy crest seal TO stamp our letters
with, when, in truth, our mothers were
humble seamstresses and our fathers
me dollar.a.day laborers We say we
lon't care for society and society people,
Ind the first thing we do on Sunday
il to read society notes and tell
Df the lace petticoats of society people
lnd their dinner diAhes II a society
goman's carriage comes to our door in
,am paign OF begging donations for
church, asylum or sending some well-to.
10 mans daughter TO Europe to com.
)lete her musical education we are all
IA flutter of delight, and We do really
rope that our neighbors have peeped
through the blinds long enough TO see
hs carriage and Mrs. Money. We are
luite sure not to forget to mention in a
,areless, casual way TO all our friends
md acquaintances, Mrs. Money called
IN me Tuesday" carefully omitting to
tate "Mrs. Money came as beggar."
We say that we are not superstltious,
We are not creed slaves. This is not
rue. We are We believe that burn
ny candles, pictures and printed prayers
ire the path guides that lead TO heaven
1--WE are not superstitious," 1--WE are
rot creed slaves" cried out many differ
mt pitched voices Of indignant intona
ion.
Mrs. Hamilton tapped her gavel aud
'alled out;
Ladies, no interruptions will be per-
nitled. Questions and prOtestations
will be in order at the termination of
Mrs. Montgomery's assertions,
Mrs. Montgomery smiled swestly at
he protesting members, and continued,
IN nectar.sweet voice: Ladies', you
iay that you are not superstitious, that
you are not creed bound then every
lime you 90 ilto your church you are
lypocrites, liars. The priest, the minis
ers preach 10 their congregations ac-
,ording TO their demands. lie cannot
preach above your creeds, he cannot
condemn any tenet OF your creed,
whether il hurls a babes soul 10 = hell
4 everlasting fire or takes twelve
ime murderer with a gallow's repent
nee into heaven on angels wings, with
herubs playing the harp Of welcome for
ne repentant sinner who has entered
hs golden gates of heaven. Now,
aides, l want to ask you honestly, do
ou believe in heaven and hsll2 Do you
elieve that your baby goes 70 hell with
ut sanCtiteatiOn, and the murderer
oes TO heaven with sanctiiicatiOn2 |
wait your citation Cf opinion at the
lose OF my address. We would not be
rue to a sense OF truth and justice II We
nyOlved priests and ministers in this
OF thought, for let us tell
he truth: We know they preach TO
arm their salary, and not what they
eally think. In things pertaining 70
iod, 10 nature. let us all have faith and
ope, but still let Us say that this is not
rue, when a church creed is tsbulated
$ God's law of love and heaven. Sure
y We are too small, too Unite, 10 know
he infinite.
We say any one can see within our
zones cur lives. This 10 not true. Ii
he roofs could come off our homes sud
Ienly, il our lives were open books Of
,asy reading, NO would bow our heads
n shame and humiliation, for that
-hfch upa claim ia pleau il often mclean