The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-23

Photograph by Olive Studio.
THE REVEREND JESSE X BRENNAN.
OF St Marks Episcopal Church. who thinks
an untruth never tustifiable.
Twain has tried his hand in this field. but
We have long learned not take him serious
ly, even when he tries to be serious: lately
We have had similar ideas aired in the
newspapers.
There may be circumstances that al
leviate the sin and soften the 5everity OF
our condemnation for any broken moral
law. but what law. human or divine. could
stand II 1t were ever admitted as prin-
ciple that the stress OF circumstances was
sufficient to nullify It?
STANDARD OF DUTY.
Many a Christian martyr went to the
stake when word OF disclaimer would
have set him free. We may have fallen on
less heroic days, when some Christian min
listers feel they would be tempted TO falsi-
fy for far less consideration but let not
such timd souls proclaim that the measure
Some defend falsehood by imagining what
the world would be II all went about tell
ing every idle thought Of their minds and
every unsought opinion about their fellows.
This is mere carcature of truth-telling.
which is limited by the practice of other
virtues and by our incapacity often to con-
vey our truth to others
We are not constituted. for example. the
moral judges of other peoples acts. except
United States tells It's opinions when asked.
and about matters that come under its
Jurisdiction Ii is not called upon to roam
over the world. fitting a lance against
every windmill OF apparent wrong So We
are not in position to pass final Judgment
on much that lies outside the little circle
of our own duties
IF we are to speak only truth that will
be the strongest restraint against running
to our neighb1r with every half baked
opinion about his shortcomings and de-
fects. For how shall know such opin-
ions to be the truth? Even Christ refused
to be a judge between two brothers in
n tVh. III 70 riot In hot
such matters lay beyond his province.
Nor does truth compel US to renOunce
the ordinary courtesies of society. We ex.
press kindly interest in the welfare Of
our friend and his family. Is this false
press the kindly wish?
I'VE are not called upon to speak when
our thought would be sure of misconstruc-
ton. We need not cast our pearls before
swine. We are limited in speaking truth
by the recipients capacity to receive 1t.
Christ said 10 his very disciples that he had
many things 10 tell them which they could
not bear then. There was no insincerity In
this.
POINT OUT SHORTCOMINGS.
persons sometimes come to you with a
sour face and tell you II Is their painful
duty to point out your shortcomings How
MANY feel the cali of duty to saw kindly
and cheerful and encouraging things? Yet
is not the one duty as clear as the other?
ways a Cassandra speaking dOIeful rrcphe-
cies? Nay. tell the happy truths as well.
We may close with three rules for truth
telling: First. tell the truth when asked
for 1t or say nothing. Persons are hungry
and thirsty for truth and how often they
are fed with the husks of a falsehood or a
fattery. Especially tell the truth to the
dying when they ask for II. They have a
right to know when they are facing the
great change. II they wish 1t. Our genera
ton is missing one of its most powerful ex-
periences in sending persons into the world
of the hereafter under the influence of mar
cctics.
This is done a. much because tho living
shrink from these tragic experiences as
because we wish to save the departing from
pain. But the beautiful soleninity Of de-
parting lives is needed in 4 world too much
given over to frivolty. And many a selfish
man might experience q change Of heart in
the presence of the Kings messenger and
save his soul alive by some great final act
of justice and generosity.
DO not repeat what you hear unless con-
WINGED of It's truth. and not then IL 1t will
injure rather than bless Sometimes wrong
deeds. like putrefying sores. need the hight
to heal them. but sometimes We need to
walk backward and cover our neighbor's
shame. Tell the truth to yourself about
yourself Self-jeception is sometimes the
worst form o. falsehood.
selfish or lazy practices. That Is insulting
God after you have injured him. Be truth
full within. and that light will shine out
to kindle other lives and tighten many dark
places"