The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-25


comes like those riches which kind
ness does not inform, like authority
untempered by the spirit of obedience
Like proud wealth and arrogant power.
Supercilious virtue also is deteStable
lt fosters in man traits and an attitude
provocative of / know not what. The
sight of it repels instead of attracting.
and those whom il deigns to distinguish
with its benefits feel as though they
had been slapped i'm tn, face.
To resume and conclude il is an
error to think that our advantages.
whatever they are. should be put To
the service of our vanity Each of
them constitutes for him who ENJOYS
il an obligation and not a reason for
Vainglory. Material wealth. power.
knowledge, gifts of the heart and mind,
become so much cause for discord when
they serve TO nOurish pride. They re
main beneficent only so long as they
are the source of modesty in those who
possess them
Let us be humble If we have great
possessions, for that proves that We
are great debtors; all that a man has
he owes to someone, and are we sure
of being able to pay our debts2
Let us be humble if we sit in high
places and hold the fate of others in
our hands; for no clear lighted man
can fail 10 be sensible of Unfitness for
SO grave a role. t.
Let us be humble If we have much
knowledge, for it only serves 10 better
show the vastness of the unknown. and
to compare the little We have discov-
cred for ourselves with the amplitude
Of that which we owe 10 the pains OF
others.
And, above all, let US be humble e
We are virtUOus, since no one shout
be more sensible Of his defects thar he
whose conscience is illumined, and
since he more than anyone else should
feel the need of charity toward evil
doors, even o. suffering in their stead.
a ND what about the necessary dis
A tinctions in Ife?" someone may
ask. 'As a result of your simplifica-
tons, are you not going to destroy that
sense Of the difference between men
which must be maintained if society
exists at alp"
/ have no mind to suppress distinc-
tiOns and differences. But ! think that
what distinguishes a man is not found
in his social rank, his occupation, his
dress or his fortune. but solely in him
self. More than any other our own
age has priCked the vain bubble of
purely outward greatness. To be some
body a L present it does not suffice TO
wear the mantle of an emperor or a
royal crown, what honor is there in
welding power through gold lace n
coat of arms or a ribbon? Not that
visible signs are TO be despised; they
have their meaning and use, but on
condition that they cover something
and not a vacuum The moment they
cease TO stand for realities, they be-
come useless and dangerous. The only
true distinction is superior worth. IL
YOU would have social rank duly re-
spected, you must begin by being
worthy of the rank that is your own,
otherwise you help 10 bring il into
hatred and contempt. 1t is unhappily
too true that respect is diminishing
among US. and il certainly is not from
a lack of lines drawn round those who
wish to be respected. The root OF the
evil is in the mistaken idea that high
station eXempts him who holds il from
observing the common obligations of
life. As we rise we believe that we
free ourselves from the law, forgetting
that the spirit of obedience and hui
mility should grow with our possessions
and power. So ii comes about that
those who demand the most homage
make the least effort TO merit the
homage they demand. This is why
respect is diminishing.
The sole distinction necessary is the
wish To become better The man who
strives TO be better becomes more
humble. more appTOaChable. more
friendly even with those who owe him
allegiance But as he gains by being
better known he loses nothing i'm dis
tinctiOu. and ne reapS the more respect
in that he has sOwn the less pride.