Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-31
CoWARDLY RIDICULE.
By Rev. c.. @. Wright.

By Rev. C. @. Wright. |
"Whosoever shall say to his broth
er Racca' shall be in danger Of the
council; and whosoever shall say Thou
fool shall be In danger of hell fire.
Matt. 5: %.
Ridicule is an edged tool, satire
deadly weapon, am scorn may become
an accursed instrument.
These powers of speech may be used
rightly to correct, heal and to save,
but never to hurt, poison or destroy.
The vast press, the multiplied facilities
of speech and the ever-increasing forms
and methods of art for the conveyance
and display of ideas, together with the
thousands of educational institutions
and the wide ramificatiOns of our mag
ical modern delivery and transporta-
ton systems, have all Joined to in
crease enormously the power of satire
to help or to harm. Therefore it should
be used conscientiOusly, discreetly and
mercifully. Otherwise 1t is a cowardly,
perncious and fatal weapon.
virtue anu WOIlu may Dc hioihSu
or slain as easily as vice and meanness
and misfortune Adversely and misery
are all too often the pitiable victims of
the unspeakably cruel attacks of the
satirist and the scorner
What worse calamity could be
brought upon sensitive women or high
spirited men than to make them feel
that they are absurd or contemplate or
outcast or that they are mentally disor-
dered, materially ruined or spiritually
lost? Day after day we see the results
of this idle mischievous fun or vicious
satire in the forms of terror, humilia
ton, disgrace, loss, grief, insanity, sui
eide.
A sensational but unfounded story in
the newspapers worked the professional
ruin of young hero OF one of our wars
"a man of loftiest attachments and
faultless life. The idle, mischievous
whsperings of a ships company made
to be overheard by sergeant as he
goes the rounds of the decks at night
serve to drive him insane. Persistent
ridicule on the part of his pernicious
comrades in camp worked the mental
wreck of a fine little bugler whom |
knew and loved. But examples like
these are without number, familiar to
us all.
Society. trade and politics turn out
victims of this order continually, and
their misfortunes proclaim again that
"man's inhumanity to man makes
countless thousands mourn" Even
one such victim should sufficiently ad-
monish us against this too prevalent
yice-the wicked use of satire. We
should avoid it because it is cOwardly
and cruel and because it Is so danger
ous-so very dangerous. 1t Is so often
aimed at the helpless and unfortunate,
whose condition or peculiarities they
cannot help, and which should make
them rather objects of compassion.
These are creatures for whom Christ
died. and whose presence in the world
entities them to place, consideration,
fellowship and the helpful word and
hand. Let us follow the maxim, Live
and let live"
Let us learn to "enjoy the imperfect
In a life that can never be perfect
and more earnestly to pursue the gold
en- rule and strive after the grace to
love our neighbor as ourself. To think
to put ourselves in his place will serve
to guide us in the way of kindness to-
hot in, oil eli
Behold, / show you terrible pic
ture: Jesus Knocked as crazy king by
brutal Roman soldiers filthy cast-off
robe is put on Him, to cover the bloody
stripes on His scourged back; crown
of thorns is set on His head, weed
is gathered from the yard and placed
In His hand and then with outlaws and
Insults these ruffians bow at His feet
In mock obeisances and hail Him in
derisive terms as king. Last they smite
and cuff the blessed sufferer and com.
mand Him to prophesy-to name the
offender. Not one brave voice raised
In protest, nor one hand raised to de-
fend Him who was the most peerless
man of his day, the most superb hero
they had ever seen, and who was soon
to defend them and all the race with
His life.
Let that sickenlng scene Of cruel
mocking stand before the shamed eyes
of all men as Gods rebuke to human
ridicule
THE HEALING OF THE NATION.
By Henry F. Cope