Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-09
BISHOP SPALD|NG
HEARD BY MANY.
He Preached at the St. Paups
Church on "Pub|ic
Opinion
REV. EDDY ON life AND LENT"
subject Treated Upon al Unitarian
Church--i,c,. Simpkin Addressed
Alien at Y. VI. G. a.

Bishop Saplding preached in 81.
pauls church yesterday morning, to
n large audience from the text, Matt.
VI, 15 THAT they may be seen Of
men,"
public opinion Is a great factor in
moldlng our lives; public or popular
opinion controls us IA the clothes we
wear, the foods we use, the books we
read; IN short, in all that goes TO make
up our daily lives Many OF us would
not think, or read. or be up 10 the
average standard Of goodness hut for
The spur of public opinion. Trans
fer this unqucstioned truth from the
realm OF mind TO the realm of society
and see what It does. IL spurs ua 10
maintain an average OF fashion, and II
Is good that II does, for men would
not be the clean, neat persons they
generally are but for the power OF
public or popular opinion which com
pels them to conform TO the higher
ideals.
This spur keeps us up; It brought
many of ms TO church today; II forces
~ to observe the amenities Of life, and
Up to Il certain popular mark because
we know then that we should onalyze
public opinion, find It's weak places
and strengthen them. II Il a scientific
fact that the better usages of life must
be maintained If good Is to grow
among men. We must check up opiu-
ion and see II II is real before we bow
to It's mandate. President Roosevelt
IS in the blazing avenue of public opin-
ion. It's fires keep him keyed up Ia the
highest ideals. Hence If the tendency
of public opinion is downward we
should know this and be independent
of Il. Unless we do this public opinion
will be a hurt and hindrance to high
moral life.
FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION
Environment determines character
very largely. but the soul that rises
above bad environment does not
count being seen OF men, but rather
being seen of God Clergymen are
kept good through force Of public
opinion. Men have set standard for
him. and he knows he must walk up
Ia II. II is a constant spur to him. The
drunkard and llbertine set their stand
ard in the opinion which enVironS
them, and cannot rise TO higher one,
rs no spur or incentive is there to
move them. The lower should check
up to the higher. Glasses associate
for mutual growth, and establish
mean and narrow standard of life.
Lawyers. doctors. cubwomen and
those who stay at home-the home
staying women, perhaps, leading purer
and nobler lives--still are In one COM
mon bond of narroWness
II believe men should join all pub
lie organizations. associations and so
cieties. The secret ones are philan-
thropic, therefore good. Social leagues
are excellent. We should all join the
local one and while making this beau
tiful city more beautiful we should
be lifting ourselves to higher and
nobler plane. Humane societies are
excellent. In that they care for the
dumb brute, and make men better for
having minlstered to helpless animals.
Thus healthy public opinion saves
MS from narrowness and mental and
moral deterioration.
DO BETTER; LIVE HIGHER.
Having said thus much in favor OF
public bpinion--tOo much perhaps
let us go back. this beautiful Palm sun
day, TO the Palm Sunday two thousand
years ago. when one lone man. in the
mad aclaim of public opinion, rode on
an ass. over palm branches and the
coats of the shouting multitude, into
Jerusalem. the Holy CITY, Public opin-
lon was against Him. but He cared
not for its mandate lie came to save
men and create true public opinion
Tor all ages. He established the fact
that the voice of the people Is not the
voice of God Jesus Christ was right
and the whole world wrong that day.
So the minority of opinion often Cnn
and does leaven the mass of public
opinion that moves ON a lower plane,
and forces II Up to the higher standard.
Martin Luther. centuries after, stood
before the malevolent men who accused
him. and casting all in the balance for
the right, said: God help me. / can
do nothing else He was one man
against the greatest human power
known, yet see the glorious results from
his life-workl Luther cared not 10 be
seen of men--he sought to work men
upward to God,
Deep down IN al our lives are evil
thoughts and the sin that does SO easily
beset us. 10 be seen OF men we con-
form IN n measure to public opinion
and yet are mean and sinful at heart
We should be brave and work up TO no.
bier standards We should not be sat-
isiied with the applause of men. These
people who come among us today are
seeking power to rise TO the highest
attalnable level. 7 propose we all try
to do better and live higher. Ask our
selves what does God think OF me? Re-
member that no half truth can stand in
Gods presence. Such thoughts Will
make us dissatisfied with our average
and spur us above H."
Following the sermon, the rite of con-
frmstion was administered to 81 capdi-
dates, the largest class In the history
of the local church.
Ar MEMS MEETING.