Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-07-27
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himself into asserting convictions that
have not gripped his heart, or who
loudly proclaims virtues he does not
practice, is sealing himself to the doom
of all liars, that his life itself should
become one dark, black lie, his soul
forced to go on singing the songs Of
paradise while it still sinks deeper and
deeper into the mire of perdition.
Let a man beware how he falls into
the habit of substituting coats for char
acter, shibboleths of holiness for the
substance thereof. The love of the ap
probation of others, the demands of So
ciety, the possibility of turning an hon
est penny out of holy pretense, may
all easily lead man into the path of
the living lie; many are the ways into
it, but few there be VINO come out into
truth again.
Self-conceit is the consequence of de-
ceiving others, and a deadly conse-
quence it is. A man ceases to discern
the nature of his hypocrisy; his dark
ness seems to be light. He mistakes his
simulated sanctity for that which
springs from chastened spirit and a
pure love. So long has he fed him
self on the husks of pretense that he
has forgotten the clean and nourishing
grain Of reality. The stimulation Of
emotions or of virtues benumbs the fin
est sensibilities and robs life of its
keenest joys.
If these hypocrltes be nominal relig-
ious leaders, how heavy Is their respon-
sibility, how dark the day when the
lights emit darkness. Men judge rellg-
ion by its fruits. If your protestatlons
of devotion do but increase your heavy
heartedness, or, worse yet, do but serve
your shiftiness and double dealing, you
have by your falsehood built barrier
against the entrance of truth to your
neighbOr's heart.
Yet few are in greater danger of par
alyzing the good they have by pretend
ing to that they do not possess than
those who adopt religion as a profes-
sion. They are tempted to proclaim for
others planes of living they have seen
only afar off as though they were al
ready walking ON them. They are
tempted to pose as martyrs, to serve the
truth by living lie.
You can never give to others the
truth, the moral impetus or the soul
uplift you do not have yourself. Many
a sermon, though freighted with elo-
quence, comes empty to the heart of the
hearer because it carries nothing from
the heart, the secret place of lfe's
verities. But when men find the man
who, standing in the pulpit or by the
wayside, tells them the things of his
own life, that which he knows and feels
so deeply he can no longer be silent
they listen, and no matter how rudely
or inelegantly the truth be told, they
feel and thrill, soul answers to soul
they hasten to obey.
If you would be light to others let
your own light shine; one little candle
may lead the traveller while the gaudy
painted pretense but casts a shadow or
his path. The size of your virtues is
of less Importance than their sincerity
their clearness, and light.
The good we, have is too valuable t.
be spoiled by turning the whole life in
to lie in the effort to be credited will
the good we envy. If you cannot grow
great, luscious palms you may still keeI
fresh and beautiful your modest dai
sizes; they are worth more to you ant
to weary world that sees them from
its dusty highway than the longest ant
most alluring vistas of painted palms.