Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-20
RIDICULE.

COWARDLY RIDICULE.
By Rev. c. q. Wright.
"Whosoever shall say to his Drotn-
or 'Racca' shall be in danger OF the
council: and whatsoever shall say Ihou
fool shall be in danger Of hell hre."
Matt. 5: %.
RIdicule is an edged tool, satire u
deadly weapon, anu scorn may become
an accursed instrument. ,
These powers Of speech may be used
rightly to correct, heal n 10 save
but never to hurt, poison or Destroy.
The vast press, the multiplied facilities
of sneech and the ever-increasing forms
and methods Of art for the conveyance
and display of ideas, together WIN the
thousands Of educational lnstltutlons
and the wide ramifications of mag
ical modern delivery and transporta-
tion systems, have all Joined TO IN
crease enormously the power OF sat'lc
TO help or to harm. Therefore 1t shoulu
no used conscientiously. discreetly ana
m%ercifully. otherwise it is a coWardly'
pernicious and fatal weapon
Virtue and worth may be malileu
or slain as easily as vice Il
and misfortune. Adversely n misery
are all too often the pitiable victims or
the u~nspeakably cruel attacks o. LIE
satirist and the scorner.
What worse calamity could DC
brought upon sensitive women OF nigh
spirited men than to make them leei
that they are absurd or contemplate OF
! outcast or that they are mentally dlsor-
| 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, humiiia-
ton, disgrace, loss, grief, insanity, sui
eide.
A sensational but unfounded story In
the newspapers worked the professional
ruin of a young hero Of II or our wars
"a man Of loftiest attachments n
faultless life. The idle, mischievous
whisperings of a ships company made
to be overheard by Il sergeant as lie
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 l
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 mar makes
countless thousands mourn" Even
one such victim should sufficiently adj
monish us against this too prevalent
vice-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 tc
love our neighbor as ourself. TO think
to put ourselves in his place will serve
to guide US In the way of kindness to
ward our fellow being in all situations
Behold, 1 show you a terrible pic
ture: Jesus Knocked as a crazy king b!
brutal Roman soldiers; a filthy cast-of
robe is put on Him, to cover the blood!
stripes on His scourged back; a crow
OF thorns Is set on His head, a weet
Is gathered from the yard and places
In His hand and then with outlaws a n
insults these ruffians bow at His fee
In mock obeisanees and hail Him i
derlslve terms as king. Last they smit
and cuff the blessed sufferer and con
mand Him to prophesy-to name tn
offender. Not one brave voice raise
in protest, nor one hand raised to de
fend Him who was the most peerles
man OF his day. the most superb her
they had ever seen, and who was 500
to defend them and all the race wit
His life.
Let that sickening scene Of cru,
mocking stand before the shamed eye
Of all men as Gods rebuke to huma
rldicule.