Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-23

Leads mankind up 70 heights supreme and
Oh. that the world could see aud under
stand,
The query is put TO me: How can
we love our uelgnbor aS ourselves. If
our neighhor is all that is unlovahle.
aggressive, diSagreeabIc. immoral. Of
fenSive!"
This is conundrum which has vexed
my own soul many time
10 encounter people whom il is inn
possible 10 love in any degree i n posi-
I'VE pam, since in loving and admirins
Sod haudiwork lies the greatest Of
life's Joys.
Fortunately, most people possess some
l9Iable quality. or at least some admir-
able trait
Early in life began to look for that
qu0hty in each individual Ii was
selfish motive, possibly. which actuated
me, since TO admire and love was an
agreeable sensation; to dislike, IA painful
one
The habit of seeking for the lovahle
has afforded me much interest in hu-
mainly and much pleasure in association
with my KIND. Yet the problem pro-
pounded IN tile initial query of this ar
ucle has remained a difficult one to solve.
1t seems 10 me the most we can do in
our efforts to live UP 10 the divine. in
and sympathy for the utterly diSa gree
able and unlovable beings whom we en-
counter along life'S pathway, instead If
allowing dislike and hatred 10 dominate
our minds.
If we pause TO consider the subject
dlspa SSionatcly we will realize thar no
sane human being wishes 10 he diSa gree
able and unlovable
1t is misfortune, brought on 10y per
and accentuated 10y habit
Once We realize this truth we, will he
sorry for the person We have been in
Clined to ahhur
And pity We know. is akin TO love.
ne next step in our own Self-deyelop- !
ment Is 10 make an effort to illustrate |
the benefit and happiness of being agree
abie toward our disagreeahle neigh Dor |
l ms Is more easily recommended in |
print than achieved in conduct When !
your "nelghbor' cntertainS YOU by telling /
you all the unpleasant gossm or mali |
clous remarks she has heard about you |
II Is difficult to bring yourself into Il !
state of mind To heap Goals of fire upon /
her head by paying her compliments |
ct, II YOU can conScientiuuSly tell her |
a pleasant thing about herself. il is liza !
bic To work more of Il reformation than |
any angry sarcasm ON your part would |
do.
Just SO the soft answer turneth away |
wrath and brings shame to the uncon. |
rolled mind To show generosity to- /
ward the mlSerly, gentlencSS toward the |
violent. charity toward the uncharitable I,
and unSclhshneSS toward the selfish. is /
nm active method of trying to love our /
neighbor as ourselves
1t is not an easy task. Ii is much east |
or to adopt religion or crcedS and |
forms, to make long prayers in church. /
to give large sums to charity ~ say Il |
believe to lac solemn on sunday. and |
from Monday 10 Saturday to indulge |
every impulse toward criticism back |
biting. personal grudgcs and dislikes. |
than To repeat. Il believe my sins are |
redeemed on the deathhed. and die an |
ilclpatln& Il life of glory. This is Il pou- |
Mar and pleasant religion.
But II Is not the religion a the Golden |
Rule. nor ot the COmmaHd TO ''loyr Cod I
with al Honr heart and your neighbor Us /
The former is the religion of our pres I
ent forms OF civilization: the religion of
competition and 'huStlng business /
Methods. The latter is the religion Of /
brotherhood. socialism and altruism.
One requires Il few hours in the week /
the other the continuous effort Of Il life
time and 4 constant WatchfuneSS of self |
No great height. geographicil mental /
or spiritual, is attained by one Sustained /
attempt. We must climb, stumble fan
and try again and again.
The highest possible spiritual altitude
is that reached by the soul who can
truly say. Il love my ucshhor. all NV
neighhoIs. as myself
Though we cannot yet say ii Cand who
can =, we may at least strive To treat
our nelghh0rS as We would he. treated (
lnd To search for the admirable Qualities
m each forgetting as much aN possible
ne dlsagreeable traits. even as W.. would b
nave Our own forgottcn.-ElIa Wheeler
Wilcox III Philadelphia Evening BULB
in.