The Washington herald., 1909-05-30
sy THE ePrTsrIsr.

godlike as justice, says Addison IN the
Guardian. To be great and godliks is q
pretty big aim for mortals TO take. but
I; is not wholly impossible Of attainment
Unless We aim high. as our optimists
pointed out last Sunday. We cannot hope
TO achieve anything that IS worth while
Ta be just. then, Is the aim Of every
one who has the correct idea OF what
makes good men and women, Of what
goes to form upright citizens. and OF
what eventually leads 10 happiness and
clear conscience. And yet. my fellow
optinists, how hard it Is TO be certain
that we play fair. Perhaps no enc IS
better fitted TO realize the struggles one
has with conscience and the influences
that are against right living than you
optimists. AS for myself, I appreciate
keenIy the tendency which we have 70
hastily judge our fellow-men- II is far
easier to criticise than to help. and il is
easier 20 judge wrongfuIly and 10 con-
demn than It Is TO investigate the truth
and suspend Judgment until a fair esti-
mate can be formed
You may do your neighbor a cruel In
justice by judging him from the outward
signs. Unless we are IN close sympathy
with him we cannot know what is going
on in his heart. We have no way OF
knowing his struggles. his ambitions, his
disappointments. his joys. His actions
may belle his thoughts simply because he
IS poHeTless to give expression 70 RIs
best impulses, OF perhaps it may be that
you yourself are at fault and cannot draw
him out as he deserves. The injustice
OF hasty judgment IS so far reaching that
we cannot afford TO indulge in it all, but
rather seek 10 play fair and trust to OuE
best instincts when We are tempted 70
cTiticise and condemn.
And then. my friends who is It that
makes Us the judges Of our neighbors2 i
IS our i1ty. and It lies amply within Oul
power 20 help one another and to do what
We can 70 improve one another's lot II
lie But IL is an Old. old truth that We
should remove the beam from our owr
eye before trying 10 pluck the mote from
our neighbor's. and none among Us is sC
perfect that ne can afford to judge hi:
neighbor unless he Is certain that he /:
fair and unpreiudiced. and then our con-
clUsion should be based only on absolute
knowledge, for, as Froude says, Justice
without wisdom IS impossible"
Be wise and YOU viii be Just DO unto
others as you would that they should dc
unto YOU IS. indeed, a golden rule. Al
optimists want 10 play fair. and they
want 10 see the world play fair Il IS
part OF our optimistic trend. fellOW-mem-
berS. 10 seek the betteTment OF the world
IN this respect II the enforcement Of tht
golden rule depended upon optimists. how
many Of you could fairly and squarely
say that he IS just7 I hope you will no
relax your efforts 20 bring about a lov'
OF justice and fair play among those witt
whom you come in daily contact, for thi
is one Of the duties Of your pledge as a.
optimist- You cannot help yourself o.
your neishbor OF DO your share towar'
the general uplift unless you play fair
Justice Is a rany-sided virtue. The at
titude Of justice 70 others. which "
preach and Try 10 practice as Optimists
IS not all that We have 70 remember
connection with this subject The Tu
seeker after the truth and the best thing
IN life cannot fail 10 overlook that neces
sity for justice 10 ones self, which goe
50 far toward making Is men and womei
This does not necessarily mean selhshnes
or looking out for number one" which
By the way, Is the more selfish OF all can
phrases. but II means a regard for II
value Of introspection-for self-study. Tn
advantage IN knowing ones self Is inesti
mable. for how else are We 20 develop on
best trlits? How else are We 10 live "
10 our pledges as optinists unless "
study and develop our tendencies for tn
best and do as much as we can tOwar,
snOthering that which IS base OF IN
worthy
You have made a splendid showing wit
your contributions this week. and 7 founl
It very difficult 70 award the prizes. L
fact. 90 TO press with the feeling tha
in spite OF the subject Of to-day, whicl
IS so broadening and uplifting. that
have not done Justice 70 every one OF you
There are times when I wish 7 had NOR
prizes 70 bestow; that every one Of 70
who have sent in something particular
appropriate and helpful might receive
substantial reward I am Cheere6. how
ever, by the knowledge that none Of 70
are working for the sake Of the prize
alone. but are earnestly sndeavoring I
place your best thoughts where they vi
do the most good. and where they vi
be read by those who are honestly seek
ing after uplifting ideas and helpfl
sentiments For you must feel. brothe
optimists. that you are doing some goo
IN sending IN these beautiful thought
every week. You viii appreciate. too. III
spirit OF fairness with which I approac
the difficult task Of selecting those to II
ceive prominence each week
Mrs. Isabel F. Barnes, Of I719 Fifteent
hos IN hla@r-@fFrrr 4-zf,
ton, the first verse OF The Pressed Ger
tan of John Greenleaf Whittier I hay
awarded this the first prize because it 1
q sentiment that is immortal. and CT
which particularly typi1es the thought
most wish TO convey 10 you all tO-del
that justice is Godlike. and the justice v
practice toward our fellOW-men more an
more brings Us into the fashion Of II
image:
But deeper meanings come to me.
Ny haif-immortal flower from theei
Man judges from z partial view.
None ever yet his brother knew;
The Eternal Eye that sees the whole
May better read the darkened soul.
And flud 10 outward sense denied
The flower upon its inmost side
I have given the second prize OF g
Mrs. Irene Thomas, OF LangdOn. D.
for this selection:
The Just man IS not the product Of
day. bus OF long bTooding and painfl
birth. To become 4 power for peace
man must first pass through experience
which lead him 10 see things IN the
different aspects. Il is necessary that y
have q wide horizoA and breathe varior
atnospheres In q word. from crossing
one after another, paths and points {
view the most diverse. and sometimes II
most contradictory. he must acquire II
faculty Of putting himself IN the place {
others and appreciating them. These col
ditions are realized for the Christian
the course OF the profound experienC
z5aich is called conversion or reSeners
ton. Here, then, IS the heart Of the ma
Ter. From this source spring tbs Ivtr