The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-11-13
THE EVIL OF DETRACTION.
Continued from Page

bles man in the eyes of his fellow man
to be trusted, of honor, virtuous God
fearing man, and men with those words their
lips take such by the hand glad of his friend
ship, proud of his comradeship but the detractor
steps in with the knife of hatred jealousy or re-
Venge, foully stabs that person in the most vital
part tears into shreds that beautiful painting upon
which men like to gaze-man's spotless reputation.
Oh, dear brethren just think of it. You had
friend whose character held in your eyes an
tainted and proud distinction You delighted III
the sunshine of his presence For you the grasp of
his hand meant worth for you, the cheer of his
voice meant comfort and hope, for you his word
sacred as an oath, around him you chung
as an oracle in every perpleXity The detractor
stole in and told you things in voice of conf
dence, voice just above a whisper, that your
friend was not all right. When you heard those
words Kissed forth by the serpent, the oily serpent
you walked away in and said nothing. The
detractor, the serpent again, wearing the
devils cunning robe. He Kissed forth his poison
again, and you heard not. He again, and
yet again, and God help US, we are all human very
human, the serpent at length poisoned your mind
and you have dashed to pieces the idol and very
center of your affections. The beautiful painting
of yours is no more. Oh! reputation, how beati-
full thou art precious than all earthly things
thou still so frail, so easily shattered.
'The most precious thing these mortal times afford
Is spotess reputation. That away,
Man is but gllded loan painted clay"
Reputation, reputation, reputation o, | have
lost my reputation! have lost the immortal spark
of myself, sir, and what remains is bestial.
In the New Testament we have, Dearly Beloved
Brethren, the preaching and teaching of our Di-
vine Lord and in that preaching and teaching He
unfolds for us his infinite loving heart, His mercy,
His care, His compassion for the children of men,
but stay, in that New Testament we find words
which seem strange. coming as they do from the
lips of an all mercifu God
Woe to Won. Scribes and PhariseeS hvno-
critics, because you 1.-THE mint, anice and cummin
and have left the weightier things of the law
Judgment and mercy and faith. Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, because you are
like to whlted sepulchres, which outwardly appear
to men beautiful but within are full of dead mems
bones and all flthness"
"You serpents generation of vipers, how will
you fee from the judgment of hellw
What did these scribes and Pharisees do to
draw forth from the lips of the Merciful Savior
such awful maledictions? All, they we're vile de-
tractors they passed judgment on their fellow be-
ing, and in his virtues they the depravity, in
his good purposes they only sinful aims and
holding up their hands in holy horror, they cried
out with all the of their black hearts "Away
thou unholy one, don't touch u.s." They were vile
detractors, they blasted their fellow beings rep
utation, and deprived him of his moral life The
maledictions pronounced upon them by our Divine
Lord were awful, but they were just, and the male
dictions apply to all detractors Armed with the
commission, the power and the truth of Christ
the Apostles went forth and the keynote of all
their preaching and teaching was charity and in
a voice strong the eternal hills they Numbered
forth these words: Judgment without mercy to
him who hath not shown mercy. The tongue of
the detractor, declares st. James, is fire a world
of iniquity, and aye, the words of Soloman are as
true today when he uttered them in the ages
past.
'1he detractor is the abomination of men," Up
from the malarial swamps the dark, heavy fog
of death comes The inhabitants of the little citv
on the hill see it coming, and the doors and win
dows are barred to keep it out Through the streets
of our cities and towns and villages the detractor
glldes, ave. into very homes. Christian men
and women, bar the doors of your mind against his
poisoned whispers. Invite the plague into your
homes, its pestiferous breath but oh keen
away and keep away forever the plague that kills
the moral life of man. Keep away that foul plague.
the detractor's tongue Its poisoned breath bights
the affections of husband and wife, corrodes the
strong chain that binds friend to friend aye, even
descends into the grave and hovers round the de-
caying bones there. Away with the detractor His
place is not amongst Christian men. No, no. AWAY
with him, and let him wander alone in the arid des-
ert with the unclean spirits for his very footsteps
wither the fresh green grass, his very shadow
blights the fresh fair flower.
The moon peeps above the jagged peaks of the
mountains, and throws its beams down upon an
Indian village in the valley. Fierce. untamed
hearts peat Jnere JnaJ out q lew days painted
for the carnage and the strife Tonight all is ouiet
there, and even the cur dogs that guard the camp
are strangely silent. As you stand wondering at
the transformation, whisper comes to you "Thev
have buried the Ratchet of strife and smoke the
calumet of peace"
Yes, yes, in a corner of the wigwams lie the
heavy Ratchet, the sharp knife and the hideous
war paint, and logs outside the wigwams sit the
warriors of a savage smoking the pine of
peace. Their eyes are fixed on the great orb above
the mountains for beyond lies their spirit land
Their thoughts there now, and quiet and a
peace reign in their fierce, untamed hearts. The
moon rises higher and floods the valley with sill
very light imparting it were a benediction be-
cause strife and passion and laid aside and peace
reigns in the savage heart.
light we see a cross outlined against the skv #
is the cross Gods temple, and the Christian city
sleeps beneath its saving shadow. That cross is
ever there at the dark of night the glare of dawn
and the glory of MONDAY. Ever there it stands TO
remind us that we are a Christian nennle hn,,nh+