The Washington herald., 1909-05-29
Worse Than a ''Dreadnought- "

Tie International Sundsy school Lesson for June
Is "The power Of TIE tougus" James. nia-I2
The peace societies are campaigning
against the building OF more battle ships
Of the Dreadnought type. which has so
aroused Europe All the international
politics OF our time is being powerfully
affected by The creation OF this new and
mo1srous engine OF death. Worse than
the preadnought is the peril against
which James wrote In his practical and
outsPoken letter 20 the early Christian
church He reached out for al the strong
est images he could imagine 10 express
the hurtfuiness OF this evil. and had
Dreadnoughts existed in MS time, doubt
less they, too. would have been utilized
- z figure Of maiign power. For that
unruly member, the human tongue, has
wrought more harm 10 humanity than all
the swords and guns and war ships that
have ever been manufactured The truth
seems too obvious 10 be dwelt upon. yet
nothing needs more emphasis in our own
time We could afford 10 90 without, for
generation to come, some OF the new
discoveries Of our wizaTdlike scientists,
f. only instead we could devise q way Of
bridling peoples tongues.
James came 10 the subject BY way OF
the tendency or the new Christians 10 as
sumo places Of instruction The-gift OF
teaching attracted them, and they were
prone 10 allow their words to outrun their
knOwledge-a fashion which die not cease
with James time. The danger Of -becom-
ing babbler instead Of a profitable
teacher led up 10 this famous passage
upon the tongue. One is sometimes tempt
ed 70 send a marked copy Of this letter
T-n- -
tinguished college professors. who are
Is prone as the early Christian converts
70 speak unadvisedly with their lips.
The TA1IELESs MEMBER.
The bride. the ships rudder. the fire.
the vial Of deadly poison. all were en-
plOyed as figures by James 10 Indicate
the potentialitv OF the tongue. He gives
his pen fun license 70 depict the serious
ness Of the tongues offending There is
not a sin or crime that mars the fair
page OF human endeavor that may not
spring from the UnbridIed tongue Ana
charsis said that "the tongue is al the
same time. the best part Of man and his
worst; with good government. none IS
more useful. and without il. none Is more
mischievOUs-' Justin carried the thought
farther, when he said by examining
the tongue OF q patient. the physicians
md out the disease OF the body. and
philosophers the desease OF the mind
A simple method OF getting at present.
day social cOnditiOnS-much simpler than
10 read the numerous volumes on soci-
olosy that are streaming from the press.
is 10 take ones ears 10 any place where
men and women tOregsther. and simply
listen. On the highways. in public con
veyances. where persons are gathered
20 p
Snatches Of conversation that come IN
intended &C your ears. So much OF the
talk IS frivolous and sGnntv and slangy
and thOughtless and gOsSipy that per
son wonders where 10 look for words OF
soberness and discretion II the common
talk that one overhears Is a fair indica-
Jion OF the thinking OF the tine. there Is
need for printing this paragraph from
James ancient letter IN display type upon
the front page Of every newspaper OF
the land For the evils which James
saw in old Jerusalem are afFiictinS modern
Americans to even an exaggerated degree
The GOOD PERSONS FAILING.
The highly correct person. who would
be horriied at the thought Of hurting a
stone through plate glass window. often
does not hesitate TO send a ruinous sen
tence smashing into a Heighbor's reputa-
ton There Is the gTavest danger that
Christians. who stand appalled, at the
grosser sins. VIII yer give fun play 70
the more injurious ofIzrseS OF the tongue
i is a much less serious matter 10 get
into a fist hght than 10 stab a person \
fsiT name.
The habit OF censorioUs speech Is a par-
ticular peril OF good people. The Phari-
sees fell deeply into this sin in the time
Of Jesus They assumed that somehow I
their Own probity and outward conformity I
10 matters Of the law gave them the
privilege OF sitting IN judgment upon all
the rest OF the world. Everybody who
has mingled with various types Of Chris
tan gatherings can relate experiences Of /
almost Unthinkable UnchaTitableness on
the part Of sincerely oiOUs. persons. The /
tongue OF the Christian. and not of the
wording, let II be remembered. is the
particular object Of James letter. He IS I
moved 20 write so strongly as he does
because OF the ofTenses Of Christians
themselves.
THE NEW GIFT OF TONGUES.
Certain psychic manifestations in India.
Los Angeles. and elsewhere, have at
tracted widespread attention because
they profess 10 he a recurrence Of the
apoSttlE SlLt OF tongues not nalf 50
important 10 the mating one al all times.
and the investigation OF i is filed with
difficulties One thing Is clear. however,
and that is that the gift Of the ability
70 speak in unknown tongues is not half
so important 70 the progress Of the
Kingdom Of Heaven as the gift OF
tongues which speak gentle, kindly. COM
forting. brotherly words.
The church can probably get along
without a new baptism OF tongues:
but both the church and the world sorely
need more Of the sort OF simple helpful
speech which fell from the lips Of Jesus. /
and which everywhere marks the charac-
ter OF the most Christlike men and wOm-
en- The Quaker's the and thy set
him apart as a member of the Society Of
Friends. and his plain speech is re-
freShing amid the extravagant babblIng
OF our time, but more than that II needs
the distinguishing singular pronOuns the
speech Of Christians needs the quality
o. restraint and humility and sympathy.
which make all hearers think Of the gen
tie Master whose words the common
people heard gladly
SAY So
Certain mOnastic orders have enfcine6
the rule Of silence Figuratively speak
Ing. they have cut out the tongues Of
their members. This is a cowardly way
OF attempting to avoid the sins OF the
tongue The tongue was given for use.
and rightly employed, Il is a minister Of