Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-24
UNWR|TTEN Law OF
CUSTOM Is OUR
DANE
Or, Chapman Points Out in
Strong Sermon Evil Results
Of Trucking to Fashion and
DUTY of Each Man to His
Own Conscience.

0VlnlrNf
,,on Of Temple Albert, in &
.oro sermon delivered Friday even.
lao me keynote of the address being
ANS dntv TO obey the mandates OF
his own conscience rather than tht
a,ctates Of p~reGpslent and convention
mr. after reviewing the
.,too,v which In times past has beer
,.oned on some of the worlds great
az, men who dared to defy public
opinion, SAID.
rocv but we live in a monarchy, OF
which custom is king of all 1t surveys,
:, 10 the boast OF this nation that il
dethroned p%otentatcs and made man.
hood supreme. But W. are ruled by
q despot whose name is fashion. We
claim, in this land, to be r chill
dren of liberty, unshackled, uncon-
troled, except by law. There are very
few of Us. however, who do not ask
AZ some time or another, that most
lmnoriant, most vital question, How
viii public opinion regard this act of
mine. this expressed thought of
mine ?" Most of us are dominated,
altogether. in our mode of living and
thinking. by the opinion Of others.
We live for others; not in the sense,
however. hat we sacrifice our con-
y~enlence or Il possessions, in behalf
OF humanity; but we live for others,
lnasmuch as we fear what our neigh
boris will say of us, and we fail to lead
a life in harmony with the higher
law, by which alone we should be con-
trplled. This, in the main. is due to
our false ideals. We wan the good
opinions of others. We want to be
courted and flattered by others. We
want to be made much of by Il
neighbors We seek happiness, as the
goal OF our life, but happiness, de-
pending on the good will of people, is
a veritable will-o'-the-wisp. The fast
er We approach it. the faster it re-
cedes from our grasp. and we sink in
a mire of despair, before we realize
that We have been chasing a phantom.
Fame, position, power, wealth even,
do not mean happiness. They may
flattcr our vanity: they may increase
our self-importance; they may add to
our comforts. But happiness was
never purchased by these means.
Every man who seeks happiness from
without is doomed to failure. All hap
piness comes from within. The real
sources OF happiness T. love and
duty, and we can experience the sub
lime JOY OF love and manifest it by de-
voted service. We a realize the sa-
cred sentiment OF duty, and perform
its mandates, Independent of the sug-
g%estion, approval or criticism of our
neighbors. We are free to love our
fellow man, and to do our duty, with
out regard to what people viii say. But
our lying down and our rising up are
conditioned by the opinions of others.
When we sit in our homes, when we
walk by the way, we permit ourselves
to be under the control of popular
prejudice and public opinion. Nearly
every sphere of human action is sub
ject to this influence. In some
churches the preacher is expected to
display the skill of a diplomat. If he
Is radical, the deacons torment him
by pointing u the disaster hat pro-
gressive thought will effect. by driv-
ing the people away. If he is con-
sentative, he is told hat the people
think him hypocritical. If he is
orthodox, the people, he is Informed,
think him a%ntiquated, If he speaks
on sociology, he is told that the peo-
pie want religious instruction. If he
speaks on religion, he is informed that
the people want to hear current ques-
Tons discussed. If he speaks in a con
tone and mode, the dear
people say he is no orator. II he
speaks impressively. the people call
MN unentertaining. And the true
success of the church, and the expo
sltion of the truth, must be set aside,
IN Difference to what the people say.
the other hand, the members of
me church will moi join in congrega-
singing, lest the people critieise
'heir voices. They will not attend
services in clothes hat are a little un-
or unreasonable. lest the
people say they are not i'm style. Last
~ they will not pray, lest the people
say they make a parade of their reli-
gious fervor.
society. too. is honeycombed with
people dominated with the same false
for the comments of their
.n'lghbors. How many are there VINO
atempt to impress the world with an
NJ OF Importance. which they do not
possess and can not sustain, but are
moved TO do so by a regard for, OF
''"r or what people will say? Birth.
marriage and death are surrounded by
~,NuaNagant customs. maintained sole
= IN difference to a false conception
" inc possible comments of the world.
-'''nrts have lamented that. as So
"'y is today constituted. they must
Ir'k their daughters with finery that
sn,'efs' hut does not adorn. And
'athers have dcplored that their sons
"s' indulge in expensive habits. to
'N'iih that degree of style that may
n 'hem social recognition. all of
men they can IN afford. 4 few may
lopel- But what does a handful Of
r'rie signify? Society's mandates
".st ne oheyed at all hazards. What
!" people say" If We do not do as
u.ers do That is the that
the wisdom, the morality.
u'hit! OF all such actions. Al
lug woman may not have new
fhey are shockingly unfash-
e. She may not be independent
Sef-helping. Society disdaIns
who rebels against its law.
are traitors to reason when
!, permit ourselves to be dominated
u''s undue regard Cor fashion. Gus
~. shu public opinion. Every hui
" "eing should work out his ow