The Washington times., 1913-07-12

Although the lesson citation for this
weeks subject Is found in the New
Testament, an Injunction similar to that
contained therein-'.speak not evil one
Of 'another'-is as old as the Scriptures
themselves, dating far back to the time
when the Mosaic law was first given to
men. When the finger Of God inscribed
on the tablets of stone those ten ancient
principles Of morals and religion. in
volving In their wonderful scope all
rules and precepts since promulgated
by mankind, which are commonly
known az the Ten Commandments.
one-tenth of those few brief rules that
were to constitute the law for all gen
erations was devoted to an Injunction
against speaking falsely against ones
neighborG That commandment given
on Mt. sinai to Moses was not entirely
differet fropp the Inhibition FOUND In
the lesson as taken from rt the New New, Ties, ea,
bear false witness against thy neigh
bor." 49, .-r
Injunctions Concise and Plain.
Nor do these injunctions against
speaking evil or falsely in their phrase
ology leave any room for doubt as to
the vigor and sound purpose for which
they were enunciated by the inspired
writer's; one says: Thou snat nor;
decisive In tone.
Difficult to Keep Commandment.
Perhaps the commandment IN ques-
ton, however differently expressed BY
the various writer's of the Word, Ia one
OF the most difficult OF any OF the
Biblical injunctions to keep. 1t seems
the easiest thing In the world to pass
some spiteful little remark concerning
ones fellow-man or neighbor. 1t doesn't
require half the time that 1t does TO
think up something met to say about
some folks. One occasionally hears a
tt Biological discussion these days as to
whether or not man Is prone to evil.
some holding that mans instincts are
all good, and that his tendencies toward
evil are all the result of his own way
ward thoughts and acts. while others
consider that man has Inherently within
his heart a certain amount Of the "Old
Nick" and that sometimes and some
how 1.-The bad has just got to find an
outlet" Without pledging ourselves to
either school of thought, we may hazard
without much fear Of contradiction that
in case man does have inherently within
his makeup q few of the attributes Of
the evil one, q considerable percentage
of this possible inherent tendency to-
ward evil'' consists Of a gnawins de-
sire to knock" his fellow-men.
Baseball Bibleography.
This peculiar and somewhat inexplic-
able tendency to speak evil'' has been
noticeable even in the charmed circles
Of our national game. Whenever. for
instance. for some brief space Of time.
our beloved Grinmen fall a couple Of
tenths of a per cent below third place,
there will always be found a few dys-
peptic individuals who will aver that the
Washington team consists Of a bunch OF
superlative NUTS who e, never Knew Knew
will gloomily wonder about how long
IL. will take the locals to be frozen out
of even second position. and TO drop be.
low the mercurial baseball bulb OF last
place. Now, all this sort Of pesstmism
doesn't help make a winning team This
principle has fortunately been recognized
by a bunch of boosters whose main OBJ
ject in life IL to cheer and ven al the
games SO Justify and encouragingiy that
spite Of themselves Their advice 70
grouchy fans is. If you can't boost.
at least don't knock"
Now compare that little sentiment
with the Biblical Injunction quoted
and mot bearing false Witness and
then tell me II they're not Just about
the same thing. Boss Booster Hoover
and his yell-mates have simply been
acting out in practical. everyday fash
ion a little of the old Mosaic law; tnats
all!
The Reasons Why.
II is interesting and illuminating to
delve into the reasons underlying the
Injunction not to speak evil one OF
another" First, one may thus do un-
told and irreparable injury to his fei,
lowman; secondly. q long train OF evii
results. involving innocent third paroes
NAV he brought into existence. and,
third, one usually thus damages his
own reputation and character. A bear.
er of false witness or q speaker OF
eyi! cannot long maintain his own self