The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-04-10

ating the beliefs Of others. is the great
est obstacle to the progress OF thought
With what tenacity do we cling to thl
ideas impressed upon our youthful
mindsl With what obstinancy do VI
resist the encroachment Of ADVANCE
ideas, OF new ideas, and Of more ma
ture aspirationsl Narrowmindednesl
caused the intellectual darkness OF th,
Middle Ages; conformity. self-repres
sion, enforced obedience, cringing sub.
lection to the authority OF men unwor.
thy of supremacy-these are the OBJ.
stacles to progress; these are hindrance:
to intellectual, spiritual, and moral en-
lightenment. We say that this thing is
wrong and that thing is right without
ever seeking for the virtues of the one
or admitting the imperfections of the
other.
A few years ago looked upon Mo-
manned as a heathen deserving my
greatest contempt After only little
study of the mans life and character,
after only a slight consideration Of the
virtues as we'll as the defects OF Islam,
l have come to regard Mohammed as one
of the noblest characters of history and
his religion as one Of the great religions
OF the earth. The character OF the
Prophets daily life, his gentleness to-
wards his wife, his simple tastes, noble
aspirations. religious feryor, his firm
adherence to convictions which he con-
sidered inspired of God-all Of these
aspects OF the man should serve to ex-
alt him in the minds and hearts OF all
thinking people.
It has not been long since regarded
Voltaire as an hereto who merited the
greatest condemnation. A little study
of his life, little glimpse at his meth
cd and philosophy, have enabled me to
realize his true value. We look at his
bust in the library, and it requires very
little stretch Of the imagination to see
the fire flash from those keen eyes OF
his; the shape OF his forehead, the con-
tour OF his chin, show him to be per-
son OF broad intellect and firm will. |
There were things about. him which |
were not at all attractiye-his vices have
become notorious. Yet we cannot help
feeling sort OF admiration for such
colossal personality with all his faults
ne possesses for us that same magical
attraction which Coleridge, with all bis
with his very Utmost be-
ng shattered by the ravages Of opium, /
for those whom he taught.
When the right sense of historical
proportion is more fully developed in
mems minds the name Of Voltaire will
tand out like the names OF the great
ecisive movements in the European
dvance. The existence, char
cter and career OF this extraordinary
erson constitute in themselves a new
nd prodigious era. The peculiarities
( his individual genius changed the
mind and spiritual conformation OF
rance and in a large degree OF the
hole OF the West with as far-spread-
az and invincible effect as If the work
ap been wholly done, as it was actual
, aided, by the sweep OF deep-lying
objective forces. A new type Of belief,
nd OF its shadow, disbelief, wus stamped
Y the impression Of his character and
ork into the intelligence and feeling
I his own and the following times.
1e may think OF Voltairism in France
,mewhat as we think OF Catholicism :
{ the Renaissance Of Calvinism. 1t
as one Of the cardinal alterations OF
le growing race, one Of the emphatic
manifestations Of some portion Of the
iinds OF men, which an Immediately
regoing system had either ignored or
These are only a few OF the illustra
ons Of what effect ignorance Of a sub
ct or Of personality may have on
4
les mind. have recorded them also
spirit Of atonement, for whenever
find that / have hastily condemned
en- or institutions or systems Of
ought on the basis OF an imperfect
OF their value, | feel that
we done them an injustice which
ould be atoned for.
does not imply COM +
omise Of principle or lack of decision.
broadminded person will carefully
nsider all the virtues and all the de-
It's OF whatever IS submitted to his
lgment; he will not only consider
J own feelings but will give due weightl
the opinions OF other men; his mind
n not be over-infuenced hv temp0-