Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-06-18
NECESSARY TO LIFE
Wholesome Fear Should by No
Means Be Entirely Cast
Out by Mankind.

Fear is a word out OF almost
In disgrace-in these days We are
exhorted zealously to be without fear
because there is nothing in the uni
verse of which we need to be afraid
Fear is said to be the beginning Of
folly, OF failure, of disease and de
struction 1t cannot possibly be the
beginning of wisdom or of any good
thing.
If we maintain that fear is a nee.
essary element In our philosophy OF
life, we are beset on every hand by a
bewildering variety of cults which dis
credit such philosophy as Anticipated
and unWholesome relic OF that
dreadful period before we had found
out that all evils are imaginary and
that there is nothing but good in the
universe.
In this world, where dangers abound,
we ought to recognize fear as one OF
our very good friends From the era
die to the grave 1t is our daily teacher.
guardian and guide.
1t is out of fear of the loathsome-
ness and fatal consequences Of
diseases of smallpox and the bubonic
plague that men have so bent their
energies to finding out means of pre-
yention and cure. 1t Is because we
are so wrought up with fear Of the
terrible white scourge, consumption,
that the whole civilized world is now
being organized to do battle against it.
What Fear Has Done.
Fear puts safety couplers onto cars
and equips the railroads with block
signals. 1t furnishes steamships with
life preservers, boats and RATS, makes
them virtually non-sinkable with wa
tertight compartments, and now adds
the wireless telegraph, SO that they
may never be out of reach uf some
human ear that shall hear call for
help.
1t is fear that has given to US the
modern sanitary home in the midst
of sanitary city, wherein we may
dwell free from constant dread of '.the
pestilence that walketh in darkness
and the destruction that wasteth at
MONDAY"
Illustrations of the practical uses Of
fear suggest themselves endlessly. We
know that we are in an infinite uni
verse, surrounded by infinite powers
We must yield obedience to these pow
ers or suffer the consequences.
Reasonable fear is the gift of God
to his children. 1t Keeps US in mind
of our limitations. 1t gives us a live
ly realization of the consequences of
disobedience. 1t spurs us on to find
out the real conditions that surround
us, SO that we may guard ourselves
against evils and dangers Outsof the
fertile soil of fear springs the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil
Pain ls for All.
BE strong in pain" is the exhor-
tation which hangs on the study wall
over the desk of Emperor William Of
Germany
1t is not BE strong because there
is no pain" 1t is not BE strong be-
cause there is nothing to endure that
requires your strength" 1t is, BE
strong in pain" And the plain mean
ing is, there is pain for you, as there
is for every man and woman in the
world. You will fear it. You can't
help that. The fear is wholesome. 1t
will keep you from encountering pain
recklessly.
Though love may, indeed. cast out
that base fear which covers before
God as tyrant who infiicts unimagi-
nable punishments, must we not con-
tinue to fear, when we present before
him who is perfect wisdom, perfect
love and perfect holiness, our imper-
feet, ignorant, wiIlful and Sustained
natures?
We may say, and with good right,
that we are children of God, and there
fore of the same spiritual nature as
he; but how infinite is the distance
between our low estate and his height
Of holiness, and how shallow and
thoughtless we are if we do not fear
before him when we worship