The Detroit times., 1915-06-01
Unconscious Goodness
BV Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1913. by Frank Crane)

This is not written for the many,
for the few vino understand. N
Confess your sins, if you will, but
your goodness.
A nigh and noble quality in you, if
it is once brought to light, withers as
flower plucked from its bed in the woods
and worn on your dress.
There is no real purity but that Of
which you are unconscious. This perl
meateS YOU and iiavors your personality,}
The minute II is exposed by Boosting il
becomes offensive
doubt if preaching, moralizing, argu-
ing and otherwise definitely laboring
with people to make them good has ever
been of much real benefit. The actual
uplitt is that force that lies within our
nature, concealed in the texture Of the
soul
The cosmic powers of souls are silent
and invisible: as the sun attracts the
planets by its mass. as the hyaclnth per-
fumes the room by It's presence.
When you tell OF good deed you have
done you have spoiled it. That instinct
is correct which leads the brave man to
belittle his own courage. No act is fine
unless il be done solely 20 crafty our
self. solely 10 win the praise OF our own
eXacting soul the bloom OF virgin beauty
: rubbed oil from our nObcueSs when
il is 10 get the appreciation Of others.
We complain that our efforts are not
appreciated. Whatever Is appreciated is
deprecated. Only those helpful deeds
Il which NJ nnrGnlNnS
10 not recognize. are of the pureSt gold.
No one will bc more surprised on the
day Of judgment thaU the genuine saints
who will exclaim in amazement: Lord,
when saw we thee sick, or ahungered, or
IN prison. and miHistcred unto thee
Action and speech, doing and talking,
and all sorts Of conscious eXertlon, are OF
second class. compared with the hign
worth OF being.
This is proved 10y little children, who,
We are shocked 30 discover. are not much
Influenced by our occurring, and disregard
our advice. bat whose eyes penetrate TO
what We really are, whose ears hear the
voices o. our character; so that they fol-
low Us. but not our words.
| No deeds of mine can courteract the
subtle dynamic OF my personal influence.
If | endow churches and colleges, If.
feed mulutudeS of the poor. II give my
body 10 be burned, and yet il am essen
italy mean. my net result IN the world Is
bad. On Times books The debit of my
character will outbalance the credit OF
my efforts
The day will come. when humanity is
mature. that there shall be no more OF
what we now call charity or henevolence.
For charity is the conscious attempt TO
correct the injustice OF our acceptance
Of unjust customs.
In the perfect day 20 come no man viii
give to relieve another's distress, none
will work to convert and redeem. for each
shall try to do justice and where there
is universal justice NIL charity is swal-I
lowed up.
Then set loyalty TO yourself as your
goal. Think. speak and act 10 get thar
inner praise of your own being. Regard
Yourself az fortunate when YOU can df
good without being found out.
And consider yourself most fortunate
Of all when you are not appreciates
when you are misunderstood, and wheZ
your good is called evil. For then 20
are one Of the real aristocrats Of virtuY
Then you are truly of a kin to God, VI
is forever silent. forever cavilled at, -,
forever healing and helping by His very
existence