The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-19
AN ESSAY ON DUTY


! IN our social fabric mutual right,
| necessitate their own observance
| Mutual aid is essential to the perpetui.
~ OF the race, Remove our sense OF
! obligation TO our fellow men. and VIC
I form society in which each member
| ls entirely absorbed in his own we'll
| being. an orga nized disorder. We must
not forget that we all are debtors
| But our dealings with our fc,low-men
sometimes convey the idea that we a re
creditors, and consist in invitations,
not always in the most amiabie tones
ana manner. to discharge the debts.
But every man owes a service TO him
self, as an individual. and to those
around him. Life is without value un-
, less consecrated by duty We can all
do a little good; and we have no right
10 render ourselves useless, more than
To commit suicide. There are often
other things We would rather do. But
duty calls and we must answer, here
o. hereafter. Every man must admit
that duty beckons him to action, to
higher life
But what is duty? What does il
amply IT means a debt due, that
which is due or ought to be done:
what one is bound morally or legally
70 do or perform, a moral obligation.
Crahb says in English SYNONYMS: "AH
duty depends upon moral obligation,
which suhsists between man and man.
or man and his Maker. In this ab-
stract sense. therefore, there can he
no duty without previous OBLIGATION.
and where there Is an obligation ii
involves a duty but in the vulgar ac-
ceptauCe, duty is applicable to the
conduct of men in their various rela-
items; obligation only 10 particular
circumstances or modes Of actions, we
have duties to perform as parents and
children AS husbands and wives, as
rulers and subjects. as neichbors and
citizehs; the debtor is under obliga-
ton TO discharge a debt, and he who
has promised is under obligation 10
fuiGll his promise. a conscientious
man. therefore, never loses sight of the
obligations which he has at different
times to discharge
The duty is not so peremptory as
the obligation; the obligation Is not
So tasting as the duty, interest or me-
cessity impeis us 10 the dicharge of an
obligation. DutA is self-devoted. obedi-
ence humility Courage is not duty,
Vet the performance Of duty frequent
iy requires courage. Duty exists in
all conditions of every life, and is so
altruistic that one nevor thinks of
self in it's performance.
Must he Little First
do you wish 10 be create" said 81.
Augustine, then begin by being little.
Do YOU desire to construct a vast and
lofty fabric2 Think first about the
foundation of humility. The higher
you structure Is to be, the deeper must
be It's foundation. Modest humility
IL beautY's crown"
First, our duty to God This includes
our duty TO family TO neighhors, to the
state, the duty of state to citizen, mas
ter to servant and servant to master,
and to our fellow-creatures. / have
little faith in that religion that per-
nnits cruelty to dumb hrutes.
In the performa nee of these We sim
ply choose between being worthy or
worthless to the community. a man
cannot refuse to exercise his right q
the polls or In the church and dis
charge his duty, But these are the
ones that are loudast in their com
plants that members OF the church
and public officials are rocreant in the
performance of their duties They for
get their own lack in attempting to
improve matters. They must be re-
minded that the soul can only perish
by its own suicide. If we strive to
make others better. nobler and hap
pier IL Is all we can do: then leave
the results to God.
The true apostle Of duty gives not
alone in his money hut himself Gifts
of money may arouse temporary
feeling OF gratitude, which Is soon for
gotten. But he who gives himself origi-
mates influences that will be eternal
II may Ne we'll for US to remember
that little common sense is necessary
In the performance Of duty. We too
frequently see the forces for good