The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-01
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Little Foxes.
THIRD PAPER.

Every portion or zone of the earth is
characterized by its own peculiar vege-
tation and animal life. 1t is said there
is but one bird, but no plant that in
habits every country. Plants grow in
certain soils, at certain heights. and
under certain lines of latitude.
Unlike this, however, Pride is little
animal that will grow and thrive any
place, in any kind of soil, oftentimes
springing up where we least expect 1t.
1t is a little fox that thrives anywhere,
feels quite at home under any and all
conditions and finds plenty to keep it
alive in the soil of every heart,
1t is the worst sin of the soul. 1t is
the poison that is secretly contaminat-
ing the whole life, plague that is per-
meating the heart and as some writer
has quantity said, it is the mother of
hypocrisy and the parent of miseries. "
1t will change its form at pleasure,
sometimes aping charity by bestowing
its gifts on the poor or casting its dol
lars into the Golfers of the church be-
cause true charity humbly drops in her
mite. 1t will even build hospitals and
find its glory in the plaudits of men,
while charity gives all the glory to God.
1t glories in an elevated position
where from its supposed heights it looks
down with disdain on all below, but it
forgets that mans pride will bring
him low, for pride goeth before de-
struction and a naughty spirit before a
fall"
1t will insinuate itself into every
heart. 1t is the rapidly growing weed
in the garden of our lives that chokes
the good seed sown there and suffers no
flower Of beauty or fragrance to bloom
near it.
1t will crouch under the garment of
virtue and assuming the form of religi-
on 1t will profane the very sanctuary
and boldly intrude its chameleon like
form in the holy of holies and even
drink from the sacred bowls of the altar,
but when pride cometh then cometh
shame" for it is the fruitful source of
all contention. Rather than be de-
spised it will array it's ugly form in the
comedy garments of humility and go
forth in the world to attract attention
not daring to present itself in its true
light or show itself without a mask.
Lodged in the heart as the robber
who at night conceals himself in some
dark alley and waits to sieze his prey.
this sin is more likely to escape our
notice, for it can be INDUCED in with
impurity. With Herod it wore the
mask of conscience. In the Pharisees
1t was purity of life. So the old hypo-
critic sailed past the woman who was a
sinner fearing lest his clothes should
touch hers and he be contaminated.
Within his heart he was as whited
sepulcher.
With many now it shows itself in a
love of dress, a beautiful face or a re-
nowned ancestry, noble independence
of spirit and self respect. Someone
has said 1.-THE devil makes US proud that
we are not proud" Its effects are
deadly. 1t sent Nebuchadnezzar out to
the fields to eat grass like an OK. 1t
let Peter sink when he was walking on
Galilee's waters.
One thing we can say of this fox it
never feels the cold. That's why so
many ladies' in the coolest weather go
out to parties and theatres only about
half dressed. A bit of modestv would
gladly assist common prudence and