Evening journal., 1916-01-08
IN THE BALANCE
preached night by Lyon

Dhhtti ~ Ats 4 HOu dlt OttEhCu III
the balances, and art found want
ing"
Let us continue our exposition of
the law OF God this evening, by con-
sidering the ninth commandment,
"Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor." Mark what
this commandment says. Thou shalt
not bear false witness" / confess 1
cannot agree with some that hold
that we should not say anything about
person unless we can say something
good ] believe the newspapers are
doing a great work in exposing all
kinds OF fraud and hyprocrites and
humbugs. If you know of some pit
fall where my feet or the feet of my
loved ones may dash to our destruc-
tion, ! will thank you to put up red
lantern to warn us OF our peril. More
over, every one should so try TO live
that when an evil report is circulated
about him, the people will rise up in
mass and say, I'VE do not believe a.
word Of it,"
But in spite of all this there are
times when the cruel shafts Of SLAM
der win be aimed at the heart Of even
the noblest and purest lives bringing
to them untold suffering and sorrow.
Have you any gossips in this city?
would as lief have a scourge of small
pOx or diphtheria break ont in com
mhnity as a bunch of gOssips. We
usually think of gossip in the femi-
nine gender. but some of our mean
est, lowest gossips are men, or at
least of the male species who hang
around pool halls. smoke houses. club
rooms and booze joints peddling
every bit OF scandal they hear. Yet
il is natural to think Of gossip as a
woman. Some racy story comes to
her ears and she can scarcely wait TO
tell IT, She puts on her hat and out
she goes. When she comes into a
neighbor's home the first thing she
SAYS. Did you hear about Mrs. So
and So? How do you know il is so?'
is quickly asked. "Oh, know il is
so. because l got it from. Mrs. So and
So. and it must be true" Then she
draws down her face and oXclaims
woefully, u am so sorry" Some one
ought to tell her you miserable liar,
you are not sorry at all. you were
rolling that piece Of scandal like a
precious morsel under your tongue.
Apply these three tests to every
evil report you hear before you pub
lish IT, First am ! sure it is true
Second. what is my motive in telling
It? Third. what would be gained by
having il known? This would kill SO
per cent. Of the scandal that is being
published broadcast. When a doctor
comes into a home to diagnose a dis
ease. he usually begins upon a pa
tient by saying, SHOW me your
tongue" If ] were to diagnose the
moral or spiritual ailments of this
community. / believe | would begin
in a similar way "Show me your
tongue "The tongue can no man
tame" says the epistle of James. 'i
is an unruly evil, full OF deadly poi
SON" II your tongue is tanned it vii
not be through the power Of man, bu
through the grace Of God.
In this connection. let me say a
word about the lie. A lie is sort
OF a half brother or step sister tC
every other crime in the catalogue
II a man steals, he lies about it. II
he murders or commits adultery, h'
lies about il. Wherever you find any
other vice. you will find lie so thar
we can condemn it at the very out
set. like poor dog Tray, because Of il!
bad company. There is a great. dea
OF exaggoration and deception il
modern society that very often passe.
by some euphonious name. such al
diplomacy. but God calls it by the
plain name of lying.
The insincerity and hypocrisy o
modern social life is deadly blight
a dry rot to character Many people
use words 10 conceal rather than tG
reveal thoughts For example. her'
comes a lady down the street 4
mother SAYS TO her daughter. Il Dc
hope she is not going to stop here.
Sure enough she comes up the step
and rings the bell, and then tn
mother meets her at the door will
that stereotyped. society smile ant
saws, "Oh, how glad I am to see you
] was Just wondering the other da,
why YOU had not been here for 81
long. Now come in and make a goo'
long visit" When at last she arise
TO go. her hostess says, "Oh. surel,
YOU are not going yeti Just thinl
bow long it has been since YOU hav
been here" "Oh, yes, l. must go.
''Now do come back soon The doc
is scarcely closed before she turns L
her daughter and says, Wen, l an
glad that mean old thing is gone!'
And then she wonders why he
daughter does not have more con
fdence in her sincerity. Such per
son is az heart a liar.
Let us proceed to the consideration
OF another commandment, Thou shal
not commit adultery" ! know OF n
subject upon which il is harder I
speak. to know what to say and wha
to leave unsaid. than to deal with tn
seventh commandment There is n
subject about which / pray NOR
earnestly. "Oh God keep me fror
saying anything l ought not to sa,
but give me grace to say everything
ought 10 say
When we consider how lightly tn
marriage relationship is being regard
ed in many quarters, how many youn
people are rushing hastily into matri