Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-03
Topic:
MY ATTITUDE TOWARD MY
SOCIAL, INTERIORS"
flames, .2:1-1SD
Nv Robert D. Burbank,
President ofwashiugton District rpworth League

President Of Washington District DpWoF'n A@osue.
snobbishness is rs old as the world
anu one 81 the 'commonest sins .ameng
, men: it Is the attitude toward the So
cfal inferior which is >most repusnant
10 the principles of Christianity and de-
mocracy. Social Inequalities have e1-
listed since the world began anu
, though established by man and based
on false standards. yet upon them mas
been based this attitude of snobbish-
ness so prevalent among the children
!: of men,. ~
I'VE hold these truths to be self-evi-
I dent: that all men are created equal
we read in the Declaration of 1ndepen-
dence, and the issuance of that declara-
ton marked the opening of new era
in the political history OF the worlo-
One of the false standards upon when
social superiority had hitherto oeeh
based was political inequality. express
ed in terms OF monarchy. oIgarchy,
aristocracy and various forms OF vas
,.salage and slavery, and based on thls
standard nobility meant nothing more
than political superiority
:. wealth, or the possession Of riches.
is another false standard upon which
men have based social distinctions
since the world began. No new era has
:, this form of snobbishness. for today as
much as ever we see men bowling 10 the
, god of gold, and kissing the feet OF
the man who has wealth. Yet the worlo
: is slowly getting better In this respecI
with the teachings of Christ, and men
outside as well inside OF the churcn
are realizing, at least. that they are but
stewards of God. the real owner OF all
wealth.
other false standards of social in
ferioriy or superiority are those OF
: birth or inheritance. of religious caste.
of education. OF success IN the eyes Q.
men. Men have been accounted noble
because of birth. an accident over
= which they have no control, and mat
ter of neither credit nor discredit In the
sight of God. Men have esteemed
themselves socially superior because OF
educational advantages and attain
ments, failing to realize that their
heights of intellectual attainment place
upon them all the greater degree OF
responsibility to serve their fellows.
And men have gloried in success. and
. held contempt for these who failed In
the same kind of an endeavor. failing
TO recognize that the strength which
given attribute which placed upon
them the greater responsibility of
service to their weaker brethren.
q great democrat. He recognized neither
" superior nor inferior. but accepted
every man as His brother: there was
not place for social inequalities in his
), life and teachings, and nothing was so
: foreign to His character as the atti-
. tude of snobbishness- Not one Of the
standards established by men were
recognized by Him as q proper basis
Il for social distinctions. He called
Zaccheus. though he was publican and
"a held in contempt politically and So
!, cially: He chose His disciples from the
:. poorest classes. yet He loved the rich
- young man who failed only at the su-
preme test; He reserved his severest
. for the Pharisees and scribes. who
sought to maintain social distinctions
= by establishing religious castles. and
He was as quick to aid the woman
who had sinned as He was to heal the
sick or feed the hungry muItitudes.
His attitude toward all men was that
of love. and the only distinctions He
drew between men was in His ability
- to serve them-to help them.
snobbtshness began to cs sppsss in s tn;
James. writing to those churches. and
especially ito the twelve tribes Of the
!, dispersion" sounded warning which
: was not only needed then. but which
i and is badly needed In many of oui
churches today my brethren, have
~ not the faith OF our Lord Jesus Christ
the Lord of glory. with respect of per-
among yourselves. and become Judges
Il. with evil thoughts; 'if We have respect
% of persons we commit sin. being con-
~ victed by the law as transgressors.'
lines of distinction based on the out
ward appearances. as indicated by such
things as gold rings and fine clothes
{ James exhorts with all earnestness
!, against these false standards ane