Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
The Sin of Gossip
Sermon By
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Te1ts Palm cxx. LIZ, Exodus XIX. 10

1
Tert' Ps.lna c1x. lit, E1odu. XIX. 10
How difficult 1t is to govern the
tongue! We do not intend to wound
people or to spread false reports we
do not so to work deliberately to hurt
our neighbors by saying unkind and
often untrue things about them. And
yet We do these mean actions and fire.
Quently make serious trouble for our
friends, who have to try to smooth
over tho annoyance we have caused.
we must bring ourselves forcibly to
control our speech. for 1t demands an
Effort and II we do not make the effort
we arc counted as offenders In Gods
sight. David evidently suffered from
tho slanderous tongues OF people. We
90 not know who the people OF Mesech
and Kedar were exactly, or what they
said TO inture tho king. but they must
have spread lies which wounded David
sadly and made him cry: Woe is me
that Am constrained to dwell amongst
these people with whom I wish to live
In peace, but who are determined to
make war;" II we were all kind ono
to another life would be easier and
happier.
II Is as bad to listen to gossip and
SANDER as 1t is to speak lies. Take
heed what ye hear" said Christ. He
also said. Let your conversation be
yea. yea: that is. speak the truth"
The tongue and the ears are very
closely allied for good or evil What
We hear we are quite apt to repeat.
Let us keep in mind the old couplet:
If you your iipe would keep from slips.
These things observe with care:
OF whom you speak, TO whom you
speak.
And how. and when, and where.
II you your ears would save from jcers.
Five things keep meekly hid:
Myself" and 81" and Mine" and
my"
And what IT said and did"
History writer's have been censured
because they draw SO largely upon
their Imagination. There are certain
great facts which are we'll established.
but when writer's comment upon those
facts they are greatly Influenced by
their prejudices.
HISTORIANS SOMETIMES
GIVE US FALSE IDEAS
We all know, for instance. what a
false idea of Christianity Gibbon gives
in his history. He was hostile to the
church. and 30 he cont-ived In mas
terly way and SO all the more dan
Ierously to paint the Christians as
false and bad. He Is not the only his
A quite modern writer who has caught
tho ear OF mauy people and Is quite
~popular" Just now has not hes!tated
because OF his hatred OF sound doc
trine to impugn the great council OF
Nicaea A. D. 325. which declared the
faith OF the apostles and their follow
ers in Christ. One has TO read history
with caution. 1t Is often the same way
with biogra phies. Quite a false idea OF
q mans life may be given by the man
who writes about him. An. me! IL Is
mighty hard to know anything about
anybody practically. Therefore, we
should count personal character as
sacred trust, not to be injured ny aug
act or word
We can conquer our human tendency
10 criticize In several ways FIRST. III
we pray for people earnestly and ioV-
tnEly, we will find kindness taking the
nlace of severity. Prayer in some wa!
brings us to Gods side. and we see and
feel as He the great loving Father.
sees His children and feels about 'heni.
And In our prayers we should not
speak to God Of the faults. real or
imagined. of those for whom we pray.
but simply ask Him to bless and help
them. Too often. ] fear, our prayers
are complaints or accusations against
others. as when the man in the COS
pels came to Christ about his inher,-
lance Est Luke xii. 1919. and as
To-
Luke Z, 3S-42). We must not count
Christ as a judge to settle disputes or
TO hear charges. Rather must we speak
the name OF the one who needs a
blessing and then leave the Master to
work as He will. ! think our war
prayers are often faulty in this re-
gard. It is not for us to pray against
our enemies. That was the Old Tesla
ment way before the power OF love
was revealed. Rather should we pray
IleI, yto t~At =
eousness and help us to do His will.
Whenever you are tempted to speak
or think critically OF any one, pray
ut once. God bless him." aid see how
the desire to blame or complain Is
taken away.
CONTACT WILL OFTEN
HOLD US FROM CRITICISM
Contact with a person and fellow
snip with him will often hold US from
criticism. II really know 4 man and
love him cannot bear to have any
one speak evil of him. 1t is not mere
ly the jealous interest OF affection.
though that enters in; but 1t is the
knowledge I have Of my friends ma
ture which enables me to see the in
Justice OF criticism. It Is astonishing
how getting together" will clear
away misunderstanding. why
thought you were a terrible man when
heard people talk about you, but now
that know you see how mistaken
they were" So I heard one man say
to another. and 1t made me stop and
think. When I hear gossip about
somebody. how would 1t do for me to
cultivate that person who Is spoken of
and make friend of him? I believe
IN many cases I would find the gossip
TO be untrue. and would find an OPP
portunity to help one who, in loneli-
ness and misery, needed a friend. 1t
is SO with scandal Go to the man or
uGnr ha
spreading. not to repeat the things
you have heard, but to see II you can
help and bless. Many a half-broken
and despairing heart would thus be
comforted. and tho sniff there be
Bin-be driven away. Oh, for that
brotherly love which looks for q chance
to help and heal. and which refuses
to Join in the hue and cry of for