Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-27
Sunday Morning Talk
THE SPIRIT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A protest that has it's root in mere oddity or crankiness is not to be prove simply for the pleasure of being on the opposite side On general principles. they are "agin the govern ment."~ They are ruled by their dis gusts. But a protest that springs from conscience and is the fruit of princi- pie is fine mark of intelligence. 1t often takes courage to dissent Only one with a thinking head on his shoul- ders is likely to bring in a minority report.
 This world of ours is largely run by majorities. We have a way of set
 thing must be right. we say, i: most of the people vote for it.
 Vet that is a clumsy and uncertain method. There is no surety in follow ing the majority. 'VoX populi' is not No proof of the wisdom or justice of Q proposition lies in the fact that nearly everybody is shouting for it. How far astray must the race of men have
 gone if they had always followed he lead of the majority,
 The majority counted Galiiea mad
 and the crowd called Columbus lun-
 atic. The mob cried aloud for the
 death of Jesus of Nazareth and de-
 manded the release c. -- lar1led
 Barabbas.
 It is no disgrace to be q noncon-
 formist. That fact may only indicate
 that one is doing his own thinking,
 that he is alive to moral distinctions.
 and is willing to make a stand. Sain
 King James to the men and women
 who later embarked in the Mayaower,
 one discipline. If you will not con
 form, I will harry you out of the
 land" After thet famous interview
 at Hampton Court, he renarSed with
 these "soundly peppered" people loved
 England as well as King James did,
 but there was something they loved
 better-their own religious freedom.
 So they left the old home for wan,
 derings that did not end till they had
 established, on a: bleak shore across
 the sea, a church without a bishop in
 a state without king.
 Why are we so afraid of aoncon-
 formity? Why should one trembIe lest
 he should speak or think or a>ct in a
 way different from some, of the people
 around him? Why should Ee hasten
 to copy the fad or fashion of the
 hour" Why should he rush to take up
 some amusement that is populaIs or
 repeat the world on everybody eise's
 lips?
 Of Daniel. the prophet, we read that
 he purposed in his heart n0t to detile
 himself with the kings meat 1t took
 some courage in those days to decline
 royal hospitality. But Daniel had re- | Qg1OuS ScTupleS III ItSdi0 to.
 and drinking. He was canahie of ut,
 tering that tremendous little word,
 mo" He is the patron saint of all
 who put principle ahead of expe- diency.
 It is just here that young people are
 prone to fall into error They have an exaggerated fear of seeming odd. Crushing out every spark of original ity, they strive for dull, drab same ness. Life is. run in a mold exactly like that which fits everyone else It IS a. foolish sacrifice of personality. That nopconfornity often makes us enemies instead of friends is still no reason for distrusting it. As a matter of fact the very propositions one awakens may be significant and credit able. To be hated by some people may compliment a man rather than con demn him. BrickbatS may De more honorable than bouquets. Beware when all men speak well of you" If we were doing our full duty 1t is prob able that all men would not be found speaking we'll of us.
 No one can live with honor in this cannot look with detachment and conn placency on the tragedies of which life is full There are evils against which he must throw his full weight. They are real moral forces who may, on occasion, decline to conform, who refuse to follow, the fashion or the crowd. Of such Frederick Doug lass became the leader when he pub ished his solemn conviction that "One l with God is majority"
 THE PARSON.