Milford chronicle., 1919-08-22
THE VITAL NEED OF TRUTH

Z
Sunday, Aug. l7th)
"And Won shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free. st
John, viii, 80.
In the great problems Of social
moral and economic reconstruction
which all nations are now facing an
outstanding fact that must be recog-
nized now more than it has been in
the past is the necessity for honesty
and truthfulness.
The world has been sickened by a
deluge of propaganda so shaded by
dishonesty and subterfuge as to CLOAK
the moral weaknesses of individuals,
organizations and nations. The teem-
ing masses of the oppressed have been
startled into the realization that most
OF their sufferings of the past /hve
years have been rooted in the deceit,
/ hypocrisy and general misrepresenta-
/ ton by trusted leaders. This has
4 led TO the distrust Of all leadership
and a hatred of secret councils. Dis
trust of leadership is always danger
Gus unless it inspires people TO deep
er respect for truthfulness and an
earnest desire for its presentation at
any cost 1t seems that our people
have learned this important lesson and
that the instructive craving of the hu-
man heart is to be enshrined once
again.
Well may humanity turn TO truthful
ness and honesty as an important part
of the solution of the problems of the
day. How can the problems OF the
individuals, of the home, of the mu-
nicipality, of the State. of the nation
and all the nations be solved unless [
they be known? How can these prob (
lens be known unless they are honest (
Iy revealed? What is the advantage .
of wasting good thought and lavishing
human brains on problems that are
not realities? What is the benefit to
human progress to level our recon-
ammunition at camoufiage
Why should we allow the
development of human happiness to
be impeded by men who, through sell
fishness, strive to divert our attention
from the real issues of life by Great
ing imaginary ones? Why should we
permit society's ingenuity to be vast
ed on the shell of the problem when
/ little more courage and little more
honest revelation would carry this
ability into the kernel of our difficult ,
les ? Common sense and the conser-
Iation of intellectual and sociable abil-
ty demand the destruction of hypocrisy,
deceit, lying and misrep- :
esentation. A short cut to the social :
md political stability at which re-
construction is aiming can be obtain
ID only through the avenue of truth
illness and honesty. $
The three great factors in the lives :
# those who read this contribution
re the individual, the neighbor and :
iod In fact, this must be the funda- :
mental thesis of Christian sociology, :
nd any other Interpretation is con- :
rary TO the great law of love of self,
1ve of neighbor and love of God The :
aunting and haunting experiences of :
ach individual conscience demon :
trate that we can be really happy ;
My when we are honest with our :
elves. This is difficult process, but
is vital Human experience always :
roves that social happiness, whether :
be political, moral, economic or :
cannot be solid or progress
lNG unAG66 II uG UuAAl Ou q luuuuaLlQn -
trustfulness in the honesty and :
of our neighbors. The :
lodern business world may discount :
lis in actual life, but the discounting :
roves the truth of the assertion. Dis :
onesty with the Diety, all-knowing :
nd all-wise, is folly. The great re- :
Itions of life demand absolute homes =
:, sincerity and steadfast, self-sacri- :
cling allegiance to Truth. :
Jesus Christ, the Founder of the re- :
gious and ethical principles through :
hich real happiness has been obtain =
/, must have realized the necessity :
truth in human and divine revela- =
ons. One of His strongest assertions :
as that He was the TRUTH. His =
ghteous anger was stirred up when :
e beheld his people misled by hy- =
Dcrisy and deceit. His Church has 8
efended these principles in the :
enches of life for more than nine =
en hundred years. Perhaps in the =
'ber and at the same time dispairing =
oments of reconstruction, history, =
Iperience and religious faith will =
'ge our leaders to the need of truth =
the rehabilitation of our national =
Id international affairs. The press =
IN help strip the veneer from the i'm 8
'rtant things of life. Our church =
ust and is prepared to add its force =
the re-establishment of human hap =
ness by insisting on the viciousness =
hypocrisy and absolute necessity of =
nth. =
IGNATIUS SMITH, o. P. =
lstor of the Roman Catholic Church =
of St Catherine of Sienna, New 8
York City. =
This space donated for the good of =
e cause by E. P. Gabhard. of -