The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-20
What We Differ About
BIZ Baird MiteheN


between honest men In matters essential to human
happiness. here hereafter. hey all mean night no
matter Of what creed or of no Christian. Jew
Pagan or Heathen Il is usually. in fact may say
always of those things which men know the least and
Of which little or nothing can ever be known. that they
differ and wransle about the most and loudest
They can readily agree in their opinions upon what
they really know, or upon principles OF night and JUS
ice Whoever asserts that it IS wrong to steal, or bear
false witness, will find no opponents among honest
men. Definitions Of right and wrong vary but little
with enlightened minds and there will be found to be
hundred points of agreement between them to ono
of disagreement
II j, about the essential things of life. concerning
which men can best agree that makes society pleasant
and promove of the uuest happiness to its individual
Members This common level Of social life should be
clearly defined in every mind leaving the Individual
at liberty to traverse the byays and junes OF thought
unmoested In other words, we should learn to agree
in those matters which best the common good
and be willing to disagree in all things else. Common
courtesy should teach us be consderate and respect
full of the opinions Of others, however they may differ
from our own. Dogmatism is always something to
be deprecated as unworthy noble mind It is really
indicative of ignorance 1t is never pronounced as
with small and uncultured minds. The smaller the
mind the more dogmate it IS For one to assert Pos
lively that he is right and his neighbor wrong, con-
Cefnng Wnat aOOOlt 10
as absurd as for two blind men to fall out concerning
the nature of light
And yet there have been more bruised hearts and
broken heads growing out Of just such dogmatc asser
lion than the world has any idea Of But we rejoice
that the world is growing wiser in this respect Good
men and women of any sect, or of no sect. look SO
much alike in dress and general appearance. nova
days, and are so much alike in manner and purpose
that no one can distinguish the difference even if such
difference existed. Men no longer wear their faith
upon their seeyesn the cut of their coats, the shape
Of their collars or the color Of the neckdes-but in
their hearts and lives. We judge them by other
standards of value than by their professions of ceeds
or the length of their faces Sunday. No amount
Of piey, thai is not well supported by honesty and
good deeds. will any longer save man in the eyes
Of the church or the world
Enlightened thought everywhere has come to regard
goodness as very much Of quality, ms matter by
whom practiced This is as it should be. 1t shows
THAT the world is unfolding in the right direction 1t
i; 4 prophecy Of the coming time when the common
plane of thought will be so broad that there will be
but Ic room for side issues and when such differ
enccs Of opinion as we may have will be 50 Insignificant
comparatively as scarcely 10 create ripple on the deep
sea of thought. TIE world will become wiser and
better just as fast as we are willing that should
whenever we are ready to pool issues and unite
in common purpose for the common good.