The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-12-21
HARMONY.

tones, thoughts, or feelings, individ-
ually different, combine to form
consistent and pleasing whole, there
is harmony. Harmony is deeper and
more essential than agreement. In
deed there may not be an agreement
as touching any one thing, but there
can certainly be harmony when the
interests Of a nation, state. county,
community, church or family are in
volved, for these have rights differ
ent from those of individuals. 1t is
a chord that binds us all together
for our mutual protection, happiness
and prosperity.
For more concrete example let
us take, say, that of community in
teerst. Where there is harmony a.
mong the people the stranger who
comes among them is impressed with
the atmosphere and likes to linger,
which is invitation enough of itself
for him to remain or come again.
Should he go away he tells the story
to other people. 1t has its effect for
good. And say, desn't a community
need all the kind words it can get?
We like to see a fellow brag on his
town.
If on the other hand the stranger
finds the people of the town split up
into factions-political and other
wise-each with long knives for the
other, he speedily shakes the dust of
+hot +ou,y FROM off bic Foot opd uh a I
he says about it when he gets away
is aplenty. There are some men so
bitter against certain other men in
the same town that they wouldn't
want to go to heaven if they knew
the other fellow stood any chance to
get converted and squeeze in. They
are hated just as cordially in return,
and oppose everything under the sun
their opponents favor. In the mean
time the community suffers. Many a
good thing has gone glimmering be-
cause it happened to be sponsored by
some particular faction.
fractional politics will kill any
community in the world, and there
are those who are playing the game
purely and solely for their own pri-
vaSg interests. They appear to be
terribly interested in the public, but
really and truly at heart with them
it is the public be damned
o! that all men everywhere would
conflicts and differences and unite
for the common good of their respec-
tive communities. If we know our
heart we haven't aught against any
living human being, and our sincere
desire and prayer is to spend the re-
mainder of our days in genuine en-
deavor to Lelp others. God knows
we want harmony for our part-and
we are going to have it if we have to
fight for it! - Lawrence County
Press.
Amen! Bro. Dale. But, the sort of
peace one has to fight for" ism t
worth the sacrifice of life and limb
and imputation of "unChristian con-
duct" Peace must come from a
changed attitude toward the cause
of friction or inharmony, even if the
opposing force fails to accept the
spiritual offering thus manifested
and continues the fight" in the
dark.
A conscience void of offense to-
ward God and man" will bring plain
peace-but it isn't near so fruitful
of delightful results as when the Of
fender "co-operates" and you can
shake hands and feel the thrill of
renewed fellowship and good will.
The whole community feels the sting
of personal antagonism.
Editor Dale has the right spirit.
At the blessed Christmas time we
would that every home and the
world at large could feel the rever-
beration of Peace on earth, good
will toward men" to their utmost
limitations and that those in touch
of hand and sound of voice would
help it on by the Christian grace
that should characterize every indi-
vidual in public and in private
whose life helps or hinders in a more
far-reaching way than he or she
seems to realize.
A drunken man or a gambler can
be arrested and punished under the
law; but the man of an ungracious,
malicious and venomous spirit does
mt come under the law and the sta
tutes and may continue to pose as
a gentleman while his influence re-
tards and obstructs not only har-
mony and enterprise but those who
cannot help but be influenced by
him. The awful responsibility of
such men is beyond computation for
mo man liveth to himself" and
some other life is going to be warp
ed or dwarfed or marred in some
way by an aggressor of this type a.
gainst the moral code.
May the New Year find us all a
little nearer the goal of the highest
ideals of living and loving.