Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-03
THE POWER OF
RACE-THOUGHT


fiuence upon US of Race Though
Let me say a few things for the read
ers of this Paper in regard to thi
matter.
Most of ust, suppose are learning
that thoughts in general, particularly
our own, are the one persistent force
that determine the conditions of oul
lives-HAs he thinketh in his heart sc
is he" There is constant CORES
pondence between our habits of think
ing and our outward conditions whe
Their as to health or illness, success OF
failure, happiness or misery.
But the thoughts of others are al
ways influencing US and there are
thoughts that almost every one is
thinking, the influence of which upor
our lives is inescapable
Let it never be forgotten that a
considerable body of this Race
Thought is most rational and useful
and by it the race makes daily pro-
gress. We may describe this helpful
body of thought as those thoughts
which every one, everywhere and
all the time, has been thinking. We
may state them in a few very simple
propositions:
/. 1t is better to be true than false,
trust worthy than treacherous.
2. 1t is better to be clean than fill
thy whether as to body or mind.
8. 1t is better to be kind than cruel.
tender than hard hearted.
4. 1t is better to be generous than
stingy, a wise giver than a mere re-
ceiver
5. 1t is better to save in prosperous
days than to be a spendthrift.
6. 1t is better to provide for old age
than become a burden to others.
z. 1t is better to forgive and forget
than be vindictive and vengeful.
8. 1t is better to earn ones living
by honest, useful work than be a para
site
Almost any one may extend this
list indefinitely and ring many changes
IN it. You will see at once that these
things have been believed always and
everywhere by every one who has done
any reasonable thinking at all.
And we all are under the influence
Of these common Race Thoughts to
our constant advantage
But there is also a body of Race
Thought that we need to guard
against. These thoughts are associat-
ed mainly with four words beginning
with D. Disease, Disaster, Dishonor,
Cor Disgrace) and Death. The read
er will easily think of other words
also beginning with D that belong to
the same company. AS Doubt, De-
spair, Encouragement.
And there is general idea that we
are all born to all sorts of ills. A
text in the book of Job is responsible
for good deal of race thought of the
wrong kind MAN is born to trouble
as sparks are to fly upward"
But as a matter of universally
known fact, it is even more true to
'ay that man is born to satisfactions,
enjoyments, successes and progress
even as birds to fly or fishes to swim
or flowers to bloom and be fragrant.
Where our Faith works by love"
and perfect love casts out fear we
are makers and givers of life and
happiness, and find that we were born
to splendid achievement and beauti-
full Life.
| have seen any number of proofs
and demonstrations of this. | know
a man, Lu her Witt, more than eighty
years of age who told me he had never
been sick in bed day in his life, never
needed a doctor or drugs, had cleared
up two large farms, one in the East
and one in the west, one farm woods
and one from stones and was able at
80 to do more work than most men in
their fifties.
Certainly he was born to splendid
achievement and useful, honorable,
happy life | have known number of
such men and also women. There is
no greater or more injurious mistake
than thinking we are born to trouble.
Our Father in Heaven brings US into
life to make life a perpetual joy to
us and if we live right, that is think
right, and act accordingly we may
triumph over all ills and find our path
that of the just that shines more and
more to the perfect day.
And if any reader finds himself or
herself a seeming failure 50 FAR even
yet you may have new mind from.
1927 and begin anew and go on your
way rejoicing R. NJ. Webster, 1749
DacaJara Ca1if