Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-11
follow in the direction which our
standards lead us.

follow in the direction which our
standards lead us.
But there are two kinds of hypoc-
risy. Ordinarily we use it only in
the case of a man who tries by his
outward action or by his statement
some worthier motives than those
which really control him. But what
about the man who has worthy
ideals and in fact acts in accordance
with them, but at the same time
goes about and denounces the fact
that he really believes in the best in
terests of men-that he has no faith
in the power of friendship, the
necessity of justice, the Importance
Of fairness and the worth of beauty.
Many of us are in just this condi-
ton. because although we follow the
trend of the day in denying the value
of the idealizing qualities of niel
nevertheless we prove by our very
actions time and time again that our
denial is not true to ourselves. Why
not be honest with ourselves and ad-
NIT to others and to ourselves that
we are as good as we really are.
And it is really very important
that we should thus admit our true
selves, because it is by the very state
ments which we make about our be-
lief that the intangible thing known
as public opinion" is formed. If we
believe that there is any virtue in
justice. in mercy in fair play and If
we really believe in it, then it IS up
to us to take our part in thus report
ing it SO that public opinion shall be
a true and an honest one. For it is
only in this way that the public can
have any direction in the settling OF
the intricate economic and political
questions which conduct us by the
insistence that these points of view
shall be taken into consideration. we
do it by making public opinion and
it is made in just this way of being
honest with ourselves and admitting
that we are as good as we really are.
This will make the force of pubic
opinion honest to us as individuals
ana OIL SuIlClcllI OIL SiiSti W AiN 49,
effect upon those whose SPECIFIC task
it is to find the way to solutions OF
the current social and political ana
economic problems.
But there is also the effect on the
individual himself if he is honest to
his better nature rather than hypo-
critically trying to disguise it and
throwing out a cynical exterior. He
strengthens in himself more and more
that worthy side of his character by
the very amount Of emphasis that he
gives to it and by the very attention
which he directs toward it.
Beside the common methods OF
thus announcing ourselves-the
method of living truly. the method
Of admitting to others that that side
of life does have its effect upon US
there is the other method of coming
together in groups where the common
basis of understanding is that that
feature of life is worth while and
significant. There are many such
groups meeting all the time, many
public meetings are held together by
this fundamental basis of agreement.
Among them is the gathering of
men and women in the churches OF
the country. They have this com
mon ground. that they all believe
that there is such a thing as a moral
law to be obeyed and a faith to he
affirmed and strengthened in the best
interests of the human race.
In the case Of the church group,
however. there is one more feature
which is all important and which is
lacking in any other group which
thus gathers-the faith that there is
a God in the world. Thus in the
church service men and women are
not only looking at the problems of
life from the point of view of the
idealizing power in men and thus
registering their belief in it's neces-
sity and importance in the settlement
of the questions of the day, but also
they are seeking those same problems
with the common idea of faith in a
God which is of importance to the
settlement of the questions, for 1t
gives them a greater significance and
permanence and importance not only
to the men and women of this gen.
Grafton. but also of generations to
come and the world itself.
But there is one further reason for
expressing our true selves. Imagine
the case of a ruler of a backward
land who entertains certain anbi-
tons for the advancement of his peo-
pie. They have not yet appreciated
the point Of view which he holds nor
seen his vision. Suddenly one day
one \small group in the land sees a
little vision leading in the direction
which the rulers larger one tends.
They came together to affirm their
discovery and to pledge loyalty to
the vision. What rejoicing there
must be on the part of the ruler to
at last see the people coming to APP
preciate what he sees. Suppose that
in a similar way God appreciates and
cares whether or not we come to-
gether in groups to affirm and pledge