Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-01
MUMPSIMUS
By H. AddingtOn Bruce

r / is rich, full-sounding word is mump-
sinus. 1t is a word, too, neat and precise
- in its significance. That it has been per-
mitted to slip out of the language, until to-
day it is classified with obsolete words is to
me thing incomprehensibile.
For no word has been coined to take it's
place Yet the need for a word such as
mumpsimus is as great as ever it was-per-
haps greater.
Let me recall if you please, its derivation.
Centuries and centuries ago there was a
monk who persistentIy misread in his BREW
airy the Latin word "sumpsimus," pronounce
ing it as though it were spelled "mumpsi-
mus" His error was pointed out to him by
kindly superiors, but he would not brook
correction by them.
Have it 'sumpsimus,' If you like" was his
retort. But 1 was taught 'mumpsimus,' and
to me it will be 'mumpsimus' to the end Of
my days"
Everybody laughed at the monk for his
stubborn adherence to a false idea. Gradu-
ally his "mumpsimus" came into usage to
connote impervousness to correction. So
that we find Latimer, for example, writing:
''Some be so obstinate in their old mump-
sinus that they cannot abide the true doc
trine of God"
Have we no need of crying "Mumpsimus"
today?
Not in theology only, but in politics, in
economics, in sociology, in business, in think
ing, and in conduct generally, there are no
end of people to whom "mumpsimus" may
we'll be applied.
Here is a man who insists that the mem
bers Of a certain race are innately inferior
to the race to which he belongs. 1t is point
ed out to him that the people Of that race
may simply lack the environmental and ed
vocational advantages his own race has en-
joyed; and that, given these, the seeming in
ferority might soon be swept away.
To such an argument he calmly responds
maybe SO, but you can never get me to
lfC+1o
all those who helped to rear me, taught me
that the people of that race were inferior,
and I accept their teachings. So long as I
live that race will be inferior to my way Of
thinking"
And here is another man who holds that
none who belongs to a particular religious
sect can be a good citizen.
But" it is pointed out to him, "the be-
havior of those in that sect makes it clear
that they not only can be but are good cit
liens. They think as good citizens should
with regard to matters vital to the state,
They talk and vote and work as good citizens
should to strengthen the state"
Nevertheless" says he, "my father and
my grandfather, all those who helped to rear
me, taught me that the people of that faith
could not possibly be good citizens, and to
me they never can be good citizens"
Isn't there a place for "mumpsimus" in
the language of the twentieth century?
Isn't there a use for "mumpsimus," need
for eXclaiming the WORD Vigorously scolH-
ingly, when we fall into convers with, an ad-
herent of ancient falsities and blSotr1es' or
hear ancient falsities and bigotrles proclaim
ed from public platforms?
'Mumpsimus! Mumpsimus! Mumpsimus!
is a reproach which, I verify believe, II used
as freely as it ought to be used, would soon
clear the social atmosphere of much that IS
inimical to national solidarity and safety
Bring mumpsimus back, I urge, into popu-
lar usage. -
It viii lhelp to solve many a problem now
threatening that unity Of thought and sentl-
ment which every people must nave II they
aspire to gain or to retain conspicuous posi-
ton in the civilized world.
copyright, 1928, |by the Associated News
DaDerS.1