Evening star., 1923-12-28
Gospel of Fair Play.
Writer Urges 1t as Means Of
Bringing Peace to World.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Again peace on earth" season is
here. and there Is no peace. Though
bitter experience has shown that to
play fair Is wiser course than to
appeal to the use OF force, yet many
prefer the gospel Of force to that of
fair play. Let us not forget that
the gospel Of fair play is the oldest
Of all the gospels; that during the
500 years when every one practtced
fair play peace and prosperity pre-
vailed everywhere. II fair play was
now practiced by all. militarism and
pacifism, anarchism and 'demagogism
would automatically be eliminated
from all discussions
An increasing hatred Is reported
in many countries II that hatred
develops into activity. its destructive
effects may prove far-reaching. Many
remedies have been suggested for
this deplorable state Of affairs. Here
is another:
If ali Of us were to play fair dur
ing the coming twelve months, II is
reasonable to believe that there
WSed Ssn be sss eoes nasesd AGAIN. IN the Yes Il
Is easy for the Indifferent to say
that you can't get the people to
play fair" But the thoughtful pre-
fer to ring the changes on the ,a- af-
they believe that a majority Of the
people are ready to join in prop
erly organized movement to promote
the general adoption Of the gospel OF
fair play.
An ancient oriental tradition tells
how peace and prosperity prevailed
everywhere during the five hundred
years that all the people played fair,
introduced a GOSPEL Of unfair play. II
peace and prosperity prevailed dur
ing those FIVE centuries, why not dur
ing the years to come? The tradt-
tions are far too long to relate here.
Yet 2 condensed and modernizsd
should prove interesting to the many
who are praying for peace, legendary
though the traditions may be. Fol-
lowing is the substance OF a few sec
tions:
About fourteen thousand years ago.
as we count elapsed time, the first
parents Of the human race were di-
yineiy created, divineIy endowed. and
during their lifetime were guided and
instructed by heavenly agent act
ing under divine command. They
were taught how to use and make fire
and were given much other instruc-
| tion of q practical character, as well
as instruction of an ethical nature.
They were taught how to play fair
| with each other and with the chill
| The counselor explained that the
children would quickly learn to play
| fair IL they perceived that fair play
was the dominant motive in the lives
that 1t would be the duty of each gen.
| Grafton to notify every member of the
succeeding generation that a continu-
ance OF peace and prosperity was pos
| sible only as long as all continued to
| play fair
/ Tho first parents were taught tba =
| the worship most acceptable to the
| heavenly Father was the continual
! seeking of worthwhile knowledge;
| the training and develoryn ,nt of the
tell:g.r:t desire to play AR. also an
un at "g faith in the loving pro-
| tecttui. " a wise heavenly Father.
! whose watchful care would surround
i them as long as they and their de-
scendants refrained from unfair play.
Included in the divine endowment
!! was the power of knowing what was
unfair as well as what was fair play.
Unfair play was defined as having no
| consideration for personal or prop
| or for lawful authority. The pity is
that after all the people. during the
1 lifetime of about twenty-five genera
tiens. had found a JOY in playing fair
exploiting the people for personal
profit should have been able to
! gradually introduce unfair play.
| Let US help the world to again
! make fair play the ruling factor in
| all activities. 1t is true that it. can
| not be done in a month or a year;
| yet it can be done, and must be done,
and win be done some day. 1t will
| come in a. manner almost impercep-
| tible; but is bound to come. For il
| Is easy TO perceive the gradual
/ change in character of thought OF
| the people who are longing for
| peace on earth"
! Yes to persuade all the people to
play fair will be big undertaking.
But there are Americans who appear
/ to have been born to achieve the
! seemingly impossible. Don't waste
1 time wondering when success will
| come, but start at once to make sue
1 cess possible by organizing a fair
play society in your own home, your
/! own neighborhood. The only pledge
| required of members Is that they will
| always strive to play fair with self
and others. FRED DELAND.