Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-06
"THE RELIGION OF BUSINESS

atoms That nave had widespread ell
fccts have appealed to purely selfish
desires. Buddhism urged virtue on
the ground that it led to Nirvana;
Christianity. on the ground that 1t
led to heaven. In each of these great
religions, virtue was that line of con-
duct which would be pursued by
prudent e-Oist. Neither Of these,
however, has much influence on the
practical morality of our own time.
For energetic people, the moral code
of our time is that of success the
code which my genera ton learnt i'll
childhood from Smiles Self-help and
which modern youns men learn from
efficiency experts. In this code,
success" is defined rs the acquisition
% a large income. According to this
code. it is wicked for young man to
be late at the office, even If what has
DELAYED him is fetching the doctor
for a sudden illness Of his child; but
it is not wicked to Gust a competitor
by we'll timed. lebearins. Compe-
tition, hardwork, and rigid self-con-
troll are demanded by this code; its
rewards are dyspepsia and unuttera-
bic boredom. in all who have not
quite exceptional physique. BY COM
parison with it's votaries. st. Simeon
Stylites was voluptuary; neverthe-
less they. like him. are pure egoists.
Bertrand Russell in The Dial, Au-
gust, 1928.
Is business really in so bad a way?
Though "all the moral >eXhortations
have appealed to purely selfish de-
sires" is there no enlightenment for
our selfishness? Are we in business
OF out, learning nothing in the way
of securing the most lasting variety
OF happiness for ourselves. We don't
believe it. We don't like the bad
taste Mr. Russell's ideas leave. 1t
seems he has spoken but part of the
truth.
Our reading of the above was in
terrupted by caller. His business
Is health work, the interminable eff
fort to arouse the individual to rec
ognition of the individuals RESPONSE
bility, which is absolutely essential to
the eradication of diseases. Fifteen
years of propaganda have gotten re-
suits in tuberculosis, but, o Lord.
how long before the individual may
be aroused to like effort in respect to
other diseases; how long must it be
before he will realize that even
though he cross the street and pass
by on the other side, even though
there be not in him the divine spark
which kindled the helpfulness Of the
good Samaritan, he must meet, face
to face the very thing he would
avoid? There is no escape, the hand
which serves both sides of the street
Is contaminated.
The speakers eyes flashed. He had
experienced the sensation of one
whose fists beat against the unyield-
Ing wall across his path. 1t was evil
dent he was thinking Of his business
In the awakened spirit of the crusad.
err. He was seeing another goal than
his own personal income.
Is that zeal confined to the bust
health? We doubt it.
The conversation was interrupted
by telephone call. 1t was about
something which had been accom-
plished by certain public spirited
person. The speaker remarked that
so-and-so always got what he went
after, that he never was so happy as
when he was doing some service for
another.
Now, as all know, there has been a
method recognized and by some ad-
mred in business. the method of get
ting all the traffic will bear without
thought of service rendered. Even so,
there has been a leaven working in
many of such business men, leaven
that has found expression in endeav-
or to apply the fruits of that bust
ness conducted without thought of
altruism to altruistic accomplishing.
Oftener than not that effort has fall
ed. 1t is not easy to give judiciously.
The rigid eXactions of business
seem far from altruistic. Under
them the narrow Of vision become
martinets and dyspeptics. Under
the exacting methods OF society these
requirements, such as energy, eff
cheney and close application, may not
be disregarded even in the business
which of itself is public service.
But the number of those whose Wis
ion goes beyond petty limitations, we
believe to be on the increase. The
number of those, who apply to sue
cess attained in selling a nuisance
the same yardstick with which they
measure the success Of those selling
necessity, is growing less.
The phone caller did not mean that
the man he was discussing had no
regard for the merit Of the thing he
went after and got. On the contrary
he did mean that the seeker first de-
cided what was right and with zeal
went after it-and got it. AS a mat
ter Of fact those who acquire the
habit Of getting what they go after
usually discriminate in selecting
their cause and apply a zeal born of
that conviction to securing it.
So we see that we'll directed zeal is
useful in business, a zeal that may
pass for religion. if you will. Call it
enlightened selfishness, religion, or
whatever you please. this evidence