Year: 1866

the generosity of the golden rule must


Of course tie restricted within the linn


its of justice. Having thus noticed


the manner in which the golden rule


may be misrepresentcd and misappled,
1t Is now time to speak Of its applica-
ton, as one of the great principles un-
der the guidance of which man ought
to live. | believe there is not much
diversity Of opinion as to the value of


this rule. 1t meets with almost uni


versal approval. Every one reminds
his neighbor of it almost every one
boasts that he always observes it, and


from the great admiration with which
the golden rule is regarded, and the


praise heaped upon it, it might be sup
posed that this precept governed all
| and regulated all mems conduct; that
! all their words and all their works


were carefully measured by this rule


But notwithstanding the amount of ad-


mlration which this great principle so
! generally and almost universally CON-


mands, there is a general, an almost


universal complaint that it is not prac-


tically honOred. The rule most gene


rally recognized is rather this, not,
! "W hatsoever ye would that men should
do to yOu," but Whatsoever We find


that men do to you, do ye even so to


them" People are perpetually say
ling to each other, Do as you would be
| done by" but those who expect others
to act thus to them, seem never to


think that they are also thus to act to


Others. Now, instead of thus COM


planning Of each other and storming at


each other, because this law is not OBJ
served, 1t will be much more sensible


course for every man to see to it that
he himself, in all his conduct, acts as
the law requires, for it is not given to
Eus by its great author, as an instru-
ment of criticism and means of de-
tecting our neighbor's faults, but as a
rule for the correction of our own. [
dare say you can point to many a man,
. that you are at this very moment
thinking of some man, who does not.
DO as he would be done by !; but posi-.
bly,, some one is thinking and saying
dust the same thing Of you, and with
Huite as good reason This, then,
itlBuld be the ruling principle in all bu-
fsiness transactions. In all such trans
actions, each party is, by this law, re-
4dired TO suppose himself in the posi-
zion of the other, to consider what be


would have fair reason to expect were
ihe in the position Of the other and to
act accordingly. Therefore, whatever
may be our situation or business in life,
there is relationship existing, that is
not properly valued by the creature in
the sphere in which he is called to act


And as there are great Developments
made by the ration in all practical OPP
erations in machinery, which are still


nearing perfection why are not those


proper developments made on this
golden rule, for the benefit of practical
life? A golden chain, the links of
which unite the hearts of men togeth-
er, and thereby bind the heart Of the
patton; producing the happy result
both of social and pecuniary benefit.
But casting our thoughts broadcast
upon the world, we discover that those
principles are made subservient to ava
rice and pride, "thc sin that is re-
proach to any nation" If it were the
kind of pride that would elevate and
cultivate and make practicable the
principles of the royal law, we could
rejoice in the prospect of salutary re-
suits But men generally labor as if


their wealth, comfort, and happiness,


were couched within their own efforts


and Judgement; but not so, man should


answer to man, by adapting his labors


to the benefit of others, and thereby


fulfil another noble precept, in "Not


seeking our own, butanother' wealth"


Our effort should be to root up the ex-


listing evils of society, and not seek


who may be most apt in sowing the


seeds of evil and discord in not MAX


ing these noble principles subordinate,


but subservient to the best interest of


society laying aside individual inter


est, the idea that self is the man; the


mighty love of the dollar, which is the


root of all evil, and fail to obtain it,
from a non-application of the golden


rule; and by which many are blind
folded, and have no scruple of guilt, of
conscience. Now the result Of this is,
that we either are ignorant, or wlitul-
" violate this generous and universal
command. Oh Away with such dia-


bolical ignorance Away with such


wiIful depreciation Of known duty. 1t


will all perish in the grave. Yes, worse,


it will be means of binding our souls


to an eternal fate. The adoption of
bad principles are worse than none at
all; by it we forfeit the true benefits
of society, and lose the diadem of life;
the boon which our Heavenly Father
gratuitously bestowed upon all.


Samuel Poorman, son of Lieut.. w.
f. Poorman, had his right hand horribly
lacerated by some of the machinery in the