Slander

Slander. BY GEORGE D. KIRBY.

It has became a habit with me, when assigned a subject for discussion, to go to my Bible for a text; so, on the subject of "Gossip," I followed my usual course, and my surprise was great when, looking through the "word-book," I failed to find any refer- ence the word "gossip." in the scriptures to My next step, then, was to look up the dictionary, and see what explanation Mr. Webster attached to the word, and I found, "Gossip, a tale- bearer. Not until then did it occur to me that a gossip was a ' '

bearer of tales, a scandal-monger, or one addicted to slander. I

was not longer at a loss for a text, for the Good Book contains many references to that word, "slander." I took the first I came to: Exodus 23: 1, "Thou shalt not raise a false report; put not

thine hand with the wicked, to be an unrighteous witness." The prevalence of this fault is amazing, when one stops to think for a moment. Very few people, if any, are exempt from it. Men are as great gossipers as women. There is nothing some men like better than a scandal, and if this is not forthcoming, they enjoy talking about other folk's affairs. Get a man at a social gathering, and gossip will not be lacking for a minute. But the men do not do it all. It is a deplorable fact that much of the conversation indulged in by our women folks is in the nature of criticism, sometimes of their very best friends. But it is not done in a spirit of malice: it seems to be simply the universal method of keeping up an interesting discussion. Since the days of Noah, the way in which some people have talked about their neighbors has made the more judicious grieve, and before the tower of Babel was completed, no doubt the spice of conversation was that which

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related to the latest scandal. Threats have been made, laws passed, and we read in our early history that scolds and gossips were ducked in the river, in order to check the bearing of scandal, but all to no avail. Like the poor, the gossip "is always with us." Now, it is a positive fact that no good comes of this habit. The man, in whatever field he may be engaged, should always bear in mind that it never pays to criticize any person unjustly. No one helps himself by slurring another. Such conduct tends to raise, in the mind of the listener, a question about the man who is

trying to depreciate another. The "hammer" is a weapon dan- gerous to the man who uses it, as he is quite as likely to smash his own fingers as to drive his purpose home. It is a critical habit to drift into. When we come to judge people, we must remember that we see so very little of what they really are. Life does not consist of one intense joy, nor of one great sorrow; it is the accumulation of the little things that con- stitutes living, so do not be critical of the little faults, and, per contra, be quick to find the little virtues and to praise them. If a person's heart is impure, his life will be impure. Solomon said,"As a man thinketh in himself, so he is;" and the same wise man said, "Keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."Evil deeds spring from evil thoughts. A person whose thoughts are pure, need not be afraid that his actions will be impure; they cannot be, because, as Solomon said, "The issues of life proceed from the heart." A man because he sees the defi. ciencies of others, fancies himself to be enlightened when in reality he is ignorant, because he has never stopped to reflect on his own shortcomings. "Be not deceived: God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." If you expect a harvest of joy, you must sow joy; if you expect hope, peace, love, the seeds of these must be abundantly scattered. In the eastern countries there is one great rule which guverns all relations between man and man, a rule which is so simple as to be within the reach of all; the disciple is bidden to never give pain to another creature. We also are taught the same, but there are so many demands made by our false personality, under the names

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of righteous indignation, proper pride, self-respect, just anger and the various forms of criticism and judgment, that the pain we are causing by our word is lost sight of. Milton says: "Goodness thinks no ill, where no ill seems." Never did any soul do good, but it became readier to do the same again, with more enjoyment. Never was love or gratitude or bounty practiced, but with increased joy, which made the practicer still more in love with the fair act. We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground and grow up into benevolence in the minds of others, and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom whence they spring. Once blest are all the virtues; twice blest, sometimes. If we enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost our disposi- tion will be made better, our hearts will be filled with love for our fellow creatures, we will become more charitably disposed, and harsh- ness will disappear, because our hearts will be in a condition good and lovely. The gospel will not only affect our minds and our souls for good, but soften the harsh, rugged features, mellow the feelings, and plant love in the heart where hate once dwelt, and we will then become a delightsome people. Sugar City, Idaho.

The Blessing of Them that Fear the Lord. "Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength? For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a de- fense from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling. He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing." — Ecclesiasticus 34: 15-17.