Respectability

Respectability BY JOSEPH QUINNEY, JR. "People who are waited upon by a serving class cannot have a just consideration of others, that they waste both time and substance, both of which are lost forever, and can only partially be made good by additional effort." "The person who lives on the labors of others, not giving in return to the best of his ability, is really a consumer of human life, and therefore no better than a cannibal." Every moment of time spent in contributing comfort to others, rk jl ministration to one's own soul. There is nothing that comes into the life of an individual that is more productive of soulculture than an effort made in developing and helping others. The individual whose person and character reflect the nobility which results from a life of helpfulness to others, has made for himself a sure and enduring place in the respect of his fellows. For respectability is more a matter of doing than the mere thought of being, just as the beautiful is higher than the good, because the beautiful contains all the good. The doing of a good act is a beautiful thing when the motive is unselfish and high, and yet, we are sometimes deceived in the attitude of individuals who apparently contribute a kindness when the motive behind that act is wholly selfish. These individuals are purely selfservers, consumers of human life. They are the parasites who subsist upon the efforts of others. They put on an appearance of dignity in the presence of society, spending more time upon the cleanliness of their wearing apparel, than in purging from their souls wicked thoughts which eventually become spoken words, and criminal deeds. These individuals are measured by what they have on, and not what they have within. They consume not only your time, but they spend your money, attack your good name, they ruin your family, and disgrace your community, yet these individuals pass as a respectable type, and move about in social circles almost unchallenged. *An Address to the faculty and students of the State Agricultural College, April 16, 1912.

RESPECTABILITY 801 No person can have in his heart corrupt and wicked thoughts, and stand the test. There comes inevitably into his life a time when this assumed respectability has lost its virtue, dignity and pride, and finally this individual sinks into oblivion among the ruins of the forgotten past. % He no longer has any claim on what is considered decent and upright, because he has contributed nothing to the uplift of his associate ; he has given nothing to society, but" has wrought only misery and distress. So after all, the true respectability is the doing, the acting, and the saying of intensified, pure, and good thoughts. There is a difference in the conception of respectability, but only in so far as the grade of humanity goes, the underlying principle of all true respectability is the same. There was a time when priests and teachers of theology, by reason of their station, laid first claim in the minds of people to exalted respectability. Their wearing apparel indicated the supernatural in the eyes of the community ; they could read and write, and by reason of this distinction they were different from other people. In fact, they were so different from, and so high above, that they were exempt from all criticism, and stood as it were, the great spiritual and temporal heads of the community in which they lived. There was a time in the history of these individuals when they were even responsible for torture, imprisonment and for death to those who dared say a word in their own defense and individual liberty. And yet these people wore the crown of respectability. Theirs, however, was a respectability that came to them through fear, awe and superstitious reverence, and not through the qualities of life which win the enduring love of humanity. Wider education and literary environment bring about a different conception of things. During the time that I have just cited, respectability rested largely upon position. The position was too often used for the enforcement of a selfish motive. The position, however, was well established and it required character to show that this kind of respectability was not conducive to the best interests of the people. Savonarola, one of the purest souls of his time, set about to bring to his people a moral reform, a respectability, if you please, for the word of God that had long been lost. This man was a peasant, and in his young years was ugly and much disliked, even

802 IMPROVEMENT ERA by his own family, but he had a magnificent and a beautiful soul. His old grandfather would take him in the field among the flowers and trees, play the flute to him, and explain the high moral relationship that should exist among God's children. So susceptible was this young boy to the teachings of the old man, that, he simply absorbed everything that his venerable old companion said. His soul developed along the natural lines of love and of beauty, as they came to him from the woods, green fields and flowers. This inspiration grew upon him, and it happened, naturally, that instead of the old man playing to the child, the boy was playing the flute, and explaining in a more intensified way, the beautiful and higher things to the old gentleman. It was a companionship of true respectability that united two souls in divine love. The Monks grew to like and respect this young boy, and the rapidity with which he advanced in their schools soon brought him to a place where he could command not only their respect, but the respect of all those with whom he met. He was permitted to take charge of classes, talk to other students, and in a general way advocate some of the ideas that had grown into his life while he lived with his old grandfather. He was now growing, he was absorbing all that came within the range of this experience. The mighty truths that the old man had taught him were, at this time, developing strong and fast ; the practical use of a high idea was the development of this wonderful boy. Whenever it was learned that Savonarola was going to talk, all the countrv came out to hear him. His mighty power was being felt, not only within his own circles, but it extended far into the province that comprised the territory in which he lived. The mighty force which he exercised, together with the great moral lessons he had received in his younger life, the freedom he had breathed into his soul, all were being felt by those who came within his range. His great soul filled every other soul with love and honesty, and with a reverence for God that had not been experienced since the days of Christ himself. So effective was his philosophy and teaching, that the entire religious world was moved one notch higher in the scale of morality. So great was the respectability thit came to him that those who were higher ecclesiastically became alarmed at the mighty influence he was exercising over the people. They took him and warned him, and rewarned him, to

RESPECTABILITY 803 retract some of his statements. It was discovered that the conception of respectability was being changed. Individuality was being exercised. Freedom was being breathed into the hearts of the people, and young Savonarola was cited to appear before the Vatican at Rome. He refused absolutely, and was therefore placed in irons, imprisoned, and died proclaiming God's word of liberty and freedom to the people. He died with a respectability attached to his immortal name which will live forever. The life and the influence of this young man shows the potency of a benevolent life in shaping the conceptions of men. There is a divinity in man's heart, which, when developed, carries with it a force, a conviction and power. In this man's life, there was an irresistible power, an unalterable conviction that to him was right. It won for him a respect that should be everlasting and firm. The worth of the man was generally known and appreciated by the masses of the people, and they honored him for the stand he had taken. Those who felt the reverence and respect of the people slipping away from them, leaving the reverence based upon appearance and position, and transferring itself to him whose life was an inspiration, adopted means to destroy both him and his mission. They destroyed his body. He still lives. They are dead and forgotten. The kind of respectability that lives is that which gives and establishes reputation and character, and character only comes to individuals who seek through honest effort the respect and confidence of their fellows. The savage of the long ago was a respectable being, only in so far as he was able to kill wild animals. If he was brave and fearless, he was the hero of the race. His respectability was firmly established in the hearts of his people. The suggestion of the life of this brave man was accepted and acted upon by other young braves. They had ambition to surpass this respected hero, and as they advanced along this special line of action they gained in respectability and confidence. I mention this to show that the conceptions at different periods of our world are different in relation to this principle of respectability. The thing that would appeal to one as the ideal, and worthy of commendation, would not appeal to the other in just the same way. Even now in our civilization we have not gone very far ahead

804 • IMPROVEMENT ERA of the savage. This because of the selfishness which characterizes our efforts. Our motto today is, as it was long ago, "To the victor belong the spoils." We are yet savage in the nature of our endeavor to excel in reputation. Avariciousness and selfishness are the bases upon which many of us operate. There are many of us who live on the reputation of others, and unfortunately respectability comes to us through their efforts. We have a tone of kindness minus the kindness, a thoughtful look without the thought. This kind of respectability is not even as good or as high as the respectability which comes to the savage. His respectability is based upon individual effort, and is in a degree honorable. The other is dishonorable and degrading. Our modern society is full of just such individuals. They appear to be what they are not, and there is decided absence of sincerity manifested in the disposition to shirk and evade responsibility. It is said, "The intent of life is to make an impression upon other people, and this and this alone is the controlling impulse in what is called good society." Insincere people are always known by their lack of responsibility. Consequently, the impression they make, or attempt to make, is simply artificial, and their imposition on society is finally detected. The impression made by a sincere and honest person is everlasting, no matter whether it is in good or bad society. What is generally called society, is the interpretation placed upon actions of individuals who form themselves into groups, and participate in frivolous, and nonsensical living. These are individuals who are continually causing to appear on the surface what their hearts do not contain. The tendency in this modern society is to make an impression no matter at whose expense, or what it costs as long as they do not have to foot the bills. The woman, for instance, in this class of society, who can dress the best has no respect for the one whose means and circumstances in life will not permit of extravagance; her main ambition is to appear respectable through the guise of dress, and the activities of her mind are centralized on the one absorbing thing — "how can I make an impression without the cost of responsibility" — for very often she sacrifices her all, even her very sor1 to appear respectable in this socalled society. To abstain from work is to her a respectable thing. This

RESPECTABILITY 805 sinful waste of energy spells misery and death. A respectability founded upon such a basis will fade slowly away and become forgotten, because it is in direct conflict with God's natural laws. I believe when we enter the social, the religious or the business world, there should be three things which should characterize our lives, three great moral truths, if you please. Honesty, Sincerity, Reverence, these three measure the usefulness of mankind. With the first a confidence is firmly established on a solid foundation. Our whole physical and moral success hinges upon this one principle. It should, and must enter into every phase of our life. Honesty is better than money, better than goods, better than the whole world. I do not wish to confine this principle to the mere abstinence from taking things that do not belong to us, but I wish to apply it more forcibly to the individual who appropriates other people's time and efforts to his own selfishness and greed. This kind of dishonesty consumes human life. The man who steals from his brother or sister his time or good name does him an irreparable injury. By the principle of honesty, I mean that a man should be unselfish in his desire to contribute to the uplift of others, to take on so to speak, the other principle, sincerity, because sincerity bears a close and fast relationship to honesty They are inseparably connected. To be sincere is to be respected. How beautiful it is to meet a sincere friend and shake his hand, because in so doing, you are entering into his soul. A sincere person has always in his heart the courage of his convictions, no matter whether it is in religion, in society, or in business, on the farm, or in the school room, and with these two principles, there comes a reverential feeling which is divine. These three, Honesty, Sincerity and Reverence, constitute a respectability which will stand all scrutiny and bring unto the world peace and love. LOGAN, UTAH.