Rejoice in the Success of Other Men

Rejoice in the Success of Other Men By Dr. Franklin L. West, Director, School of General Science, Utah Agricultural College The right guard on the football team has pitted against him a man of greater weight, strength, and experience. In spite of his best efforts he cannot hold him. On the other hand, the half-back on his own team, due in part to the splendid in- terference of his team mates, is making large gains and no doubt will be featured in the Sunday supplement. What is the attitude of the guard toward his brilliant team mate? What is the attitude of the one forward on the basket ball team toward the other who makes most of the baskets? In the athletic contest each man is selected because of his special fitness and aptitude for a particular work, and that work features in every play executed by the team. If any man fails to hold his opponent, the latter breaks through, tackles the runner, and the play is ruined. No matter how spectacular the star is, if he will not adjust himself to the play and follow the interference he will fail. The men work together as a unit, operating as a well-oiled, perfectly adjusted machine, each man being a very important cog in that machine but valueless un- less he meshes with the others. In the great game of life there must be team play, because, in the big enterprises, such as business, the church, politics, government, and education, large numbers of men and women have been organized into a unit and thus are working together in a common cause, and their success in putting over the big job depends not alone on each one doing his particular work well but also upon the sympathy and support he renders his asso- ciates. Soured, envious people do not get along well with their fellows, because they cannot articulate and co-operate well with them. Musicians and artists by temperament seem to be so sensi- tive to criticism and public opinion, and so jealous of each other, that it is rarely that you find them working closely to- gether as real good friends. Many scientists have the same failing. The big problems for solution will only be solved when trained specialists, in different fields, unite for this solution, and yet not a few have failed to co-operate because of jealousy

REJOICE IN THE SUCCESS OP OTHER MEN 733 and the fear that they would not be justly recognized when the results of the research were given to the world. Most young ladies have difficulty in being good friends too, and in liking the most beautiful and popular girl of their com- munity, and the thought of their own plainness makes them most unhappy. Many married women, in part due to their iso- lated lives but most largely because of their inheritance from the past ages, when men have been so faithless to them, are painfully jealous, in many cases even objecting to ordinary business courtesy being extended by their husbands to lady friends. Jealousy is a hideous, many-headed monster and a source of great suffering to humanity. Another attitude of mind would be to consider all people as sons and daughters of God, and thus as our brothers and sisters, and to be vitally interested in their welfare and in in- creasing the sum total of human happiness. We might love them and delight in their success and joy even though we may have failed. ¥e might be generous in our opinions of others, rejoice with them, thus participate in all the happiness that exists around us, and unconsciously we will reflect it back and carry even into the dark places the light of a cheerful heart. The correct attitude for the person who is failing, toward one who is successful, in the same line of endeavor, is clearly exemplified by the following situation in the life of a great character of history: There came out of the wilderness a man clad in the home- liest attire, eating the plainest of food, calling the people to a new and better manner of living. Because of his earnest- ness, sincerity, and eloquence, his following rapidly grew, un- til the people all about Jordan came to him. for baptism. Even though his message was not a honeyed one, yet crowds were drawn to him, for his teaching aroused a great popular response. Years afterward his disciples were to be found in Alexandria, and in Rome and other great cities of Europe. His popularity is further attested in that, when Herod, the Tetrarch, the representative of the Great Roman Empire in Palestine, had him thrust into prison, he would have put him to death but for the fact that he feared the multitude, for they counted John as a prophet. John was thus held in this high regard in spite of the fact that he was a contemporary of the great Jesus who was his cousin. We would think much of the Master's estimate of the man, and he said of him: He is no reed shaken with the wind — there hath not been a man born of woman greater than he. While John's influence and popularity were thus at their

734 IMPROVEMENT ERA highest, Jesus came out from seclusion, appeared on the hanks of the Jordan, applied to John for baptism, and commenced his ministry. Although engaged in different phases of the same great work, the personalities of the two were quite differ- ent, and comparisons were made of them by their followers. John was stern, austere, ascetic, uncompromising with error, given to much fasting, and, on the whole, living a magnificent life of self-denial. Jesus sat down with publicans and sinners, was found at the marriage feast, and was more joyous, gentle, and refined. The warm place that John held in the hearts of the people was largely to be replaced by Jesus. The followers of John began to leave him and to become disciples of the Master. John's popularity decreased as that of Jesus increased. This touching scene is recorded in the scriptures: "Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God; and the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus" (John 1:35-37). Then a little later some of his remain- ing followers were discussing the subject of purifying, with some of the Jews, and they came to John with this rather unkind question: Why is that you are failing and Jesus is suc- ceeding? The scripture reads: " * * * Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan * * * behold, the same bap- tizeth, and all men come to him" (John 3:26). John was a magnificent character, possessing great self-respect, and he might have attempted to explain away Jesus' success and en- large on his own virtues, but he was too big a man to be envious. Note his reply: "Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ * * * he must increase but I must de- crease" (John 3:28, 30). There is his intellectual assent as to their relative positions; and now, in addition, note the spirit he manifested toward Jesus; likening Jesus to the bridegroom and himself to the friend, he said: "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled" (John 3:29). The Era in Germany Mission President Serge F. Ballif of the Switzerland-German Mission, writing from Basel, February 3, says: "The Era is appreciated here very much by the elders as a "word from home," which is the most pleasant thing a missionary can receive. Due to the ever increasing number of American missionaries, we would be obliged if you will increase the number sent us to eighty copies."