A Lesson From Huckleberry Finn October 12, 1969
On this matter of our supposed emancipation from morality, may we forthrightly reaffirm this fact: that unhappiness, frustration, and impairment of the minds and lives of young and old alike, come...
A New Crop of Fools Comes On… July 6, 1969
This message was sent to a president of the United States by a group of concerned young people: “We stand for preservation of our heritage through obedience to law.”1 Without law, we...
A Word Called Compassion… May 4, 1969
There is a word in our language that is called compassion _ a sense of sympathy, a sense of fellowship in feeling, a sense of others’ suffering _ and it puts us in mind of some lines from...
All Your Danger Is in Discord… August 3, 1969
There are these lines from Longfellow: “All your strength is in your union.. All your danger is in discord. Therefore be at peace henceforward, And as brothers live together.”1 And he...
And Even Forgive Ourselves August 10, 1969
All of us are aware at times of fretfulness and frustration⎯and are sometimes troubled, discouraged, and discontent, as we lose the peace and sense of purpose that are always so essential to an...
And What of Death...? April 6, 1969
Some of the loneliest of loneliness in life comes with loss of loved ones, and some of the most sobering concern comes with wondering where they are and when again shall we see them. Moved by such...
Chance Could Not Have Done It… July 13, 1969
As men move farther out from the magnificent earth and look back on its awesome beauty, its movement, its precision and proportion, upon the wondrous working, and magnificent majesty of it all, we...
Christmas--and Memories to Your Children December 21, 1969
At Christmas there is so much intermingled – children – innocence, expectancy; loved ones – homecoming, happiness and mellow moods; generosity in remarkable measure, and some emerging of our better...
Clean--What a Wonderful Word… November 16, 1969
There is a word that has within it some wonderful possibilities for safety, for self-respect, for personal peace, and the word is called “clean.” Clean hands, clean hearts, clean homes;...
Does Anyone Know of a Better Bet? June 1, 1969
Education--to What End…? September 21, 1969
There is a sentence from Samuel Johnson that suggests a persistently important subject: “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless…” he said. “Knowledge without integrity is...
For Directions on How to Live Life June 22, 1969
Where should we⎯or can we go for directions on how to live life? Perhaps we can draw a parallel. Where would we go for directions on how to use a machine, a car, or a complex piece of equipment? Who...
For Lessons We Refuse to Learn… February 23, 1969
Life is good—if we leave to let it be. It is also difficult at times. No one ever said it wouldn’t be. Certainly the Creator did not say so—but has given us counsel and precautions. In a...
Have Faith! Go Forward! February 9, 1969
On this George Washington week end, thankfully we think upon what is made possible by patriots and honest, hardworking people, past and present − and by Divine Providence. Nowhere in history have so...
How to Cure a Bad Conscience… April 27, 1969
“The voice of conscience,” said Madame de Stael, “is so delicate that it is easy to stifle it; but it is also so clear that it is impossible to mistake it.” 1...
I Had a Pleasant Time With My Mind… October 19, 1969
There is a thoughtful line from Louisa May Alcott: “I had a pleasant time with my mind, for it was happy.” The mind, of course, can go anywhere, even when the body is confined....
If Something Needs Doing… November 2, 1969
“If something needs doing, do it;” said David Starr Jordan, “the more plainly, directly, honestly, the better.” These words suggest two facets of an insistent subject,...
If We Don't Have Standards… August 17, 1969
There is a simple, forthright subject that we would turn to, namely: virtue, honor, chastity; living a clean and honorable life. It has to do with standards, morality, law, and even what we call...
If We Patronize Evil… November 9, 1969
With increasing concern for the lowering standards of morality and decency, there comes the question what to do about it? Should we just sit as if we were watching the progress of a play – or is...