p. 8 | Sharks | AdventAI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

Sharks

N. Z. TOWN

A few weeks ago people were horrified as they read in the daily papers the accounts of bathers along the Atlantic coast being mutilated and devoured by man-eating sharks. Great excitement prevailed, and widespread shark hunts were planned to protect the bathers. Hundreds of people have since stayed away from these ocean bathing resorts, for fear of being devoured by these man-eaters.

One can easily avoid being eaten by sharks by keeping out of the waters where they are; but there is another class of man-eaters from which it is more difficult to escape. They are found in every community, in every neighborhood, and, sad to say, in many churches.

Jeremiah describes the manner in which they carry on their work: “Report, say they; and we will report it,” or, as the American Revised Version puts it, “Denounce, and we will denounce him.” Jer. 20:10. “Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; . . . and let us smite him with the tongue.”

The psalmist prayed to be hidden “from the secret counsel of the wicked; . . . who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect.” Ps. 64:2-4.

“I have heard the slander of many: . . . while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.” Ps. 31:13.

The Literary Digest recently gave an account of a case which shows the result of the work of these human sharks:

“A young girl recently killed herself in an English village. The coroner’s jury, however, brought in the verdict: ‘Killed by idle gossip.’ The girl had been guilty of nothing actually wrong, but ‘the gossip disseminated by the women of the village blackened her name until she could bear the suspicious looks and spoken taunts no longer, and so ended her life.’”

This sad event led to the organization of an anti-gossip crusade:—

“A society has been formed and rules drawn up. The entrance fee has been

fixed at a nominal sum, because the society desired to embrace all classes, both rich and poor. Our richer women are just as adept at robbing others of their character as are the women of the working classes who chat with one another from their respective doorsteps.

“The organizers are quite hopeful of minimizing the number of gossips, because they are convinced that the worst offenders talk scandal more from a matter of habit than through any really malicious desire to injure another.

“Members must take a vow to avoid either starting or spreading any unkind remarks about any one else, nor will they listen to a person who tries to tell them. To repeat what they have heard, even if known to be true, is equally as bad as to set the ball rolling. For the first ten breaches of this law a fine is imposed, graduating from a shilling up to the maximum fine of ten shillings. After ten slips, the women are to be blackballed as incurables. . . .

“If we pick up mud and throw it at a fashionably dressed lady and spoil her clothes, she can get redress through the law; no well-brought-up woman, however, ever dreams of throwing mud at her friends.

“If, on the other hand, we imagine that she is too flighty in her behavior, and, in order to strengthen our belief, we repeat all her trivial little indiscreet actions, we are flinging mud at her character, and she can get no redress unless it should happen to interfere with the earning of her livelihood, or can be proved a malicious act.

“Idle gossip does more harm than anything else in the world; and if the organizers of the anti-gossip crusade have only the perseverance and courage to make it universal, they will do inestimable good for the general happiness of the community.

“Charity, like all else, should begin at home, and those who cannot join the crusade should begin in their own family circle, and resolve not even to think ill of their friends, acquaintances, or those of whom they have little knowledge. When ugly tales are told them, these should be immediately forgotten.

“Before making a statement about any one, do not forget to let it pass the three golden gates: ‘Is it true?’ ‘Is it needful?’ ‘Is it kind?’ These form the motto of the anti-gossip crusade.”

What a blessing it would be if such a crusade were started in every neighborhood! Let us pray that the good work may prosper and spread.

Takoma Park, D. C.