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Critics and Criticism

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 11, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 10.

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Critics and Criticism

By W. M. HEALEY

W. M. HEALEY
THIS is an age of critics and criticism. History, art, science, and religion are all lined up to take their share of the darts that any one may choose to cast at them.
It must not be presumed that one needs any great knowledge of the subject to constitute him a critic. A dog barks at the moon without knowing much about astronomy; the moon, however, seems so conscious of its superior position that it smiles blandly, and moves along in its regular course.
By criticism the child learns to speak its first word correctly. By it the musician, the artisan, and all others reach their highest attainments.
There are two great and opposing systems of criticism,—one headed by Jesus Christ, the other by Satan. Both search for every fault, but for different purposes. Christ would discover and point out every wrong, that it may be removed. He even takes the fault as his own, and suffers for the mistakes of others, that they need not suffer on account of them. Satan, on the contrary, is an “accuser of the brethren;” he criticizes that he may have charges against them. He is ever ready to catch at a word or single act, and hide his eyes from every good expression, motive, or intention. He will magnify an apparent evil, and hide a real good. He is ever seeking to tear others down, and build up himself. This kind of criticism has only two prominent letters in the spirit of its alphabet,—the great I and a little u. The child of God does not indulge in it. The work of his Master’s Spirit is the kind pointed out in Rom. 8:26: ‘Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.’
A little boy listened one evening to earnest conversation upon the evils of drinking intoxicating liquors. As he said his prayer by his mother’s knee, he asked to be kept from drinking liquids. Did the Holy Spirit make light of that prayer, and did the angels seize that misspoken word and dwell upon it to show how much more they knew than that little boy?—No, no! They are not of that family of critics. The Holy Spirit presented that prayer as the boy meant it; and heaven smiled its love and approval.
To what party of critics do you belong? Turn from that kind who exalt self, and seek the kind that desires to help others. That spirit comes from above.
San Diego, Cal.