Sin Should Be Called Sin.
MEN pay their tribute to virtue by their careful evasion of the plain facts about their personal vices. Many a man who does not scruple at doing a wrong, will resent the suggestion that he has done that wrong under its ordinary name. A man will feel justified, for example, in saying that which is not true about a matter that he is deeply interested in concealing; but he will not admit that he is “a liar.” No, indeed! Even if he takes money from his employers who have trusted him, he is not ready to say squarely that he is “a thief.” Far from that! Even if he were to kill a man in a duel, when he had tried to do it, he would not think it fair if he were called “a murderer.” Of course not! Indeed, there are very few persons who are willing to have their particular transgression called by its appropriate designation. But, however they may feel about it, it is not right for any of us to become partners in their crime, or apologizers for their criminality, by refusing to stigmatize their mode of sinning by its proper Saxon name.
—S. S. Times.