p. 16 | The Golden Rule

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 21, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 34.

The Golden Rule.

Not long since we heard the brilliant editor of the Christian Advocate relate this incident: A drunkard came to him and asked for money to buy whisky, on the ground that as Dr. B. was a Christian he should give the money on the basis of the Golden Rule: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Dr. B. told the man that he (the drunkard) was asking him (Dr. B.) to apply a rule in a general way that was designed for the Christian field. Of course, it is a rule for Christians, to exercise toward Christians, but it is a rule for Christians to exercise toward unbelievers of every sort. Did Dr. B. wish the whisky?—Assuredly not. He would not, as a Christian, that any man should so gratify his self-indulgence. He was under no obligation, therefore, to give to the man money on the Golden Rule basis. In fact, he was positively prohibited from doing it. If he had been in the midst of heathen China, he could safely act from the same rule. No man in a normal condition wishes to be persecuted, wishes to be cheated, wishes to be injured in any way, in property, in reputation, in life. No man would therefore so injure others. The Golden Rule is a safe rule to apply under all normal circumstances, everywhere.