Don't Swear, Fight

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 11, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 32.

Don't Swear, Fight

“Don't Swear, Fight,” is the quoted heading of an editorial in a late Catholic Mirror. It speaks of the prevalence, the evil, and the senselessness of swearing, and says that the Catholic Church has adopted “excellent plan to diminish it,” namely, the institution of the Holy Name Societies.” But why is not—and if she is not, why?—the church the best and only thing to correct the swearing habit? The fact that an extra society must be formed is proof positive that the church is not doing her duty, nor does she expect to. The Mirror thus closes: “‘Swear not at all,’ says Shakespeare, altho he was thinking only of lovers’ vows; but it is good advice in every sense.” But does not the Mirror know that these words were spoken by Jesus (Matt. 5: 34): “But I say unto you, Swear not at all”? And Christ’s words apply to every-day life.