MIDDLE TERMS by Julia H. Duffie

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1896

MIDDLE TERMS.

By Julia H. Duffie

BY JULIA H. DUFFIE.

In the school-days of our grandparents the youth who had acquired a moderate knowledge of reading and writing, and had progressed as far as the “rule of three” in arithmetic, was often considered to have a sufficient amount of “book learning” to take him quite comfortably through life.

This “rule of three” was simply proportion, and the principles upon which it is based are as applicable to many other of the affairs of life.

As most people know, a solved problem in single proportion is stated thus: 2:4::4:8, and is read, as 2 is to 4 so 4 is to 8. The two middle terms are called the means, and those at the beginning and end the extremes. In a correctly stated problem the product of the means is equal to the product of the extremes, and of course vice versa. Hence, if three terms of a proportion are given, the fourth may be easily obtained. In compound proportion several sets of these couplets are sometimes considered. Now, if we are thoughtful and observing, we shall find that in very many matters there are conditions which correspond very accurately to these arithmetical terms. There are extreme positions on both sides of every question, also on almost every matter there are middle terms, which are far preferable to either extreme.

Yet there are many people who are very prone to take extreme positions either one way or the other on almost any question. This may be in consequence of an unfortunate natural inclination or from surrounding influences which have tended too strongly to one side.

He who seeks to adhere to the “happy medium” in all cases must not be surprised to find himself often attacked on either or both sides by those who have not correctly solved the problem in question according to the rule of proportion—that is, by combining the two extremes, and thus producing a result which includes all the virtues of both sides, at the same time avoiding the dangers of the incorrect conclusion which must arise from considering only one set of factors.

Doubtless the apostle referred to something of this kind when he wrote, “Let your moderation be known to all men,” for moderation could never lead to extremes. Following this rule there could never be either a miser or a

spendthrift, neither an infidel nor a fanatic, nor an extremist of any kind, in religion, politics, or elsewhere.

The moderate person may be accused of being “afraid to show his colors,” and may be informed that “I would either be on one side or the other,” etc., yet having ascertained his bearings according to well-established principles, he is not moved by these things.

In regard to being for or against Christ the Christian can make no compromise; here a decided stand must be taken. Yet in carrying out the principles of the Gospel, great care is necessary in order to maintain a well-balanced position, which shall not lead to extremes in any direction.

In the development of our judgment, would it not be well to advance as far as the “rule of three,” and thus become able to solve ordinary questions with the knowledge that there are extremes on both sides the middle terms, which last position is usually the safe and sure one.