YOURS SINCERELY

Lake County Mail, Issue 21, 15 October 1947, Page 8

YOURS SINCERELY

In the pottery works of ancient Koine there were, craftsmen who took a pride in their work and would send out no articles that had a flaw or blemish in them. Others there were who would cover up the flaws with some kind of , cement, and sell them as goods in pcifect condition. If required an expert to detect the flaws so covered up, and he would hold a vessel up to the pure light of Heaven. The honest craftsmen found that the cracked pottery was being sold as theirs, and so they started the practice of imprinting each article with the Latin words, “sine cera ” —without cement. A purchaser knew then that a vessel so marked was that of a reputable firm, and that there would be neither blemish nor crack patched up and disguised. Those Latin words have now come into daily use* in modern civilisation, when we end our letters with the voids “ Yours sincerely.” These words make us ask ourselves the question, are we careful enough about the expressions we use? Do we mean everything in the letter to which we affix these words? Is there any flaw in our ’ character which would be exposed if brought into the pure light of Heaven? There' is so much insincerity and so much ungratefulness in the world to-day, which we cannot condemn, unless we are sure about ourselves. Many times I have been asked to write a reference of character for a person seeking some position. 1 generally know something about the person who applies for such a testimonial, though it is strange who does come to the parson, thinking that lie will say all sorts of nice things about on,e even if they are not exactly true. Hut X treat this matter with great care, for if one said that a person was honest and he turned out to be thoroughly dishonest when he was employed on such a recommendation then the writer would be partly to- blame. Aii employer is able to read between the lines of a testimonial, and if what is sard is‘ said in all sincerity, then he can tell whether the candidate for the position is one who will suit the vacancy. Modern civilisation has developed a tendenev to formality, and one is often

called upon at a formal function to say a few words about a person who is departing or being welcomed to the district. There again the same applies, one’s speech should bo spoken with sincerity. If you can say nothing good about the guest of honour then it is dishonest to say anything at all about him, but to wish him well in his new sphere. Most people, however, have some good points, which can be brought out, and expressed. Let us strive for sincerity, that is absolute honesty, in our speeches and our letters. When our Lord reproved the Pharisees for their faults, He did so openly, btit he also commended them for their good points. “ Hut woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass over judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (S. Luke, 11, 42). In other words, for God they took a tenth even’of the small herb gardens of the people, they were very careful about the small points of the law, while they overlooked the more important matters. Both should have been done. Little drops of water, little grains of sand, .Make the mighty ocean and "the bounteous land. Or again, “little acorns into bigtrees grow ” —the downhill trend starts very often in small ways, the gambler generally starts by putting sixpence on a horse in a sweep, the drunkard started with only one beer, the character of dishonesty starts with the idea that it won’t hurt just this once, and the insincere, person develops from the person who does not say what In 1 means either in the written or the spoken word. Let us check up on these little faults in ourselves. Yours without cement, Philip C. Williams.