Editorial May 16, 1914 Issue

"The measure of a man"

Annie M. Knott

In the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, where we find a description of the ideal city, we read of "the measure of a man." An angel was showing John this city as it was coming down to the apprehension of men, and John was also shown its measurements, the city representing the consciousness of the redeemed. This undoubtedly points to the exactness of the demands of Principle, by which all things are judged, nothing being left to chance or uncertainty, men and things being measured continually.

Even on the material plane men are measured by standards political, educational, social, and religious, but above and beyond all human standards is the divine requirement which nothing less than perfection can meet, and this applies to all that one thinks and says and does. One may think he measures up fairly well because of his strength, either physical or intellectual, while another may choose to measure himself by those who seem to be beneath him morally, and he may grow self-satisfied and pharisaical in the process; but "the measure of a man" is lacking, and the sooner the individual knows this, the better for all concerned.

It is too true that the present standard of mortals is success, and the weightier considerations of justice, purity, and mercy are largely lost sight of in the frenzied effort to "make good" in a material way, but all the while the hand of Truth, invisible to material sense, is writing upon the wall, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." This is, however, no plea for inefficiency. Daniel, who read the decree against enthroned worldliness and wickedness, attained success in all his undertakings, and this in spite of the covert and open attacks of error. The secret of his success we find stated by the queen, when Belshazzar was paralyzed by fear because of the handwriting on the wall. The queen had seen in Daniel the measure of a man, and she told of it in glowing words, as "light and understanding and wisdom, ... an excellent spirit, and knowledge, ... dissolving of doubts." Had the king shared these mental and spiritual qualities, he would have been prepared to meet bravely any ordeal, and to emerge from it unharmed as did Daniel.

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