Article November 4, 1916 Issue

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with contributions from Henry W. Frost

[Western Christian Advocate]

No one seems to doubt it except those who deny that perfect moral standards are practicable in ordinary human relationships, e.g., in business, in politics, in civic affairs, and in the settlement of international disputes. Men are often heard to say, "The ethics of Jesus are not suited to a world like this ; they are too ideal ; the Sermon on the Mount cannot be taken literally ; its demands are so exalted as to be utterly impracticable."

In no realm except that of morals do men argue thus regarding ideals. The artist takes as his model and incentive the highest possible standard of perfection. He is well aware that any concession to a lower ideal would mean accepted inferiority, not to say artistic suicide. The musician, in like manner, is content with nothing less than the absolute. He is eager to put himself under the inspiration of the noblest master and the highest masterpieces. The astronomer deals with infinitesimals. He cannot vary by a fraction of a second the orbit of a planet or the computation of an eclipse.

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