Article July 29, 1922 ISSUE

Without Prejudice

W. K. PRIMROSE

Several years ago, a legislator remarked to a young student of politics, "If you want throughly to understand a subject before the House, do not obtain your information from editorials in the daily newspapers but from the reports and debates themselves." It would be unfair to say that the press accounts of business in a legislature are purposely colored. It is very difficult, however, for any one to write an account of a debate without allowing his preconceived views to affect his report. The wish, we know, is father to the thought. The ability to write a report which conveys the most accurate impression of what actually took place and what the speakers said is the test of a good reporter. To be able to meet this test he must first learn to discriminate between the essential and the nonessential, and to keep himself free from outside influences and bias: he must act without prejudice.

How easily many of us can recall instances where an unfavorable opinion of some one has been formed by a chance remark of some friend, or by something we may have read about him! Our opinions of the statesmen charged with the responsibility of government are nearly always formed from what we have read or have heard about them; and we do not always pause to consider if the things said about them are true. As Christian Scientists, our thinking should always be constructive, and, whatever the circumstances, never condemnatory of persons. It is necessary, therefore, that care be taken to ascertain the truth, and that statements and stories be weighed and sifted before being accredited. New ideas are not always easily or quickly assimilated; and experience shows that, frequently, time and patience are required before they can be clearly understood.

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Giving God the Glory
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