Editorial July 31, 1926 Issue

Secret Alms

Ella W. Hoag

It was a very large demand which Jesus made upon all his followers when he said, "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth;" and with how beautiful a promise did he conclude: "And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly"!

There are probably few mortals who have not been conscious of desiring that their good deeds should be widely known. Otherwise, ask they, what is their value? Sometimes this desire has been prompted by the most selfish motives. They have imagined satisfaction could be found in having self-love and pride pampered by the praise of men, and so have proclaimed their own works to that end.

Many a one, however, has learned through keen humiliation that self-glorification brings censure from one's neighbors quite as frequently as praise. And why? Because even from an ordinary human standpoint "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Human pride, like any other evil belief, when presented personally will often seem to call forth a larger personal sense of its own evil in resentment against the lesser claim.

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