Editorial May 24, 1969 Issue

The Modern Demand for Honesty

William Milford Correll

If the current demand for honesty in religion, in personal relations, in government, in education, is consistent, it can be the most exciting and promising trend in the modern age. Any challenge to hypocrisy has the full support of the reliable religionist, for it echoes the words and works of the master Christian, Christ Jesus. He was unalterably opposed to hypocrisy in any form. And he did not hesitate to uncover the fault and denounce it. He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." Matt 23:25;

We have seen widespread overturning of customary procedures and, in some instances, an uncovering of hypocritical attitudes. Unthinking adherence to outworn methods has been disclosed and some useless obeisance to traditional shibboleths. This has been particularly apparent in some of the student revolts in colleges. In other instances society's standards have been questioned, and business ethics have been examined. The cant and ceremony of ritualistic religion have come under a new light of appraisal.

Such an uncovering has a healthy feel to it, and one is impelled to agree with much that is unfolding in the process. On the other hand, one could well challenge the revolutionary too and see if he is being honest; and if so, honest to what. Honesty implies basic truth, or at least some knowledge of it and adherence to it. There may be various ways to define this desire for honesty. We may hear that one should be honest with himself, with his peers, with his affections. In some instances this word honesty has been bandied about to justify whatever one might feel he wants to do. Such a tricky use of the word could be deemed the height of hypocrisy.

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