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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1916)
The Monitor ~ A Weekly Newspaper devoted to the civic, social and religious interests of the Colored People of Omaha and vicinity, with the desire to contribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the community. Published Every Saturday. Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter July 2, 1915, at the Post office at Omaha, Neb., under the act of March 3, 1879. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor and Publisher. Lucille Skaggs Edwards, William Garnett Haynes and Ellsworth W. Pryor, Associate Editors. Joseph LaCour, Jr., Advertising and Circulation Manager. SUBSCRIPTION RATES, $1.50 PER YEAR Advertising rates, 50 cents an inch per issue. Address, The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha. Telephone Webster 4243. INTROSPECTION. In these days of rapid progress along all lines, when time saving is the chief factor of daily life, we often fail to gauge the true conception of introspection, or self-examination, and lose sight of the influence it bears upon the proper development of in dividual and community life. At least once a year there comes a time when modem business houses take an inventory of their stock. Every nook and comer of the estab lishment is searched that no article might be left unrecorded. The pur pose of this process is to obtain the actual cash value of the stock at the time the invento’ry is taken. The suc cess of the system is dependent upon the care and accuracy expressed in tabulating and pricing each item. The value of the inventory lies in that fact that it is a means of determining whether the business is a paying or a losing proposition. This process when applied to the individual is introspection and is a necessary step towards the acquiring of knowledge of one’s self. Suppose, for instance, each of us withdraws from the distractions of business and social life, goes into a quiet room alone and asks himself, or herself, these questions: What have I done? What am I doing What have I plan ned to do ? The task at first astounds us by its vastness, and we hesitate to face the issue. Let us not stop, how ever, but examine thoroughly the moral, physical, intellectual and spir itual phases of our lives, answering each question truthfully, not adopting the lives of our neighbors as a stand ard of comparison, but drawing our conclusinos in strict accordance with the laws of Christianity. It is only by such a process that we are able to get our bearings while weathering the storms of life. At this stage of our race’s devel opment, theunbiased, self-scrutiny of individuals is one of the firmest foun dations upon which the hope and suc cess of the entire race can be built. With political issues to be decided; with prejudices to be overcome, and friendly relations with other races to be strengthened, the necessity of indi vidual thought, upon each and all of these problems must be obvious. Thought that is clear and vigorous should be encouraged and stimulated by surrounding conditions and circum stances. Such questions as these con front each of us, demanding an an swer. What have I done for the com munity that is worthy of praise, or condemnation? How can I improve upon the good deeds, and counteract the effect of the bad ones I have com mitted ? The inevitable result of such a pro cess, is to afford a certain amount of ! comfort and encouragement when the good deeds are reviewed. On the other hand the failures and shortcom ings will stand in ghost-like arraye to haunt us with their accusing fingers. These are not to subdue us with fear, but are to spur us on to grasp the offerings of the future. Furthermore, this self-examination gives us a firm grip upon ourselves by making us in timately acquainted with our own weaknesses and powers. In no better way can we acquire the self-influence that can make us turn our faces un flinchingly to the world, asking no odds—only a fair chance; that can make us walk straight ahead, stooping to no lower act than raising a weary traveler and urging him on to further efforts. So let us pause awhile and get our selves well in hand, for only in this way can we arrive at a proper rela tionship between ourselves, our fel low beings, and our God. Then, and then only, will we be able to profit by a due sense of proportion—or the proper valuation of the components of life; and by this valuation, pleas ures, ambitions, sorrows, joys, cares, pains, hates and loves will be correct ly balanced upon the pages of the Book of Life. Finally, we shall be able to recognize the helping hands stretched out to us from all sides, and shall find the place in this great scheme of things, where we are best fitted to aid in the efficient and har monious working of the wheel of the universe. W. G. H. INFLUENCE. Influence is often defined as the gradual or unseen operation of some cause; or the ability to sway the will of another. In some way or other the word has acquired a shade of meaning that narrows it quite considerably, and carries the idea that influence can be wielded only by persons of great power, political, financial or in tellectual as the case may be. Such an idea is entirely wrong, for every individual, from the new-born babe to the ruler of nations has a part in alter ing the lives of others that is as un mistakable and as lasting in its ef fects in the one instance as it is in the other. Influence is an attribute of man that is felt before his birth, continues throughout his entire life, and lives long after the body, through which it acted, has returned to the dust from whence it came. What father or mother is there who can deny that his or her life has been changed by the mere expectation of a son or daughter. This is most clearly the influence ex erted by the unborn infant. Its sphere of action is small, it is true, but its effect is immeasurable. The new ideas of life opened up and the changes in the natures of the parents, are re sults of the infant’s influence that cannot be fully measured even by the parents themselves. So on through childhood, manhood and old age the child passes, influencing every indi vidual with whom it comes in contact. Have you ever seen a drunken sot on the street and said to yourself, “My God, may Thy help and strength keep me from falling to such a depth.” That is the influence of that drunkard upon your life. If you consider care fully, you will realize that every face you see, every place you go, every thing you hear, or see, a smell, or taste or touch, makes some impres sion upon you. In other words, it bears some influence upon you. So in your turn do you influence others. The father takes out his watch, looks at it and replaces it in his pocket—a commonplace act, indeed. The son sees him do this and consid ers it a most important step towards manhood, and as a result asks his “daddy” to get him a watch. In like manner is every act of mother, sister or brother watched by some eager eye. How careful then should we be that no wrong word should pass our lips to find its echo in the mouth of some innocent, urchin; that no hasty act of ours should stir another to deeds that cause regret. Whether we recognize the change or not, we may rest as sured that every individual with whom we come in contact is influenced by our acts, our conversation, or even by our presence. Let us then not waste this opportunity to use our in fluence for good. The words of Douglas are really “something to make us think” for never were they more appropriate than at the present time. They show j distinctly this man’s understanding of the needs of his people, and they are j strong evidence of his remarkable in sight into the future. Today, how- j ever, the Negro is more “potter” and less “clay” for the moulding of his career is becoming more and more an operation of his own than of the white man. The death of Judge English, like the death of any great man, is a loss to the entire community. It is not necessary to relate here the part he played in the city’s activities, but it is fitting that our attention be directed to the fact that his death was the outcome of his refusalto desert his post of duty. Some may call him fool hardy, hut at all events they must ad mire his courageous example. W. H. G. LETTERS FROM OUR READERS. Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 18, ’16. Rev. John Albert Williams, Please find enclosed money order covering my subscription for lhe Monitor, and oblige, Yours respectfully, HENRY DUNCAN. Omaha, Neb., Feb. 21, 1!)16. Editor The Monitor: The report has gained currency that the Department of Street Cleaning and Maintenance has been remiss in giving employment to colored men removing snow. In fairness it must be stated that Mr. Drexel and Mr. Dean Noyes both have been entirely just to the colored people, employing those who applied for work during the snow cleaning period. And, as you know, Mr. Arthur Creighton had col ored men working under him in the Street Repair Department, and that colored men have been working regu larly at the City Asphalt Plant. I have been employed as foreman of a street cleaning gang of colored men for nearly one year, and I have been treated with entire fairness, both by Mr. Drexel and Mr. Noyes, as have the colored men in the other depart ments under Mr. Drexel. Let us keep the record straight. OLE W. JACKSON. Neligh, Neb., Feb. 7, 1916. Rev. John Albert Williams: Dear Sir—I am enclosing a check for one year’s subscription for The Mon itor. I have been receiving The Mon itor for some time and can say I have enjoyed reading it very much indeed. I find it to be one of the best papers I have read for the time it has been published. And, now, here is hoping The Monitor will live on forever. Thanking you for the copies you have sent me. Very truly, F. B. BROWN. SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR. » •• •••••« •« * . • . . • •- a * » a ■ • a a •- * • • ■. j Only Three Days Left ! < 11 11 in which you can secure i > i The Monitor I. for $1.00 a year . Fill out this blank. Send it with $1.00 to The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first Street, Omaha, Neb. Send The Monitor for One Year ' To . i Street . i Town ... . State .^ Signed . . .. 1 In . « ■«'»»«» ...» t J