413 Social Order

Perhaps an example of the rewards inherent in good social order can clarify somewhat the evil potential of social disarray. The one that follows has done so for me.

Gentle Reader, perhaps you know Mrs. Bale from our great favorite, the PBS series “As Time Goes By.” She exclaims at one point, “I am not a spent force!” And she is quite right. She is not. Though aging, her manners are firmly in place, she aspires to always be a lady of great discipline, maintaining absolute standards in personal conduct, and exhibits a great dedication to service. Oh, she has in herself, and endures good humoredly in others, many eccentricities in manners; but she also illustrates steadfast commitment to good Christian conduct and a singular lack of patience for social disarray. Of course, Mrs. Bale is a Brit and the show is a Britcom. 

In reality, too, the British typically embody a passion for gracious social order and genteel manners. In fact, I would say they exhibit a dedication to social order as firm as a layer of concrete under smoothly rolling car tires. Being an ongoing Christian nation of great age and distinction, they have embraced Christian principles of civil foundation and good social order in a sustained way. There is no charm in social disarray for them.

Good manners are a constant for the British and I admire their steadfast resolve over many centuries to keep to that standard. Having endured evil social disarray from the chaotic effects of centuries of invasion, occupation and war, they recognize good as precious.  Through their difficult experiences, they gained consensus that peace and courteous behavior were preferable to noxious evil and that good promoted a civilized society. Out of that realization has come a social order par none.

Yes, British manners are a wonderful example of replacing evil with good, knowing the great value of civility, and sticking with it! Indeed, it is through the depiction of Mrs. Bale’s thorough resolve to maintain a high standard of mannerly conduct that I have seen the peril in vacillation from proven good standards of social order. 

Thank you PBS.

To be continued . . .