64 
CONCERNING LIKES AND DISLIKES. 
By the Rev. T. WALTON MEREDITH. Feb. 29 th, 1916 
Humanity is composed of a strange mixture and 
contains some astounding surprises. By reason of the vast 
variety of differences which exist within it — differences of 
race, nationality, historical development, differences of 
politics and of social customs. The physical differences 
which separate individuals are considerable, but the mental 
differences are more important and more varied. The differ- 
ent ways of looking at things exemplified by different indivi- 
duals are products of mental constitution and education. 
Beyond physical and mental differences there are spiritual 
differences ; many and varied are our conceptions of God, 
some people seem gifted by a kind of spiritual intuition and 
are easily moved by devotional sentiment, while others of a 
more practical turn tend to approach spiritual problems 
through the syllogism. In practical life all these varieties 
of difference are displayed through our likes and dislikes. 
Likes and dislikes often sharply distinguish even brothers 
right from childhood, for apart from common traits, due to 
parental influence, there are other likes and dislikes which 
most decisively differentiate members of the same family 
and which are apparently inexplicable. It is precisely 
through these personal predilections that we assert our real 
selves for taste is the most individual thing about us. Pictorial 
art, physical form, music, all provide material upon which to 
exercise taste and thereby to exemplify the wide differences 
which even educated people display in their choice of what 
is best. Taste, too, appears fickle, for the good taste of one 
age is often the mockery of the next. Our likes and dislikes 
bring us pleasure and fine taste in music or in art makes 
for personal enjoyment. Likes and dislikes determine also 
our recreations and our worship, decide our companionships 
and influence our judgments upon our fellows — “ condoning 
things we are inclined to, by damning those we have no 
mind to.” 
The general characteristics of life during any period of 
history are determined by the particular objects of the preva- 
lent likes and dislikes of that period and from this point of 
