The Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Its fairly simple, isn't it? If you want it done to you - do it to someone else ... and if you don't want it to happen to you, don't 'happen' to someone else.

Steven R. Covey in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People asks this question; "How would life be different if everyone on the planet observed this simple rule?" My guess is the world we all live in (and complain about) can change and experience transformation, if not out right reform, when we all decide a different take on our actions.

This is Samuel 'Golden Rule' Jones.

Samuel Milton "Golden Rule" Jones became Mayor of the great City of Toledo on February 25, 1897. That day would usher in a nearly two decade period of reform government in the city and would propel Mayor Jones to national and even international fame.

As mayor Jones aligned himself with the progressive forces of Toledo who had long championed greater municipal regulation of the economy. With their help Jones succeeded in securing the city's first civil service system, fostered the growth of the city's park system, cracked down on police brutality, and expanded relief programs for the indigent and poor. Unlike other progressives, Jones did not believe in using the city's police power to enforce morality. He refused to prosecute prostitutes or shut down beer halls. Whenever he could, Jones presided over the city's police court and dismissed most of the cases brought before him out of sympathy for the poor. The poor, Jones said, "have no money, they have no council and for petty offenses that are not offenses at all when committed by the rich, they are fined, imprisoned, disgraced and degraded."

Helen Beach Jones, Samuel M. Jones's second wife, was born in Toledo on April 28, 1857. She was his helpmate during the years he made national history as the mayor of Toledo. She composed music, gave lessons, and was active in the Toledo Women's club, the Samagama Club, and laid the groundwork for Beach house, a homeless women's shelter named for her mother.

The Beach House continues to this day as a shelter for women and children to experience life transformation.

The Golden Rule people .... what do you think?

Dan