How often in the secular, rough-and-tumble affairs of daily life we hear the quick suggestion, "Let’s make a deal!" What does all this mean? Simply this: two persons or parties agree mutually to put a proposal equally on the line and pledge themselves to abide by the result, come what may. But something is inevitably at stake here: an assumed honesty on the part of each person involved. "I’ve given my word," each says. Very well, but what guarantees it? Who knows whether one party may hoodwink the other? There is always the possibility of one party having to shout, "But didn’t we make a deal?"

This leads us to the realization that every deal needs a third party: an impartial individual who sees to it that the deal is fair and that it is honored by both persons who have agreed to endorse i…