Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-11-15
VALUE or CHARACTER,

The following excellent sentiments arc copied
from volume of Lectures addressed to the
Young Men of Hartford and New-Haven. by Joel
llaws, Pastor ofthe First Church in Hartford
Good reputation differs essentially from great
and popular name man may be great, without
being good, and popular, without having much
merit OF any kind. Many whom the world are ac-
customed to call great have better title to that
distinction, than the fallen spirits-grcat in tai
ents and great i'll crime.
So to he popular is in itself no evidence of real
worth OF character. The unpfincped demagogue
is popular with his own party. The chieftan Of a
pratlca band, or the leader Of a clan composed of
the ignorant and the dissipated, are both popular
among their associates, and auded by their fellows
as the first and the best In all such cases popu-
arity indicates nothing r,uch as utter worth.
Iessness Of chafacter. Bst good name which is
to be chosen rather thangreat riches does not de-
pend on the variable, shifting breath of popular o
pnIon. 1t Is based on permanent excellence,
and is as immutabe as a fair unsullied reputation
"a reputation formed under the influence of vr-
tuous principles, and awarded to u.s. not by the
ignorant and the vicious, but by the intelligent
end the good, on accounto our good qualities and
good conduct, In such. a name we hook, first OF
all for Integrity, unbending regard to recti-
tuds; We look for Independence, or an habitua de-
terminatioa TO be governed by enlightned con-
vicion Of truth and duty for beneoolcnce, also, or
| spirit of kindness and good will towards all men;
and though last not least, for piety tOWardS G0d,
or an afleconate, rerereht regard for the will and
| glory ofthe great Jehovah. These are the essen
| tIal properties Of a good characterize living
breathing, liReanents of that good name which,
| in the Bible, is commended to your high regard
and careful cultivation.
| Ii is ever to be kept in mind, that good name,
such as has now been sketched is in all cases the
irut az personal cIeriion 1t is not inherited from
parents it is not created by external advantages,
1t is no necessary appeDdage birth, wealth, or
talents or station; but the result ofone's own en-
deavours-the fruit and reward Of good principles,
manifested in a course Of yirtuoas and honorable
action Tins is the more important to be remark
ed, because 1t shows the attainment Of good
name, whatever he yonr external circumstances,
is entirely within your power. No young man,
however hnmbie his birth or obscure his condition.
is excluded from The invaluable boon. He has
only to fix hs~eye upon the prize, and press to.
wards 1t III course OF virtuous and useful conduct
| and IT is his. And ii is interesting To notice how
many oGour worthiest and hest citizens have risen
to honour and usefulness by dint of their own per
severing exertionss fedev are 10 be found in great
numbers in each of tie learned professions, and
IN every department OF business and they stand
forth bright and anmatlng examples of what can
be accomplished by resolution and effort Indeed
my friends, III the formation Of character person
al exerton is the first, the second, and the third
'HtuO' lNothiDS SfSdt Ut exCeleM can ne dCQuIr-
ed without 1T. A good name will not come with.
ost being sought All the virtues of which it is
composed are the result of aniirng application and
industry. Nothing can be more fatal to the at
tanment Of good character than treacherous
confidence in external advantages. These, il not
seconded by your own endeavours, will az drop
you midway, or perhaps you will not have started
when the diligent traveller will have won the
race"
Thousands OF young men have been ruined by
relying for good name on their honorable pa
rentage, or inherited wealth, or the patronage Of
iriends-FIattered by these distinctions, they
have felt as if they might live without plan and
effort, merely for their qualification AMI incul-
gence. No mistake is more fatal II always is
sues in producing an inefficient and useless
character On this account it is, that character
and wealth rarely continue in the same family
more than two or three gererations.-The Young
er branches placing deceptive confidence in an
hereditary character, neglect the means offorming
one Of their own, and often exist in society only
rreProaeh to the worthy ancestry whose name they
bear.