Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-04-15


reformation elevates man from the lowest degree
daton to the highest mich in public favor, and they
who will scarcely listen to the precepts of virtue from
the lips of those who have spent life time in her
service, will crowd around the new convert, whose
fire. devotion is speedily quenched in the vanity
and pride thus engendered. Said worthy clergyman
in view of this: GAS the world now goes feel un-
fit to preach, can say of the Commandments as the
young man in the scriptures did, Gall these have
kept from my youth up, have neither stolen, lied,
killed, coveted that which my neighbors, and
have not single recommendation to public favor-alas
what an imperfect educationr' The quiet satire in
this remark as deserved as it is true. 1t may be
true that now and then of these reformed holds
during the remainder of life the high station which
they take at first but now many are there whose
career is like that of the-wisp, from mire and
corruption they rise and after emitting Pickering
light, disappear in Darkness.
Emphaticay in the s'formaton of Character" time
passed can never be recalled nor the rust oyears
inactivity and neglect, the biting corrcsion of vice.
or the hateful distortions of.sensualIty, be efaced
be removed or corrected by hours penitence, or
a moments resolution. Tell us not even of Divine
aid to finish this great work in moment-unless
some analogy can be found in other works OF hls--
The oak springs from the acorn and endures centu-
res ofaternate Storm and sunshine, to indurate Its
majestic trunk, to stretch its top toward heaven,
and strike its root toward the centre of the earth-
The hurricane may level it at stroke with the earth
but centuries must again elapse before it will mingie
with the elements whence it sprang.
The man is at first the child, and years requir
ed to bring him to his proper statute OF body or mind
if he uses those years in the formation OF correct
character, as is his duty, transformation is neces-
sary if not will the Deity far change his other
wise universal mode of operating to repair the effect
of Mans folly?
AS well might he whose youth had been spent in
ignorance, repair to the halls olearnng and endeavor
to remedy the evil by day or aweek, or month OF
incessant toll at books. AS well may the lndolent
student, who loters away his time during the term
expect to become well grounded in science by the
few days of anxious study he undergoes previous to
his examination.
The parent, bending over the helpless, child should
ever keep in view the design and destiny of man.
As iufamy expands into childhood, childhood into
youth, the virtues of the good and great should be
ever present to excite their emulation; and wherein
they failed to reach higher degree Of excellng, it
should be pointed out as an additional incentive TO
practice the virtues by which they did attain the en-
inence they possessed.
The beginning of the correction of the mistake I'M
der which man has ever labored must be personal.
Il is not to be expected that whole nations, or even
communities will at once, throw aside their errone-
ous views and commence new system, but ndlvld-
uas few in comparison to the population OF the earth
but in reality many together, will break through the
fog and mist of ages will begin to direct their own
conduct to form their characters in view of the
question "what is manF' From the example and
preceps of these. the circle will extend until it en-
braces the human family.
It's the reasonable hope of the philanthropist that
our halls of learning of various kinds, are the nurse
ries of this mental and moral improvement; that
many who are there seeking for truth may receive
these rays of mental illumination, and press forward
TO all the attainable heights of human periection.-
1t may not therefore be improper to point out to
such, some of the most formidable hindrances which
oppose themselves to his progress.
Want o. decision, is not small. one. Who has
not felt the perpexity of state of indescison-we
mean not where the mind is balanced by contrary
and opposing counses or motives though even there,
scarce any error can be fatal than procrastina
tior-but where the object is great and certain
good vet we shrink from the pain and labor OF OBJ
tanning it, most affecting instance of such want
of manly decision is given in the play of HamletPrnce
of Denmark. The great delineator of human nature
has in the character of this Prince most powerfully
depicted the traits of vrtuous character too weak
in itsefto sustain the burden of its duties. The fol-
lowing extract from tle criticism OF Goethe, Will
give better idea of Hamlet than can be given in
any single quotation from the play:
GA great deed imposed upon soul which has not
vet become equal to the task-a beautiful, pure'
noble highly refined existence, destitute of that men
tai strength which constitutes the Hero, falls to the
Ground under burden which it can neither sustain
nor throw of-Each duty is to him sacred, but this
too heavy. The impossible required of him,not
the impossible in itself, but to him impossible.
As he turns and wrthes under the BURDEN he is con-
stantly reminded of his duty, constantly reminding
himself and finally looses his object without
moment ofpleasure."
Such is the lot, even of the truly good, when the
inner man has not been strengthened by the cult
walton of proper character has not been wrought up
to the degree of moral heroism necessary to meet
the duties of life.
But decision itself will be of little use unless used