Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-01-14
lrrom the Ph!!ad. Evening Bulletin
CHARACTER.
0 Lseipfs lsiic,tcl al lb.Iaaa. 1,e. 22l
BY REV. HENRY WARD BEECnER.

The subject on which l shall read you a
lecture this evening is Character
Although the terms character and repn
tuition are popularity understood as synon-
ymous, they are not.
BY charactsr We mean, the settled lab-
its of the mind; and ly reputation, We
mean, the impression which man produ-
ces, respecting his character, on other
minds. The one therefore is within, and
the other without us.
Character exists in us but our reputa-
tion exists in Others The one is the sub
stance, the other is the shadow which it
casts
When men are frank, aud the society in
which tn, y live fair minded, and calm, a
mans reputation may be as his character !;
but it is frequently the case, that some men
haye noble character with sorry rcpu-
ta.ion. sr-..5FE8
Iu'times of party strife, there is sad
mismaking of character and reputation,
for then rogues and pretcndcrs have good
regulations, without character, and honest
men, vftentimes have good character with
out particle of reputation.
1t is of the highest Importance that
young men, and that all aspiring men
should know within themselves, what it is
that they seek in life whether it is char-
acter, or whether it is simply r'pHt"'i"".
To build character, is work of labor
and time. 1t is the development of his
spiritual, mental, and bodily faculties, the
right keeping Of them together, and the
unauimity and harmony of them the fed
Grated republic of the mind.
Character, like ships, is built on one
element for another; it should have its
keel laid in the family, its sturdy planks
should be braced and counterbraced, within
and without; and when ready, then let her
be launched to her own element, and if
soundly built, storms may break around
her; but she will bear up against the gales,
baffling the force aud fury Of the clements;
and though disabled or manned, will be
able to put back safe to her port again.
But mere reputation is the revolution
which minds produce upon other minds
for their own benefit Mere reputation
requires neither time or labor, but cum
ming dexterity to make men believe things
to be when they only seem to be. Its
worst forms are seen in empiricism, char
lstaaism aud hypocrisy. The world is full
Of men aspiring to reputation, and espe-
cially anxious to become favorltes OF the
popular will !; like mosquitoes, thin, lean,
aud hungry, who Of themselves have no
blood, but steal much, and the whole force
Of whose prodigious nature lies in their
prodi gioas power Of suction. (Laugh'er)
1t takes good parents, good teachers
aad an honest sosl to begin with, in man,
to make good character. There IS as
much difference in men as there in timber
or metal, and although it makes vast
difference with poor timber, whether you
have a good or poor workman to shape it,
vet the best of workmen, with poor mate
rial, can never make good work. Though
a man be kind, yet with naturally sneak
ing disposition, if he be thrice regencrated'
YOU can make him decent, but no more
Newspapers can make reputation wrl-
ters' certificates and reports may bring
forward men, but that absolute antagonisn
between character and reputation is as uni-
versally visible as the disproportl0n BE-
RI tween the one and the other.
Men who would scorn reputation equa
to their deserts, would accept one tar bc'
yond them. They would not claim
thing they do not believe themselves t.
have an interest in but they will exagge
rate their right and interest, not supposin,