The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-20
The Christian Gentleman.
Hmm The phiInieInhin LeRnei..

most infallible OF all receipts for max
ing polished gentleman. And yet his
own son, for whose instruction in that
very matter these letters were written,
never became one. WhyP Because OF
the exclusive attention given to mere
polish, and the want of moral principle
and tone beneath the surface. DIR. Lie
bur's admira BILE essay on the same su b.
ject will ever prove hundred times
more powerful, because he begins by
showing that all our ideas of the gentle
man must be based on proper concep-
ton of man. So 1t is eminently with
the character of the Christian gentle
man. No mere theological calinstruction,
nor creed nor sec ,tcan confer this, for it
is in fact an education as distinct from
instruction as the soul itself, and the
harmonious development of all its
highest intuitions. 1t is that spirit of
fraternal love TO man, based on filial
love to God, which cannot be obtained
by any mere teaching. and where ex-
hibited it is so completely rare type
of life, rather than a set OF manners,
that 1t cannot we'll be described, though
it will be recognized where seen. Yet
so little ostentatious or conspicuous is
it that it is not so much in the living
form while present that it Is most dis
tinctly marked, as it is in the memory
of the absent, when departed, that it, as
we'll as all other of the highest excel
lencies of character, become most dis
tinctly conscious to the mind.
Rev. DR.. Peabody, the late editor of
the North American ReVieiO, has re-
Gently published some remarks on this
subject worth more than passing no.
tice and consideration. Speaking of
the Christian gentleman as the very
highest style OF man, he adds: 81 use
the word gentleman because, to my
mind, 1t bears even sacred signifi-
canoe; and Iwould that it were employ
ed only to designate that politeness at
once lofty and lowly, self respecting
and deferential, heartfelt and heart
meant, shaping word, look, tone and
manner from the inspiration of an all
embracing charity, which is derived
from comm union with Him in whom
gentleness in all human relations was
the type and token of the incarnate Di-
yinity." goo Il ETi9T. H.s
And yet we understand the charac-
ters of such friends better after they
have gone from us than while they
were with US, and they speak to us in
their examples then with greater pre-
cision and emphasis. We may prais
them and love them; but to praise and
love is not always TO understand. Thus,
as we pass through the streets of a
town, or of city, the eye takes in
single objects, but rot the site orphan
or general features. For these we must
seek an elevated position, from which
minute details will disappear or dwin-
die, while great outlines will be plain
and clear. Death gives us this eleva-
ton as to human character. And how
intense the emphasis which death gives
to the cardinal virtues of those we had
tenderly loved, and especially to the
one predominant trait-be it conscien-
tiousness, or gentleness, or fortitude, or
courage, or benevoleDce, or spirituality.
Nor is this sacredness attached to any
single trait of excellence, adapted to
make one-sided or deficient characters,
for the virtues are a sociable sisterhood,
off them sedulously wooed and won,
brings in all the sisters with her, she
only remaining first among equals.
And further, the Individuality which
one good man from an
other, even among the most excellent,
makes one star differ from another,
though not perhaps in degree, but the
kind of glory consists in the predomi-
nance of some single virtue, while 9TH
ers are not.wanting, and in the pecu-
liar tone and grouping created by this
So that it is an infinite
gain, when death has endeared to, us
any aspect of goodness, any special
cluster of Christian graces, that we can
not contentedly 2 remain in that respect
defective or faulty. -7
Such are in substance the views and
of one of the ablest Christian
moralists and gentlemen of the present
day. And If on the one hand they
show US how comparatively little books
and instruction can suffice to form the
highest and noblest types of character,
they show also2how much one true,
and Christian life insensi-
bly, is ever diffusing a healthful, ,elevat-
ing influence all through society; and
further that this influence has sort of
Immortality about it even on earth. 1t
does not die with the body, but becomes
more potent and influential after death;
a sort of unseen but guiding presence,
deterring from all that Is coarse and
wrong, but guiding and elevating and
refining the good, and contributing to
the progress of mankind i'll civilization
and enlightenment. ,rF- 4--ya elrfrnfE
When the hours of day are numbered,
And the voices of the night
Wake the better soul that slumbered
10 holy. calm delight ~ 5.or i ~ -
. Then the forms of the departed r--
Enter at the open door, m r. NJ II
The beloved, the true hearted,
g 8 Come 70 visit me once mores1S @A ~