The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-04
sssaoA BY REV. Dr. mDOLeuTcH, At hyAcs.

1siACh, N. T., Oct 3, 1882
This village has churches of the principal denom-
nations, and, though not SO fully attended to-day
rs in the summer season, had generally good sized
congregations. AT the Baptist church the Rev. Il.
I. Middledtch, d. D., discoursed from Proverbs
xii, la good name is rather to be chosen than
great rches.n The preacher remarked that good
name Is another form Of expression for character.
Reputation without the qualities OF goodness,
though desirable in the view OF q bad man, would
be the result Of hypocrisy, and, instead OF being
commended, exposed men to denuncation.
Unsoundness OF heart Will disclose itself in the
life Great riehes In the eyes OF the majority
OF mankind are above all things desirable;
but the text calls attention to more
desirable possessiOn-a '.good name" good char
acter Will afford higher sast action than great riches
A cper may wear diamonds but he Is u leper still.
Men may be estimated by wealth. We sometimes
hear il said, "He is worth miliionn but etc Ia no
worth about o bad man. Riches may be Inherited,
but the remark holds true that every man Is the
maker OF his own character. Riches may BE- gain ID
by wicked Devices but the making of a gooi name
Is the work OF lie time; Tnis also approxmates
what he possesses. but in what III IS.
Character OF the right kind will secure higher
benefits than riches. Wealth is not to oe under.
valued. 1t procures many benefits, makes many
friends and is indispensable to the nobest phlan-
throphies. Character, however secures the greatest
WHO, while they gioat over the wealth obtained
by overreachlng cunning, cannot bear Is
tnink OF the means Dy which IL has
been secured. Many men would loa.he life If they
felt as they once did with respect to wrongs they
perpetrate. good name secures honor. A mans
creed or sect have little thought with the masses,
but life guided by rectitude constrans their HON.
age. Every mans character lives after him. II
may be difficult 10 describe mans features after
lie has been awhile dead, but it is not difficult to de-
scribe his character. right character will secure
the Divine favor and have an eternal reward. The
great lessons to be learned from the subject were TO
prize good name for ourselves and to be careful OF
the reputation OF others. The revelations which
have been made concerning Byron and the manner
In which the follies and frailtes OF the dead are
raked up, should make us careful. SANDER Is also
TO be feared. Shakspeare's often quoted excama-
tion concerning the thief OF purse ora good name,
agrees well with the sentiment OF the text. Wrong
doing cannot permanently prosper. Names once
great in the financial world are heard OF no more,
Men who laugh at the folly OF those whom thev have
entrapped may yet find retriDution There Is always
some cynlc whose memory is retentive OF i-gotten
gains. II a dishonorabe man is not conscious OF
general loathng 1t indicates the dcpravltv Of the
moral tone OF society. Anyway whatever the nature
OF mans alterations from the right, .'tne memory
OF the wicked shall rot.n When the course OF meu
mas been marked, like that OF tempest, by desoIa
tlon and RUM no, subsequent tithlng OF il-gotten
wealth should secure conformation or society for
their crimes and most assuredly 10 Will not deceive
or bride the Judge OF all.