The New York herald., 1871-10-30
ALL SOULS, CHURCH.


Sermon by tho Rev. DR.. Beliows-Charncter,
not Reputation, the Jewel OF Time and
Eternity.
The Rev. DR.. Bellows preached an eloquent and
timely discourse yesterday morning at All souls,
church, on character, not Reputation, the Jewel
Of Time and Eternity" He began by tracing the
difference between Characteristic true and genuine
value Of the man-and reputation or the value at
which he is held by his fellow citizens. Frequently
1t happened that good and noble man was for
some particular purpose or object
MALIGNED AND CALuMNIATRp
Thus, for instance q political candidate mirht
be known by his opponents to be a man OF
unimpeachable integrity and purity but by the press
and on the stump he would be violently attacked,
or at best would be passed over In a doubtful ST.
ience lest some partisan advantage should be the
result OF deserved praise Or again, some religious
reformer. avowedly outside the pale or orthodox
but whom everybody tnat knew him personally
could not fail TO recognize acuated by high and
unselnsh motives aud sublime enthusiasm for the
truth, would be sneered at and ridiculed in order
that
NO FAVORABLE LIGHT
should be reflected from the purity OF his
character upon the principles he espoused.
II was however, certain that In these and
all similar cases. whatever might be said about the
there was always deep and sincere respect even
among his enemies for his real character; and,
marked as was the difference therefore, between
character and reputation, it should be remembered
hat they were not so far apart might at first be
imagined. Take, for example, the influence among
business men OF character. Here was q merchant
IN new forK, who cneeriullJ trusted little trader
OF small capital in Kansas Mississippi on the
simple ground that his debtor was man OF good
repute Tor honesty and trustworthlness among Is
uelSuUOIS Inc relation between
CHARACTER AND REPUTATION
mate But st 1t was undoauteGy % one no Of 'ns, ahe
grand evils with which American society had
yey TO struggle tnat character had compare
nature OF the country-its vast area, the facility OF
communication, the easness OF making q living
were responsible for this man who had worn
out his character In one city and business
might in twenty four hours transport himself TO
In new occupation and sheltering himself under a
new name. make a fresh start in the world. Under
such conditions smartneSs and address were much
more valuable qualities tDan established honesty
Thus 1t happened that We saw floating about among
as Q
NUMBER OF ADVERTISERS,
greedy TO get rich by specializing with other
peoples money. with no vesige Of principle or
nonor infinitely more numerous than could he found
In any other country as well settled and advanced
In CIVILIZATION. Perhaps one OF our great curses
was the easIness OF making living. In Old times
boy mad TO serve out painful apprenticeship OF
ten years aud then struggle On for years and years
more 10 make good his footing In The world. What
guarantees Tor prudence ana virtue and honesty
this was The many brilliant temporary successes
achieved by dishonest men had undoubtedly
demoraized thousands of our youth. But, after all
how poor and VAIN and empty such success, IN
spite OF Its
EvANEsoEHT sPLENDoR AND GLITTER
was We had not ye; fallen so low tnat men OF bad
character whatever might he their wealth, could
SSn worm a phoDcst @ 'ng men on were s
summed by the pure and noble and
at once began TO suspect his host and inquire how
IL was ihat they had got there. OR If these bad men
nad been born In good society and were too firmly
established TO lie rooted out they were stil terribly
punished. marx was set upon their forebeads
and men shrunk away IRON them though they
were injected with some hide0us disease. 10 all,
therefore, who realized the
TRUE VALUE OF LIFE
and saw clearly that duty and happiness were in
estly won, was utterly worthless. Aud none per-
haps, felt that so bitterly and constantly as the
creatures who had fallen before great tempta-
ton and had sold themselves TO mammon. Mr.. Bel.
lows then proceeded at length TO discuss the means
by which we could stem the influences OF demoraIi.
Zatlon 10 which the character OF American society
exposed rs. He said that all remedies would be
necessarily very slow Ia their operation. First
among them was the careful
EDUCATION or THE YOUNG.
Except In minority OF unfortunate cases. the chill
dren of pure and noble and conscient tious parents
TINS would not be the case where children were
corrupted by bad servants or by some unhappy and
exceptional conditions; ou II might be accepted as
o general principle Let II be remembered, too that
no partial cultivation Of virtue was possible. II a
man wanted 70 get good servants or clerks lie must
ELEVATE THE ENTIRE CLASS
from which his servants aud ms clerks would be
taken. Il was much easier 70 supply the entire city
maintain pure and undeiled hundred distinct
wells IL was easicr-far easier-to raise the cha
racter OF an entire community than TO secure the
virtue OF hundred separate individuals. This was
WISE AND BENEFICENT PROVISION
OF the Almighty Ruler of the universe and could
moi 0e dlsreRardad. Nor could any mere external