The New York herald., 1874-10-26
LYRIC BALL,
The Unseen Sources of Charaeter-Hon.
esty the Best Policy.

esty the Best Policy.
The usual large congregation assembled
In Lyric Hall yesterday morning. Mr.. Froth-
ingham's subject was "The Unseen Sources
OF Character He began by saying There
has been for some time past PROPOSE
tlon TO make IN the northern part OF this
State a vast park comprising part OF the Adiron-
dack range, and the Chief given for this
appropriation OF land Is the necessity Of preserv-
ing the great forests in the North. 1t Is well
established fact now that the fertility OF tue soil,
and consequently the growth OF Cities depends
upon the presence OF forest trees. The ancient
Egyptians imagined that the great Nile was led
from supernatural fountains. and when from
natural causes the stream became low they
dropped on their knees the priests made sacri-
Gees, the altar burned and the whole people were
prosrated IN the ashes OF contrition that the Su-
preme God might restore their river. So 1t is in
season OF moral deartn. When high principles
seem to subside then temples are tnronged and
people called together to bend the knee to the
Most High, who is Withholding His gifts, and yet If
they would think moment they would see that
the sources OF character are no more supernatural
than the sources or the Nile, and it has always
been laith tnat this thing-character and all its
many qualifications, trust fidelity, justice and
power-Is led by unseen springs The Hebrews
In their days OF pride and power owed il 10
multitude OF traditions, Jehovah. q
Scripture, written by the hottest OF men theirs
analyze tnelr character you Will find that race
ever depended 80 much on intellectual supply for
Its moral elements. Wlat was the reliance OF the
early Christians Their reliance was their con.
ception OF Christ They believed that tue Being
VINO lived on earth was still alive and still their
friend, aud In their moments OF persecution they
wonld seem to see HIS benign face SHINING upon
them, and were comlorted. Take the English
Pnritans. stronger type OF character never ex-
listed. They were \ people whose will was ike
adamant; whose conscience was unswervng-a
peopie VINO elt the dignity and sanctity OF their
DerspUalJV. TAKE character
you Will md that every single quality may be
1aith OF the PuritanY That he was provi-
Dental person; tnat for HIM OmniscIence
had broken It's silence that he might know the
with light. Is it wonderful tnat persons believing
that should hold themselves sacred and proyi-
was tremendous conception. Here was man
who lett the temple because he believed he
the temple. He would bend the knee TO no priest,
because he was priest; who followed the dictates
ol their own conscience believing they we're
FOLLOWING ETERNAL LAW.
Is IL not O stupendouS conception Is 1t won
deriui that tney should become proud and des-
potlcY IL Is too mucn for human nature TO stand
SO near 10 the Divine Power TINS inlailioiity goes
TO the head, the mind topples over, feeling be-
comes exhausted, and we expire. IL was IN view
OF the extravaganza that comes from the gro-
there came a reaction. Benjamin Frank
IN revived an old principle ana made
and wnat he meant was snaT men snopn cpDstTe
tneir polcy by their honesty. DO we not put faith
~ III what would become OF US II we did notf
our faith IN the moral ordering or the world, our
Delei ~ tne sequence Of cause and effect compe!
Us 10 oeieve that honesty is the best pOlicy.v
suppose Tor a moment it were not that fraud ana
deceit were wise things, not TO cheat would be to
ny IN the lace OF heaven. Benjamin Franklin did
not always ind his rule work well. He found that
policy and honesty were not always strictly COIN
cldent, as, Tor instance, when in tue time OF the
Revolution the treasury was low Benjamin Frank
Ian framed and introduced bill TO the effect that
Pennsylvania voted supplies OF hour aud wheat
and other grains. BY the other grains
HE MEANT GuNP0wDER.
Qaugnter) He did not say 50, he cheated the
Quakers and made them vote against tnelr CON
science Policy Is great word, but wnat is 1t
IL Ia what works we'll IN the long run. How do we
know what will work well VINO can tell the
issue OF q single hourY The Evangelical Christian
VINO believes a present Christ, IN the instant
Inspiration OF tine Holy Gnost, In the atonement, in
heaven and hell, occupies better position than
the crafty statesman VINO asks only, wnat will be-
come OF TINS How Will this work Even though
the Christian may believe pure 1ction, SUI ne has
his own mind. From all sides we come at this
TACT that the OF character are not outside
0I the world
Lei me luujcate what consider 70 be the jdesl