Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-15
For tho vEancNr FARNRR.
Character.

For tho vERMcNr FARSER.
Character.
Character is of two kinds, good and bad,
and has reference TO good or evil. to virtue |
or vice, ard hence one who is virtuous and |
good is said to have good character and |
one who is vicious and evil is said to haye n
bad character.
Character is not inherited from ancestors,
but is formed in one by nets, deeds, works
and an act, deed, work, is good when II
arises and is performed from pure and
good intention or motive. life of such
acts, deeds, works, forms in one good
character.
An act. deed, work, whether good or bad,
may be performed in the will, and the one
willing the act, decd, work, be praiseworthy
or blameworthy, though it may never come
forth into the outward net. A man may will to
do his neighbor an injury, and wish he could
do it, and be glad and rejoiced to do 1t, but
does not do it because he has not the power.
or the means, or the opportunity to do IL. or
because he fears the loss of reputation, or the
penalty of the civil law. Now, although he
does not actually injure his ncghbor because
he cannot do it, or because he fears to do it.
yet he is guilty of the act. and that act of the
will enters rs really and fully into the iorma-
ton of his bad character us though he had
brought it forth into the outward act. On
tho other hand, II man may will to do his
neighbor a good deed, may wish he could
do it, may be grieved that he cannot do it.,
and may be glad that some one else does do
it, though he himself cannot. and the willing
Of the good act to his neighbOr enters ms re-
ally and truly into the formation of his char
acter for good, us though he had brought it
forth into the outward act.
That man whose daily life is made up ol
good willing and OF good doing, of rejeetlng
what is known to be wrong. because II is
wrong; and of doing what is known to be
right, because it is right, has good name, n
good reputation, good character. Such =
man is of incstimablo worth to the commu
nifty and to the world. lie has the conf
donce of all good men, and Of all bad men
too. The property, reputation and life Of hi
friends, and Of his enemies, too, are safe II
his keeping. He would no more injure hi
ncghbor than he would injuro himself
But can all form u good charactorp Are
not some so constituted that they canno
form good character? Have not some mel
and some children such native tendenc,
and propenson to evil that it is impossible t.
form good character? And have not SOM
= mon already such IN evil character that the.
: cannot retrace their steps and form goo'
J one? We answer, unhesitatiugly answer, no
Every man, woman and child has the pow
: err, the ability to form n good character an
enter upon the formation of it Mt once, now
t Immediately, and continue it to life's snt
This power, it is true, is not self-derivet
God gives it TO man, and then it become
mans TO use and many are using il all owe
i tho world, and VIVA. many arc doing inlthi
II respect, all may and eau do.
IS The process is simple and easy; so simpl
IS that the most ignorant can understand it; 5
q easy that the most vicious can'ry it. An
r" this process, so simple and easy to all, 18th
g same to all. To the child and to the ndol
e to the ignorant and to the wise; to the POI
l. and to the rich; to the evil and TO the goo
u The way to form good character is one M
the same, viz: of the will to reject know
i evil, because it Is evil and of the will 20 {
l. whit is known to be good and right. beeau
10 it is good hnd right, OF because God COT
81 mands only what is good and right.
m This is the one only and true way TO for
s n good character, besides which there
IT mono other. Every character formed in til
r way is good and n true character. and W
rs stand the test of temptation and trial in q
s. places, mt all times, and under all circur
T. stances. All other character is evil. n
ne good; spurious, not genuine; and weigh
ed in the balance will always be found wantin
To The foundation upon which il is built
oil weak not strong false. not true; evil, n
good.
Let our youth apply this rule to their live
p- and when tempted to profanity. sabba
he breaking, drunkenness or any other form
IN sin by which humanity Is degraded, inqui
N. what is right and do it because it is rig
mt and not from any selfish motive, and patc
he ~ pursue this course until manhood, n
MI they will have character founded on
lat principles of immutable truth, which c
OF never bo overthrown by the mutations
no time or tho false aIlurements of evil.
10y tlllS rulO, uppllCdDie 10 hllt anu piHt
~ cable by all. when applied to the life
ire deepest foundations of sinful character {
ed be broken up, the darkest phases Of hum
woe changed, and the foulest bots and sta
en of human hearts and Of human society
us moved.
les The will is the deepest, the Utmost of M
IN the very man himself, acting, doing, wo
ing, either good or evil; for what n N
nj wills that he loves, and what man lo'
cir that he wills and does. The will, too, is
ere free to will and act what is right as il |:
IN will and act what is wrong. That M
tod strous absurdity that the will is necessita
led to net by the motive, whether good or b
IN is contrary to reason and facts; on the oil
us hand, tho will can compel itself to actin
ted right way, when that way is known.
Let every man, then, assert the freedom
his will, and il necessary, even compel hi
Ike self to walk in the right way, because i
it right and because God commands it,
ing however feeble his first beginnings may
cal every successive step he takes will gain
ad- additional strength, and lead him up int
purer lite, nobler character.
nd, .. G. CLARE
1
eh- For tho VERMONT Farm