The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-25

ana influence you will observe that the re.
suit desired is the same in each case That
is the purity of the citizen in order that the
society may be pure. We may accept this
as an axiom in social ethics to-day viz ;
mat as the individual is, so will the ag.
gregate be. Make the fountain pure and
the stream flows clear and healthful. The
social life of any people takes the coloring
OF the private citizen. Ii is pure when he
IS pure. 1t degenerates and loses its inyr-
Grating influence when his life ceases TO be
impelled by honorable motivee
Everything, then, depends upon the
name man bears. Your living. my friend.
and mine in spite of ourselves, help to give
tone and coloring to the social life around
us. If we are untrue, that is hollow and
deceptive, if we are not controlled by high
motives and enduring hopes that is tickle
ana unstable. If we are the creatures of
appetite and passion, that will decay by the
force OF Its own corruption. These are
sell evident truths, to be sure, and | use
them only to show the dependence of $50
cial science Cso-called) upon personal
worth.
Now it will be seen that "a good name
is precious because it is the foundation Of
all social order and purity. Who shall stop
to estimate these, the worth of "a good
manner" The lack Of personal purity de-
velopng an unhealthy social life, has
wrecked many nations and threatens the
lie springs OF the nations, to-day. Phil
osophize as you may, talk of temperance,
charity, and national honor and virtue as
| you please, exert your utmost strength
and establish humanitarian societies, and
liberal schools to further your ends. the
great problem of social ethics is not solved.
while you leave the personal character of
men impure. Verify, "a good name ia
rather to be chosen than great riches" and
loving favor rather than silver and gold.
3. "a good name" tends to render ma
TONS life secure.
AS has been said, mans influence goes
beyond home and associations. II touches
| the springs Of national life and character
A nation is developed by the kind of men
she produces. But man may say here.
the kind of men by which a nation il
known depends largely upon the institu.
ton, by which they are nurtured So that
the individual is type of the nation and
not the nation type of the individual. In
dividua character only indicates the ma
ture and tendency of the institutions by
which it is formed. For institutions leave
their impress upon more enduring forms
than external customs and habits. They
mould and develop the material entrusted
to them and trace their history and influ-
ence In the charge and progress of the race.
A nations worth and influence are to be
estimated by the metle of the men she pro-
duces. Individual character, therefore
ls type of national institutions.
Inc weakness and folly, or the
wisdom and strength of the one will indi-
cate what the other must be now this rea-
sonlng may be granted and yet, let it be
remembered oil mil
we have to deal is character. The lndivid.
ual precedes the whole. The elements of
society stand before the society in order
OF time. The man before the nation.
Hence, it follows, that the peculiarities of
national life are largely the reflection Of in
dlvidual pecularities. The citizen makes the
government under which he lives. He wills
its purity If il he pure or its impurity if be
corrupt. He frames the constitution un-
der which be lives and - ;.,e bo,,,r .,,a
hi ay i . hfGI and the spirit Of the nation is
easily forecast, and its destiny written.
1t comes to pass therefore that nations
lite depends upon the character of the men
he raises Her natural resources, her in
dustres, her broad, fertile DOMAIN, her Ii
beral constitution, the strength and valOr of
her armies. All these contribute to her
support and perpetuty, but they cannot
save her, unsupported by the sterling worth
of her citizens, The hope Of this nation
and every nation is in the "good name" of
her sons and daughters.
4. But, finally, "a good name" is pre-
cious, because in it is the sure promise of
eternal life. 1t is enough for our purpose
to day to state this proposition. This book
once and again sends its greeting to be
''pure in heart and pronounces its woes
sl,a tha at af
God is for His people. But Solomon adds
a new thought which is this-"The day of
death Is better than the day of ones birth"
What says the skeptic, death better than
lifel Is not death the end of joys, the sew
ering of earthly ties, the uprooting of human
hopes and ambitions, the dread and hor-
ror Of all men; Yet, these are the words
of the "wse man. as he calmly surveys the
epjoyments of life and the glories of death.
"The day of death is better than the day
of ones birth" The truth of this state
ment will appear.
|. Because death makes an end of the
effects of toll and harassing care.
This life is little less than bondage to
most men. Supply a humane master and
the changed conditions would hardly be
noted. The sun rises in its course no more
surely and takes its steady way with no
greater regularity than the faithful laborer,
the world over, assumes his task. Men
look forward to this kind of life as the
necessary consequence OF sin, take up the
self-imposed burden and march on in its
way. Borne down by toll and worn out
by drudging care, men end their days. But
what shall be revealed beyond No more
shall the weary laborer long for the night.
''There shall be NO night there" For the
10 at limll
rest only to renew their strength for the
struggle of life. The well stored mind,
too, has plumed its wings for loftier
flight. In holy communion with its maker,
now, it needs not again visit the haunts of
men. Blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord from henceforth; yea saith the
spirit that they may rest from their labors
aud their works do follow them. Who can
foreiell the gories of that other world :?
What realms of untasted bliss await the
faithful What revelations OF himself
"The universal Father will make; what
fields of thought and research VIII be laid
open to view, what unwonted vigor this
hating limping mind this poor sping, STAN
mering tongue" will take to themselves
what powers of enjoyment, what aids to de-
light, what consuming love will possess the
released soul, who oan tell This rest from
the care and toll of life,. however, does
not apprehend necessarily imply cessa-
ton of employment | would rather con-
ceive of my powers of endurance and my
hours of employment as increased. Il am
persuaded, wrote Cicero" that shall only
begin truly to live, where cease to live in
this world. Amid the possibilities OF this
life. who would be idle who would not
welcome toll, pain and care here, rather
than lead life of WEAKNESS idleness. But
in the presence of the Incompatible glores
and unsolved mysteries, of the future who
would wish to enter upon alife OF amending
rest These marvellous pOMcrs shall as