The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-04-06
"Be Ye Also Patient"

"KEEP your temper" is an admonition
often sounded by every Christian con-
science. Nobody needs this plain coun-
sci more than il is needed by Sunday
school people. For the best teachers are
usually those who have the most temper
to keep. A fine and sensitive nervous or
ganzation is likely to be easily disturbed
or even thrown off its balance, but, in
spite of this disadvantage, quick natures
usually possess more teaching qualities
than slower natures. A hasty spirit will
always give its owner trouble, but even
bun!lc of nerves embodies more of prom
ise than can be found in lump Of clay
or putty. Even impulsive rashncss or
mistaken zeal may indicate honest endow-
mcnts that can be turned 10 great account
in Gods service when they have been
tempered and taught of the Holy Spirit
and brought into harmony with the mind
of Christ. Young teachers who have
been betrayed once or twice into unseen
ly and mortifying anger should not
despair of the highest usefulness. The
more temper one has the greater the re-
ward for bringing it under complete re-
straint Tender affection, keen apprecia-
ton and true confidence will 60 out from
a passionate and selfcondemned pupil to-
ward a patient and torbearing teacher
whom he recognizes as having, naturally,
a soul as sensitive to resentment as his
own.
The good accomplished by an overcom-
ing patience and love that absolutely
bears down unlovcly and illtempered op
position received fresh illustration recent
ly in a large city Sunday school located
in mission district. Two years ago, at
weekday evening service, the behavior of
some of the worst boys in the school was
unusually trying At last the patience of
Superintendent and teachers was exhaust
cd and the youthful offenders we're given
over as hopeless and consigned to the ten
der mcrcics of the street. A great hearted
stranger who was present could not en-
durc the thought of their being thus cast
out, and followed the angry and derisive
youngsters to the door, put his arms about
them, and by heartfelt, earnest loving
pleading brought them back again into
the room. There they listened attentively
to the wise and winning address he made
from the platform, and it now appears
that his counsel was needed. A few
weeks since, this patient worker was provi-
dentially brought into that Sunday
school again from his home hundreds Of
miles away, and among the first to recog-
nize him and extend a frank and cordial
greeting were the hard boys almost out
cast at the time of his former visit The
Superintendent declares that these boys
have been very regular in attendance
since the time referred to, and their man
ner has SO changed that he counts them
among the best pupils in the school. AL
| though their hands were rough, their hair
| unkempt, and the neck bands of their
shirts guiltless of collar or tie, yet their
patient friend of two years ago was
| thrilled with gratitude when he heard
| their expression of sorrow for their evil
| doing at that time, and especially when
| one extended his hand as he stood with
moistened eyes and said: 81 hope am
| a Christian now sir"
That often quoted Chicago boy was
right on general principles when he sum-
| married. a short coming in certain Sun
day school people by observing concern
ing them: "They don't love fellei
enough" Nothing is more effectual than
abounding love, in helping teachers to
| keep their tempers under the trial OF mis-