The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-26
Purpose.

IT has been well said that there comes
a time in the life of every person when
it is necessary for him to decide wheth-
er he will drift down the tide, or take
the oars and shape the direction of his
course. And in true sense the pres
ent moment is always the time when
this duty exists. Though a change of
purpose becomes more and more diff
cult as the years go by, and the~tide of
habit becomes stronger, and the arm
becoms feebler and less competent to
do its rightful work, yet no rational be-
ing is too young to be able to try to act
with reason for his actions, or too old
to be boupden to an ever-present plan
of conduct
Notwithstanding all that is said and
written about having purpose in life,
one can scarcely engage in more sad
dening, and yet more stimulating, line
OF thought than to reflect upon the aim
less way in which so many lives, of
those in his circle of knowledge, are
spent. And very fortunate or very
self-confident must be the person who
does not find in his own life ample ma
terial for correction in this same line of
duty. If it is far too seldom that one
looks at his life in the light of a
full purpose to make it what it
ought to be-a life with a. plan
it is still rarer that there exists in
the soul a constant determination to
make the smallest actions of daily life
conform to some determined purpose
and some patient following of clearly
perceived idea. 1t is easy enough to
form vague intention to accc ,lish
great things some time, or TO rely on
the thought that a good deal of life re-
mains to us in which much can be done.
Nor is it much harder to set before us a
definite object toward which we may
strive, or to form a general resolution
of fidelity and devotion to the highest
ideal. But it is quite another matter to
keep that object or that ideal constant
ly in mind in such way that it shall
exercise present and unceasing inhu-
ence upon to-day's thoughts, words
and deeds. Tomorrow sssome-
time" Gin the course of life"-these
are expressions which are far pleasanter
than such hard, blunt words as "now,"
''this very day." ''always." And so it
comes to pass that the man WHO'S going
to do something, somehow. practically
Joins hands with him who frankly con-
iesses that he is never going to do any,
thing, anyhow; and both come to a
time when they are made to realize,
with all the bitterness of utter disap-
pointment, that the midnight hour has
struck, or that, at best, but few poor
minutes of available time remain.
'Itis ofunspeakable advantage, saws
wholesome and wiser writer, ssto
possess our minds with an habitual good
intention, and to aim all our thoughts.
words and actions at some laudable
end, whether it be the glory of our
Maker, the good of mankind, or the
benefit of our souls. This is a sort of
thrift or good husbandry in moral life.
which does not throw away any single
action, but makes every one 90 as Far
as it can. 1t multiplies the means of
salvation, increases the number of
our virtues and diminishes that of our
vices" 1t is the hGbjtuat good intention
on which alone we can rely for progress
in the Christian life as whole, or in
any one of its departments. A thing
done with a right purpose is better
than a thousand apparently right thinos
done with no purpose at all; and this