The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-06-03
rllanrnus.
For tie 1Egis and MtclhwRccr.
Self.RcIiance.
by REV. G. A. JONES.

Gibhon has wisely said that "eyery person has
two Quotations, one which he receives from
others, and one more important which he gives
himself" This second education, taken in the
higher sense, is what we mean by selt-rClancc
In this higher sense, sclf-reliance has n three
fold significance; namely: 1t stimulates to et-
fort; it is the prophesy Of success, and the pc
culiarity of the times demands it.
We present our topic as II qualified term, for
in certain sense, man cannot be absolutely
selt-reliant. lie who pretends to be, makes
himself rcpugnant to the best people. We all
must depend more or less upon one another,
yet while we do this, I'VE should seek that more
exalted education which comes through selfde-
pcndcnce.
We live in an age Of great activity and oppo-
sitiOn, when every man must look out for him
elf If we ever reach the golden shores of
happiness and prosperity, We must ourselves
trim the sails. If We ever carve our way TO
wealth, honesty and rcnown, it will be through
"clfeXcrtion If we ever become the chief ne.
tors in LIES great drama, 1t will be by depend
ing upon ourselyca.
Every man has right to think well of him
self He is justified in believing that he has
been created for good and noble purpose, and
that if he puts forth honest efforts, he will in
time gain the prize for which he labors. | do
not mean that man should be continually run
ming to his friends, and telling them OF his many
virtues, for such a one generally has none, but
i'll his secret soul, he can regard himself us a
beng That thinks, 1eels, ana acts, ana thut mas
Il perfect right tn be heard
When John c. calhoun wa in Yale College
he frankly vet modestly told his fellow Students
that he expected to 20 to Congress. They
laughed al him, WhCreupon he exclaimed, "Do
you doubt it l assure you, if | were not con
vinccd of my ability to reach the national CAPT
tai az a representative within the next three
years, | would leave college this very day
Let every man, with humility, thus have conf
dence in himself. Let him take hold of life in
earnest, and determine to make, rather than in
herit; to give, rather than receive; to favor
rather than be favored. Let him look at the
world as II vast arena, in which every man should
strive for noble mastery, and that il is for him
to say whether he shall he a master or slave
Let him boldly plunge into the great aea Of life,
and without cOrks, lllc.preservers, ropes or any
help, let him determine to swim or sink. Let
him not think of what ne could or should do, if
he only were such or such Il man, or had such
and such advantages, but conscious of kind
Providence about him, and the good spirit in
him, let him accept the situation, and brayely
enter upon his work, always believing, in his
very SOUL that III litcs warfare he must be his
own general draw his own sword, fight his own
battles, win his own victories, or suffer his own
defeats. If man he man, Il mean in the full
sense Of that term and ifsuch thoughts and aspi
ratiuns as these possess him, he will pass
through life surrounded by host Of noble pco
pie, and prove himself blessing and not Il
curse to society.
When we pass and repass crowd of common
people or tramps roaming around the country.
or standing on the streets idling away their
time, We get out of patience with them, and
treat them rather roughly; but man of wisdom
has more pointcdly said that to him, some of
the most disgusting sights in this world, is that
of II young man with healthy blood, broad
shoulders, prcscntable calves, and hundredand
fifty pounds, more or less, of good bone and
muscle, standing with his hands in his pockets
lDupinp fpr holm ~ If this he "A discussing siUbt
what must that be of strong young man. who
has been reared under favorable circumstances,
surrounded by refinement, culture and good
share of wealth; in Il word, fully equipped and
prepared to 20 out into the world and be self
supporting. For such young man, OF twenty
five summers, and having all these advantages,
To be 'tied to his mothers apron string" and
continually opening his fathers pocket-book,
and leaning upon his friends for help, is one OF
the most deplonbe pictures that presents it.
in living such life MS this. II man believes
he is, his philosophy is false; for we live in u
world of work. Every man is expected to work.
Every man is under moral obligations 10 work.
A man may have his houses, his lands and his
tsillions, yet if he has strength of mind and
body, he is under solemn obligations to work,
just rs much as tramps and common people are
under obligations to work. Men may make
their lawE, and declare if man has wealth he
may take his ease and do no labor, but there is
HlSHtI iuW, illlHu VI ",
written n nature, in Revelation, yea, in the very
conscience of men, which declares that "by the
sweat of mans brow, he shall eat his bread"
History teaches that the men who have be-
come famous have been men pre- emiuently self
reliant Alexander the Great undertook to CON
quer the world with only thirty-fve thousand
men. When asked upon what he relied, he
quickly answered, "my hopes" and relying
upon his hopes, and not upon good uck, for
tune or any other help he went forth, and soon
made all the then known world to tremble and
bow before him.
prominently. man who always did his own
work, and would not permit another to do it
for him. Ever making personal observations,
and giving attention 10 details. Largely his
own secretary, planning his own battles mi
nutcly understanding his armies fighting side
by side with his soldiers; enjoying their victories;
sharing their defeats; laughing at impossible
ties, saying the word was only ''to be found in
the dictionaries OF FOOLS" looking upon the
lofty Alps, which stood before him and saying
"Thcre shall be no Alps" and Simplon was tile
result. In Bismarck we see a man with an iron
will sclfdetermined purpose; man using
his own feet, hands, brains in the various
schemes he undertakes; man of pluck taking
hold with determination to possess; man in
whom self shines forth so prominently, that his
enemies are compelled TO believe they are fight
ing an individual man. Disraeli presented the
most remarkable example ofselfreliancc. From
the cradle he was an object of hatred. Born
OF despised race, he was everywhere reject
ed. Instead OF seeing smiles, he beheld frOwns
instead of light to shine upon his path, he found
himself gropingn darkness; instead OF friends,
he met u host OF enemies; yet in the face of
all these difficulties, he asserted his rights, and
became power all over England. With O
meagre education, he won high literary honors
without aristocratic connections, he became
great centre of attraction. When he read his
t,D n ~