Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-02-03
TRUE LIFE-SUCCESS.
Lecture by Rev. #. e. Sturgis at East Ten
nessee Wesleyan University.

Lecture by Rev. #. f. Sturgis at East Ten
nessee Wesleyan University.
ATHENS, February /, 1882.
The faculty and literary societies of East
Tennessee Wesleyan University are giving,
during the present season, a course of free
lectures, the third of which was delivered
last evening by the Rev. F. E. Sturgis, of
Knoxville. Mr.. Sturgis' subject was "True
Life-Success."
In introducing his lecture the speaker al
luded to the pleasure which a college gradu-
ate always feels in visiting an institution of
learning, saying that although sixteen
years had passed since he left the
halls of his Alma Mater, his interest in the
cause of education and his sympathy for
those who are struggling through the long
years of the college course, was in no wise
diminished.
Passing to his lecture proper Mr.. Stur-
gis remarked that during the hour in which
he should address his student-hearers, he
would endeavor to give them a few princi-
pies which are essential TO true Hfe-success.
And first he would impress the necessity of
having lofty and commanding ideal. He
had no sympathy with the spirit of the re-
mark of Caesar, that che would rather be
the first man in country village
than second man in Rome" but
an emulation to stand foremost IN a COM
nunity by virtue of innate merit and faith
full effort was every way ommendable.
The second quality which he would mention
as necessary to success was self-reliance.
tIo L.,
ment, which impelled Daniel Webster on
his graduation day to tear up his diploma,
declaring that he was not going through life
on horseback. Success cannot be attained
by depending upon the assistance of 9th
ers. Every man must carve out his own
future, if that future be anything worth
having.
AS third essential to success, the
lecturer mentioned concentration. By
this he meant the devotion of all
ones energies and resources to
the occupation in which he is engaged
There was a time when man could become
great in several departments of human
thought. Milton was perfect store-house
of knowledge, both ancient and modern,
and Bacon was master of all the sciences,
so far as developed in his time But that
day has passed. The departments of hui
man knowledge are now far too varied and
extensive for man, unless gifted with rare
endowments, to master more than one of
them. The man who would succeed now
must not scatter his energies over several
different fields, but having selected the
one pursuit to which he will devote
himself, must concentrate every power and
energy of his being upon making himself
master of that. Courage was the next
quality mentioned as being requisite to
success. By this, he did not mean phys
ical courage nor merely moral courage; but
the courage to struggle through theyears of
the college course, even through hampered
by poverty and deprivation. He who yield
to his discouragements and opposition
cannot achieve true life-suecess In all
earnestness and with all his power he would
insist, that when there is a will, Providence
will certainly open way.
Lastly, he would suggest, as an indispen-
sible requisite in achieving success, down
| right, earnest, persistent toll. Mr.. Sturgis
dwelt at considerable length upon this divi-
| sion of his subject, presenting numerous
illustrations of the truth of his position
He secuted the idea that genius, as we usu-
ally interpret it, produces great men, and
asserted that every really great man has at
tanned pre-eminence by patient, unceasing
| labor.
Mr.. Sturgis' lecture, which occupied lit
tie over IN hour in its delivery was one of
the most interesting and valuable to which
we have ever listened. No more appropri-
ate theme could have been chosen for pre-
sentation before a body of young people,
and certainly no one could have been found
who could have presented it in a more elo-
quent and forcible manner than did the lee
turer of this occasion.
The next lecture of the course will be de-
ivered by Hon. H. FL. Ingersoll, of Knox
vile, on Thursday evening, the 9TH instant,
when another rare treat is anticipated.
ARGUS.