Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-06-20
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combining them into system and ex-
pressing the system in single formula
a comprehensive conviction that could
never be recalled without exerting the
very regulating force the circumstances
need. Ofwhat one counsel can say
this Is the key to success, heed 1t and
your life can never be called failure
say this, too, to young men differing
widely in temperament attainment
and vocation?
Ihsve sought for Il. do not say I
have found it. But the effort to ind 1t
can be accepted as indicating q strong
desire that every life now beginning
may be eminently successful, and my
announcement of the result Of the effort
may be accepted as contribution, the
best / can make to secure that success.
Our success in life dapends upon the
estimate we form OF ourselves III
man think himself, to be something
when he is nothing he deceiyeth him
self,n so saith the Scripture. But il Is
lust as true that if man think himselfto
be nothing when he Is something be de-
eeiyeth himself, and the self-deeeption
NAV be 90 hurtful in the latter as In
the former case. If man
think himself to be a god he must car
nv his belief into practice and become
Worshipper of himself, and if Herod's
fate oyertake him and he be eaten OF
worms we can only charge his terrible
failure to the blasphemously exalted e5-
innate he formed of himself. Ifa man
think himself to be only an animal no
one can wonder, and talk about "mys.
tery," when he falls into the habits anu
leads the life Of q brute, and dies at last
as brutes die. The wise course Is not
simply striving to avoid these extremes
but rather seeking to know exactly
what we are, precisely hoW we ought to
think Of ourselves. AS Paul has said, we
are not to think yourselves more highly
than we ought to think but to think
so6erly, to form wise, true Judgment
Four centuries earlier than Paul, socrates
was proclaiming the same counsel III
the streets of Athens. The Delpnian
Inscription, "know thyself," was adopt
ed as his text, and in his preaching ne
never allowed himself to wander from
il, Ii was the basis of his philosophy.
In his Judgment self knowledge was the
kew to all knowledge and the condition
OF right conduct. IL was his formula.
But it is not in the spirit nor after the
manner of Socrates that | would inter-
pref the demand.
Socrates invariably followed the plan
of proving to his nearer that he knew
nothing Alright. He questioned his pu-
pil upon the topic he supposed himself
TO be most familiar with until he had
involved him in contradiction and in
consistency. He sought to start in his
pupils mind a train of reasoning like
this: AT know nothing about that of
which i thought knew most, surely
am altogether ignorant" He delighted
to take the coneeit" out ofthose whom
he would instruct, to empty them COM
pletely, and then, If they were not Oh
Tended with his mode of humbling their
pride, he would try to teach them better
than they had taught themselves or had
been taught by others.
"Know thyself' with Socrates meant
generally know thy ignorance, know
tbyself as knowing little or nothing.
As q rule the graduates of college do
not need this advice. They have pass
ed the point in their course where they
fancied themselves wise. Ii they have
not vet learned the lesson of their COM
parative ignorance they are surely in
durable. But as a rule they know that
text books and lectures have been but
introductinns to vast fields of learning
and research-that they have but glanc-
ed from a few hill tops over the broad
plains of knowledge which stretch away
toward the mysterious horizon. They
have been preparing themselves for
life, but even in hearts naturally bou-
yant and hopeful anxiety finds place,
and commencement day seems to
many at least day when they are
10 be pushed off into the restless ocean
of human life to sink or swim-they
know not which. The notion which
many people entertain that young men
pass out of our colleges cherishing the
expectation that their advent into the
busy world will cause momentary lull,
and that then the presence OF additional
force will be easily recognized, is with
out foundation and exhibits ignorance
of the true feelings of those who See the
end of a college career rapidly ap-
preaching. Those of us who have pass
ed through these scenes can testify that
beneath the gay laugh and beyond the
confident aspect is a vein of very, serious
Thoughts realization of the disparity
between their abilities and the demands
of real life.
/ am, however, far from wishing to
convey the impression that the labOrs of
a Socrates are entirely unnecessary.
There may be need that humility
should be deepened in every heart.
From certain points of view pride, con-
ceit and excessive self.confidence may
be the chief stumbling blocks in the
pathway TO success. When in the ac-
tual world We see many examples oil
avowed infidelity springing from pride
of intellect and men them
selves-and other people-because OF
reliance on abilities insufficient to sus-
tain the weight, and brilliant begin
nings coming suddenly to an end-a GO
ing up like a rocket to come down like
q stick-beeause of contentment with
the attainments of the past and no eff
fort to extend and perfect them we
may we'll reason that there ia need Of an
effort at the commencement of life to
empty the soul of these germs of failure
by exhorting to truer self knowledge
humber estimate of self. Yes, there
is a need of this kind of an effort. The
world will never suffer from an excess
of true humility. But it is work o.
great difficulty-this emptying of the
soul. 1t cannot be effected by words Of
instruction. These will be readily &C.
cepted by the head Of him whose heart
retains in unconscious possession the
pride, the selfcOneeit, and hurtful con-
tentment We strive by word toexorcise
Nothing but the discipline oflife-and
sometimes not even that-will free the
heart from these disguised enemies.
There is more excellent way. The
evil in heart may be crowded out when
it will not heed our invitations to come
out. The efforts of many of the would.
! be reformers of the human race have
they were ignorant, or would not avail
themselves OF, this principle. If doing
no wrong is made the equivalent of do
ing nothing the wrong doing will GO
on. The evil spirit may be east out, but
if the house be left empty he will soon
return with seven other spirits.
The more excellent way makes Use of
the expulsive power Of new affection.
Nothing but perfect love can cast out
and keep out fear. The cure of Self-con.