The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-30
CoRRESPoNDENCE.
Not a Busybody.
BY REV. T. W. HOOPER, D. D.

BY REV. I. w. HOOPER, D. D.
MessrS. EdjtorS,-Whatev may be
said or thought of Thomas Carlyle, his
tribute to his honored father must ever
be regarded one of the most loyal and
flial productions that was ever written.
I have read it over and over again, and
while it has much of that quaint, rugged
style that was so characteristic of the
great author, it evinces a gentleness and
tenderness of heart, that we could hardly
have attributed to the writer of "Sartor
Resartus'
But among these virtues of which he
speaks in high commendation, there is
one, which is simply expressed; and
which it seems to me, is worthy of uni
versal imitation. Says the son, of his
father: GA virtue he had which
should learn to initiate. He neUer spoke
of what aOaS di8agreeable and past. l
have often wondered and admired at
this. The thing that he had nothing to
do with, he did nothing with" Never
to speak of what is disagreeable and
past, is virtue of rare attainment, and
deserving of the italics in which Carlyle
wrote it, and had it printed. But it
seems to me the other sentiment is
worthy of being printed in large capitals
IHE THING THAT HE HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH, HE DID NOTHING WITH"
Ii that were a common virtue, the
world in which we now live would be a
much brighter and much more peace
full scene than it now presents. There
are some, like Carlyle himself, who do
not concern themselves as much as they
ought about the welfare of others. His
treatment of his wife was simply shame
tul; and no words of panegyric, and no
bEstering tears, annually shed upon her
grave, nor bitter selt-reproaches could
ever atone for those years of selfish neg
lect to which that sweet and patient wife
was subjected. We do not wonder on
reading Froude's Life of Carlyle, to
find this confession of Mrs. c., 81 never
loved Carlyle, I married him from am
bition, and I am miserable" I had
gathered as much from his own re-
miniscences, and thought he must have
found out at last, what he ought to have
seen sooner, that she loved Edward
Irving.
But while supreme selfshness is a com
mon vice, supreme benevolence is very
uncommon virtue and to let things alone
which do not concern us, is very rare
and very noble trait of human charac-
ter. They made me the keeper of their
vineyard, but mine own vineyard have |
not kept" This is sometimes the expe-
rience of a minister's life; and we have
all seen a pastor, whose mind and heart
were 80 absorbed in the families of his
charge, that his own family was neglect
ed. heard this given as facetio1s re-
ply by DIR. 7. V. Moore to some busy
body who asked why preachers children
were worse than other peoples.
But the fact is we are all guilty, more
or less, of concerning ourselves about
things which do not concern us. TAKING
a deep interest in what ought to be of no
interest in the world to us, except in q
general way as it affects human affairs
or church affairs at large.
was struck with this some years ago
by two ladies of my own church. One
Of my oldest Elders had died during my
summer vacation, and on my return I
prepared a sermon as a memorial of his
lie, without calling his name. While
waiting to preach this on Sunday, made
put slight allusion TO the sad event at
our weekly prayer-meeting. On Satur-
u9y an excellent woman rather reproaoh-
e ga me for not alluding in fuller terms to
me life and death Of her uncle. On Sun
uay l preached the sermon, IN naen,oyianz.
and on Monday another sharp critic sug-
gested that had better preach less about
91ylng and more about how to live right
&c. o"'
1t was not very long before preached
sermon in which I tried to enforce the
Squty Of every one attending to his own
business, and as my illustrations were