The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-04
"GRACE AND GRIT"
Rev. DR.. Hunters Address to YOung Men at
the Seventh Presbyterian Church.

'N-1o NN0 49, JSSS
of this discourse being, Grace and Crit He
took for his text, Ecclesiastes, xii, l; tx, To-
Remember now thy Creator, in the days Of thy
whatsoever thy hand fndeth to do, do it with thy
might
He held that grace and grit are qualities
every truly successful young man must possess
Let grit be a we'll formed tree, then would grace
be the rich soil into which it had thrust its strong
roots, gaining it the life-blood which made it pro
duce good fruit. The most useful life grows out
of a religious soil. Religion gives permanency,
reliability and strength to character
The cause of this is evident; for
the reason that we nowhere find as
pure morals taught and illustrated as we find in
the religious text-book-the Bible. We nowhere
find as high an ideal as W. find upheld in that
book. We nowhere find as noble examples as
we find in the Word of God, ia the history of
the Savior of men. We nowhere else learn OF
the condemnation that awaits the vicious, dis
honest, impure and immoral that we find in the
Word of God. We nowhere else learn Of the
rewards awaiting the true and honest, the VIZ
tuous and the good, that we find in this holy
book. We use grace, tonight, as having refer
ence to that spontaneous favor OF God shown TO
guilty man in preparing for him a Redeemer, and
in granting to him the privileges OF eternal
glory. Young men, l recommend this Redeem
er, and the many mansions he has in waiting,
to you. | would have you first to settle the
life hereafter, then you Will De free
to cope with this tefe IN all Its
length and breadth Of privileges. Remember
thy Creator in the days of thy youth" Your
Christian life should employ your earliest and
most earnest concern. l Will dwell more on grit
than on grace, assuming that you understand
you ought to be a Christian. whatsoever thy
hand fndeth to do. do it with thy might Grit
means firmness OF mind, courage, spirit deter
mlnatlon. Without these characterlstlcs you
would be like the solder without sword or gun
The sailor might as we'll talk OF a voyage With
out steam or sails. This IS a colloqulal term,
and is chosen for that reason. The majority of
You are practical young men, accustomed 10 ex-
press your ideas IN the strongest and most
pointed terms possible. | desire to be under
stood, and am willing to use such language as
will best convey my thoughts to you
AS to the nature OF the grit that will carry q
man through life with the highest success: |. Ii
ought to be an interest quality OF his soul. A
man born a coward can never entirely over
come it. 1t is impossible for the leopard to
change his spots, or a man to entirely overcome
his native tendencies; yet he may do much TO
modify either the good OF the bad. Had you
been given your choice at birth, genius or grit
one without the other--you would have shown
Your wisdom by choosing the latter. Genius
without will-for grit lies in theIwill-is a waste.
-
There is greater hope OF the young man with
moderate ability and with grit than there
IS OF the genius with no grlt-no VIII pow
er. II nature mas given you nrmness,
resolution and aggresslveness put tnem
In training Tor the heavenly race. Ihey are sure
to win IN time and eternity. Another pecul-
iar1ty OF grit is its courageousness 1t fears
neither man nor the devil. Like the brave sol
der marching into battle, It's only thought Is VIC
tory. Ihere is q law IN the universe, aamlnis,
farad nv the (1mnIn0fanf (lnp- Fr0Wn1nO the
brave with honor, and the good with peace,
That crown has the respect OF men, and That
peace Is born OF heaven Homer taught tnat
there were two classes OF men who fol,
lowed war, One class WAS coWafdly,
the other was brave. The towards
were hoooHng ana chatterlhg IKE parrots, each
boastlng what ne could 90, Inc brave men We're
led by silence, and marched TO sure victory. IN
the work OF life a true man VIII not faint at the
nrst drum peat OF duty.
A story is told OF q young man VINO was
wounded IN the battle OF Bun hun IN the late wal;
bis Father arrived Just IN tlme TO see Inc pail
extracted from the back OF his shoulder. SAID
the father; my son, | am sorry Tor you, but
you ought never 10 nave peen wounded IN tne
back" III young man turned over with great
dltnculty, ana polntlng 70 q wound IN MS cnest,
SAID: Here IS where was shot. he had raced
the enemy until ne had Deen snot through
In the Bull Run OF life we must face the enemy,
even though pierced by the poisoned shafts OF
oloAuOi' - - oPAAieN
man to the desired goal, he has enlisted Tor the
war. Some are wondrous brave on the eve OF
the battle, but run at the first smell OF powder.
1t is an old Latin proverb which reads, He will
never enjoy the sweets OF the spring. nor will ne
obtain the honey-combs of Mount Hybla if he
breads his face being sunburnt or his hands be
ing stung. The rose is guarded by the thorn
and the honey is defended by the bee" Per
sistency is not easily disquieted. 1t will mount
every wave Of opposition until it is able
to plant Its banner upon the shore OF
success. The man OF great ambition, yet
unwilling to cope with opposition, is a coward.
unworthy OF success.
Q, hating one! Climb to the umnit of Mt.
Nebo. Gain a view of the land of promise stretch
ing out before you There is an end to the
wilderness in which you now %sojourn if you
push on, and trust to the bright pillar OF right
to direct your feet A thimblefull of water
placed in an iron ball will burst the ball when
converted into steam. 1t can not be confined.
No more can a persistent spirit, fred with a
sense OF duty and a holy ambition be confined to