Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-07-02
THE STRUCTURE WE BUILD.


A structure Is going up jpiut by joint and
story by, story, for each and every ono both
young aud old This building is character.
The word Of inspiration warns us to take heed
that we build this structure upon n sure found
alton, no, only FOR the. time during which we
live. but tor that hour Of revelation when we
sli II be seen just as we. Rse,
Tue mental faculties must be cultivated
All the powers necessary tn make man are o
murc character than n handful of sted is an
orchard of iruii'. live plant tho seeds and
tend item well they make rn orchard. Our IA
cilites it tightly aud harmnnipusly used viii
make n uUbe character which In the end will
stand as a fair and lunored temple. Blu, one
dishunoiable, untulhful act or word will leave
its impress or work its influence upon this
structure. The secret thoughts never express
ed, rasehoods never told for want of courage
and the irrevUrencc Of the heart are just as ef'
fectual in their staining powers as thUugh they
were known " the world. Right acting is the
result oi right thinking and right thinking has
a moulding influence that shapes our characters
iuto pure and noble forms.
Truth is the SUNNI, o! being and Justice the
application of 1t to affairs, All individual ma
lures are ranked in proportion to the purity OF
/ his element in them. The natural force of the
element arising from this is no more to be with
stood than any other natural force. We can
throw a stone upward for a moment into the
air yet il is true that all stoues will forever fall
whatever instances there may be Of unpunished
theft or of lie credited by some one, justice
must prevail, and ii is the privilege of truth to
| ma ke itself believed. Character is the moral
order seen through the medium of an individu
al nature. A healthy soul stands united with
the just and the True, as the magnet turns TO
The pole. Such one appears before all be-
holders like II transparent object betwixt tbem
| and the sun and is thus the medium Of the high
est influence to all wLo are on the same level.
| Thus men Of character are the conscience OF
| the society to which they belong,
The measure of character is its resistance TO
circumstances. Impure men consider life as II
reflected in opinions, events and persons.
They cannot see the action until il is done, al
though its moral element pre.existed aud its
quality was easy to predict. Feeble sou Is look
at the profit or loss Of the action, never behold
a principle until it is lodi ed in person, do moi
desire TO be louely but TO be loved.
Strong souls will introduce power and victo.
ry which is its natural result into any order Of
events. No change of circumstances can re-
pair a defect, Reclitude on the other hand is a
perpetual victory, adorned with JOYS fixed and
babitual.
Whatever one can effect depends on what he
is. II he posses ses trulhiulness and integrity
united with strength Of purpose, he possesses q
power irresistible. HIS is then strong to be JUS
o resist evil aud to stand up under dfficulte,
and misforlunes. Franklin attributed his sue.
cess as public map, not to his talents or pow
ers of speaking. for these were but moderate
but to his own integrity.
Truthfulness is the cornerstone OF a strong
and noble character. IL the cornerstone is moi
Grmly laid in youth there will ever be sad de
feet in the foundation which can never be who,
ly remeded, Trying aud perilous citcums,an
ces test the value aud Importance of firm ant
resolute character. 1t is sure support wbel
all else fails. 1t imparts security aud peac
when other defenses have been surrendered
The higher walks of life are treacherous tn
lower full Of obstacles and impedments. W
are only secure in either by maintenance thos
principles which are just, praiseworthy an
S pure and winch inspire bravery in ourselves
a AM confidence in others.
s Department, honesty, caution and desire
VI do righ. carried out in practice are TO huma
character what truth, reverence and love are
y religion. They are tue UNMARRIED elements of
= good reputation. Such virtues cannot be de
II spised, though the ignoble may scoF at then
n not 20 much because of their hatred towar
l. as from their desire to reduce others to ii
y standard Of their own degraded natures al
l; passions. Let such scorI and ridicule as III,
Us may. Virtue must have its admirers, al
frmness Of principle both moral and reigin
~ will ever command the highest praise Of the il
mr. teligeut world.
es Tina: charact is power, is true in high,
r. sense than that knowledge is power. MI
er without heart, Intelligence without prfncpl
he cleverness without goodness may be powe
Us only for mischief. We may be instructed a
~. amused by them but il Is as difficult to admi
IN. them as to admire the dcxterity OF pick-pocI
nd ct ar the horse e-mansl,ip Of a hgliwayman.
nd A noble and excellent character then, is u
at doubtedly to be considered as the great desid,
ir' alum Of human lite. This truth sublime in
Oh simplicity and powerful in its beauty is Il
NN highest lesson of religion the first that you
, should learn-the last that age should forg