The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-15


Before He Became = Saint.
Probably . majority of men and
large number Of women, who are not
professors of religion, would say, It
they were to confess their actual
thought, that they always think of
saintliness Is involving an element OF
weakness. They suppose saint to bc
meek gentle, amiable sort of person.
devoutly pious but easily imposed upor,
scrupulously virtuous in all the rela-
tons of life but lacking in force, and
not likely to make much impression
upon the world. ''Saintliness is all
very we'll" they say, when they speak.
out, ''but give US real manliness;"
and they think that they are PREFER.
ing the higher quality. So common
mistake needs correction.
The fact is that saintlness involves
all the worth which there is in manli-
ness, and something to boot which is
equally admirable. A saint has to be
o true man or woman, to begin with.
There must be the foundation of ster-
ling, dignified character, or there can
be no superstructure of holiness. Meek
ness and forbearance are essentials of
saintliness certainly, but they are just
as truly essentials of mere manliness;
and, on the other hand, in spite of the
common impression to the contrary,
strength, courage, frankness and en-.
, durance are qualities of manliness no
more than they are of saintliness. The
popular notions of both the former and
the latter need to be corrected consid-
erably. A true man is not being who
| lacks the milder virtues A true saint
necessarily possesses aggressive quail
| ties
Take the most manly manor the
most womanly conceivable,
and fill the, heart of either with a
pure, earnest, controlling love for
Jesus Christ, and for the fellow
human beings for whom He died, and
you have a saint, in the only true
sense. Such man, for example, is
not less but more of man than he
was before. Every element of his
manhood which you respected and ad.
mired before is in him still, and has
been itensiled. He is just as simple
and unaffected, as frank and honest, as
sensible, as fair, rs fearless and as en-
ergetic as he was before, and he also
is loyal to his God, and is far more
strongly determined than ever to make
the most and best of himself, and to
acquire and use influence, that he
may do honor to his Christian profes.
sion
i He may be less sclf-assertive and
more gentle in manner than formerly,
but that is because the truest saint is
/, the truest gentleman. He may sub
NIT to imposition, and bear provoca.
ton as he never did in the past, and
may show meekness of spirit which
! surprises you unpleasantly at first, but
it is because he has learned that it is a
greater victory to control himself thar
to get the better of other people, and
he now seeks to win only the poblcs
conquests. Watch him, study him
initiate him, and you will find that he
does not utter cant, nor admire shams
nor justify evil which tries to wear the
mask of religion. any more than yor
do yourself--probabiy not as often, i
the truth were told. He is bold enough
in opposing what is wrong and needs
resistance. He can show righteOu.
indignation upon occasion. which ne
one is likely to provoke more thar
once, but it is no longer on his owr
account that his feelings are moved
In word. as saint, and because h,
is saint although he never appliel
abe term to himself and perhaps sci
dom uses it Of anybody else-.he is ,
truer. manlier man than he ever wa
before. X onqregdti0nalist. -N1