Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-09-30
Truth is not an ideality, an alb

cI > NIii clIuu' my dhN toi'S "'' VI "'o
ine. Man has the mlghticst task tt
nel+fFnr that has been committed to any
being in the whole realm of creation
and wbich God alone performed per
fectly in the person of his own Son.
Man is hslfsh, even his best aims are
selfish. Moses forsook the pleasures o.
Egypt for selfish purpose according
to Holy Writ, for it says, that he hat
regard to t!it roeompense Of reward
Men try to be v'rtDous, because of the
rewards of virtue. The Sunday School
calls upon childven to incline to vir-
tues side from the highest possible mo.
tivcs, but still fr.s, selfish motiyes.-
Abraham left the land of his fathers
and lived s1raligtt i, q strange land
guided the Bible Gays by his faith, but
still from selfish motives, relying upon
the promises of God. Isaa? and Jacob
too, We're beth guided by what they be-
lieved to be their selfish interests. job
and David saw the evils ana disadvan-
tages Of wicked life, and therefore en-
dcsv0red to serve tod in the beauty OF
Holiness. They not only perceived
the temporal evils and disadvantages,
but still more. the eternal evils and
disadvantages tf a wicked life.
Happiness is the great aim of man.
He therefore, who is the happiest, is
the most successful even in a worldly
sense.
The Bible insists upon the principle
that the path o' wisdom is the path of
pleasantness, and all her ways are
peace. Wisdom mere means insight
into to the will Of God, and readiness
to obey that will. This wisdom pre-
series us from all secret pang: of con-
science.
What avails the millionaire's wealth
when accompanied by an evil con-
science What are the warriors lau-
rels, when stained with the blood of
innocence ? More than one half Of
ecorybody's lie is passed in loneliness
The busiest person lives one-hals OF his
time by himself. What is the applause
of the multitude, what is the stamp of
the world put upon yon that yon are q
success, when yoir hours Of loneliness
are the incipient pangs of eterhal an
euish They are absolutely less than
nothing. Diogeles in his tub wishing
nothing more than that he may have
God 5 sunshine free, if ut peace with
God and man, is far greater success
thai Alexander weening that he has
no more worlds to conquer, if lashed by
Il guilty conscience.
The good man is the greatest man.
He is the only great man. Your every
day schools NAV educate the mind, but
they cannot educate the conscience and
the heart. The noblest part Of MAJ. is
his moral nature. When JAS. A. Gar
field was elected u. S Senator from
Ohio, lie said in his speech of accept
ance, that the highest pleasure he had
in accepting the Office, was the con-
s,iousncss that James A. Garfield was
satisfied that nothing had been done
by him that was wrong in the struggle
for the place, that James A. GartrId
was satisfied with James A. Garfield s
course In the contest.
He is the most successful person, that
has his own approval Of his life. He
only has high aim who seeks his own
approbaton The applause of other
people May come to us, when they do
not know Us. We may have been gull
ty of acts which, if those who applaud
us knew, they wonld as heartily con-
demn us, as they now applaud us. But
we know all that we have done onr-
selves. We know every act of our lives.
1t needs no Judgment day to enable us
to sean every act Of our life. In any
moment oi calm reflection, any OF us
can remember all the bad acts of our
lives. When we approve ourselves we
have substantial happiness, when 9th
crs applaud us, it can only give It's
Happiness IN the ratio that we approve
ourselves.
Outward appearances are no indlca-
tions of happiness: Appearances are
always deceptive. IT we were asked to
put our hands on our happy acquaint,
anoes, we would have no rule to guide
us. Merriment is not happiness: Bob
Ingetsol once said, that laughter was
happiness. He was mistaken. Tran
guilty is happiness. Quietude is a
sure symptom Of happiness. Restless
ness and noise are sure indications OF
discomfort. Happiness is the product
ONLY of thc inward monitor. AS that