The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-05-04

that men are influenced by them. IL
who claims to be independent in GU
opinion are probably influenced NOR,
than we know. 1t is not strange tina
many of little intelligence should b,
swayed by such means mare than by
solid argument. In morals and religion
public opinion or party opinion, has {
similar influence, Many young mar
who in his eastern home was careful
about moral actions, and even about the
~eXtcrnals OF religion, On coming West
has found & different sentiment prevail,
i-g. and has gradually drfted into
habits OF careless iooseness of morals, il
not into vice. The change of sentimen
may he hardly perceptible to himself,
He Aay not realize how much worse he
is t.an he was in the different moral at
mosphere, But still, the change of as
sociateS has had its effect. Rightly, our
ground of choice should he an. intclii.
gent personal judgement. Every man
of independent spirit likes to be able to
say to himself. Il know. because | have
examined" He who is most ready to
allow Others their opinions often takes
the greatest satisfaction in his own.
But he Who always reserves his opinion
49, ~ 49, a. - haNECiNitLl ~ .
igatiun must always remain in II state of
doubt on most questions of interest.
Time and opportunity is lacking for the
investigation of any but a few questions
Most independent thinkers must take
their opinions at second hand. Hap
PLY. this is not inconsistent with true
independence, Intelligent examination
OF the opinions Of those best informed
on any question is generally sufficient.
We are obliged to depend on the opin-
lon Of experts. II anyone wishes to
know whether Nero probably set fire to
Rome or not, he need not depend simply
on the GDmmO opinion. nor vet solely
ON the later opinion of scholars, that he
did not. The student ma find in any
good history an opinion and the reasons
for 1t. After a few hours reading, he
can prQbably form rs correct an opinion
for himself as if he spent weeks in an
independent historical investigation.
This principle is of great Importance to
us in the practical affairs of lite. Not
every man, not even every minister, has
the time or talent necessary to %inycsti.
gate critically all the evidences OF Christ.
ianity and the objections offered. But
all haze sufficient evidence that Christ
ianity is what it processes to be. Many
g ohe is disturbed when he hears OBJ
jectloqs presented which he cannot an
swer. Now everything that is worth in
vestigGaen has objections. Almost
every day men are finding objections 10
the christian evidences, and almost every
day they are being answered. Inidei
ity Is Tor the most part forsaking its old
arguments, because they have ben an
swered, and inventing new ones. a
savage chief WAS overcome by British
arms ard carried To England. Being
asked some time after what he thought
OF Ghftstisuity, he answered that he
thought II was true, for all the good men
accepted it, and ali the bad men rejected
ii. Tbs statement was somewhat N
aggcrat.d but his ideas were correct.
He had almost as much assurance OF his
belief ~ If he had been q scholar and
had Investigated al the objections Of
fered % u religion. We can form in.
dependent opinions without full and
complete investigation of all sources OF
infor cation. The weak man drifts with
the tide. He is swept along by the in
tiuence of early association and present
position The strong man nerves him.
self y Withstand tisose influences unles,
they aie proper. !le marks II n COURSE
for himself and strikes out boldly. He
may b kiudered. he cannot be stopped.
he may be moved slightly from hi,
course, ne cannot be swept away. In
the third place. What to choose
Broadly, it may be said, choose what l.
most important. But what is most M
pprta1tg The answer to this question
depends on II standpoint, The most
important thing in present circumstance
may no: he the most important thing il
itself. What is OF less intrinsic import
anee may be necessary to the attainment
OF what is more important. Me~tnl cul
ture is worth more than the physical
ye..st a ptrticular time it may be bette
10 torego study in order to keep tht
body in health. The more important is
often directly dependent on the less i'm
portant. The body must be fed or th,
miGd viii suffer. Practically, the mos
important thing inst nov is to do tho
present duty That may be TO shut GU
from ones mind all thoughts OF menta
culture, benevolent, and philanthropic
enterprises, domestic affections, or ever
religion, and devote himself wholly 4
compromising drugs, writing deeds o
selling calico. He who has learned t
do this without worry or regret. ha.
learned To meet the inevitable duties o
life vs. Il man. 1t is an important lesson
Busfnan is more than an intellectual
machine, u reasoning animal. A ma
chino ordinarily does its work. An ami
nal insttnctivelF provides for its need
and is W. protection, doing for tn
most part the right thing in the risi.
place. 1t is well that man should lie IT
to do ti,e same. He ought not 10 vast
his time and destroy his happiness i
longing after the unattainable Bot
morally aud cXpedicntly it is better t
do cheerfnliy the duty that lies before II
waiting for or hands. But man ha
practically the power of choosing. II
can do what is best for him and til
world, or he can refuse to do SO. Ye
man las learned this hard aud inportau
lesson aud nc more, he has learned b
reason TO do only what the machine doe
mechanically and the animal By instinct
! 1t is 9 Iiti III sight to see q man salts
lied with the lusks of life. There az,
, such men, absorbed in the duties 0
r cielkship, perhaps, busted with til
, petty details of business, not with IL
: principles. becoming narrower ever,
t year; mere practical men. merely an
mated machines. Man was rot cndowe
with reason, merely that he might lear
t what instinct could have been made t
$ teach better. He ought to be satisfied
and yet dissatisfied; contented snd yt
: discon tented; willing to remain in h;
present position if that is best for hin
Il self. and the world, yet never Statistic
r with present attachments in kuuwieda
f and culture. Not only present clrcun
stances. but the whole lifetime and a
: possible attGlnmonts furnish 2 field fL
choice. Most men have all aim in lift
some object toward which all their c
S forts tend, ON plan into which the
r cesire 10 weave all the little petty CT.
cumstanccs and actions OF daily lif
e They may have drifted into such a plai
1t may hardly be g conscious aim, rs "
have seen; it may be the product Of GU
o side influences, All men ought to bat
{, an aiu It ought TO he the result Of d.
y liberate, intelligent choice. and it ougl
3 TO be kept cpn8cjentiousiy before I'll
d mind. The grand aim Of life necessa
ily determines the choice in palticuli
il circumstances. Life's main purpose
seen and felt in every day eetiou.
Those bank presidents VIA spend
e srSGllaton Sc many hundred thousar
: g. Isi11sH- g-sr.,, ~, t-r..En- r.. -. G..i l.