Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-15
SUCCESS DISCUSSED.
DR.. PurveS Gives 1t a Thoughtful
Consideration.
WORLDLY WEALTH NOT A FACTOE
Health and LaudabIe Purposes Result in
Achievements.
A LARGE AUDIENCE EETRANcED

Rev. DR.. George 7. Purves, of the First
Presbyterian Church, of Wood street, lee
tured last night at the Grace Reformed
Church, Webster avenue and Grant street.
under the auspices of the Brotherhood of
Andrew and Philip, subject Success"
He referred to the idols worshiped by the
public, taking Lord Bacon's enumeration,
and spoke briefly of the errors into which
humanity fall in consequence of subscrib-
ing to received opinions blindly, and said it
was not necessary to go to the heathen in
the search for idol worship, and said that of
all the idols there were none that could
count greater number of devotees than the
divinity he would introduce, and it was
only q brilliant skeleton, "Success."
The multitude worship her under different
forms. To the soldier she appears in the
dress of Mars. To the politician she holds
out the hope of Office. Business men,
women of fashion, and even children at
school worship her under different forms.
Were it not for public opinion none would
care rush for her, but the majority want to
be pointed out as successful men and women,
and there is greater portion of her adher-
ents to be found in the United States than in
any other country. Inventive genius of
Americans, the lsudation of selfmade men,
have contributed, and we live so much in the
glare of publicity with newspaper reporters
to tell of all we do that the passion is unduly
stimulated. The case of the great Mr..
Barnes of New York was cited.
AMBITION SHOULD BE LAUDABLE.
DR.. Purves said he would not rail at am
hilton. The desire to achieve real success is
laudable, but our ambition should be laud-
able. What is regarded as success may vary.
Some thieves achieve it, in the estimation of
their pals. Some lawyers attain unenviable
success, but their admirers are found among
the vicious. The commercial success is to ac-
cumulate money. 1t is the virtue of the
Nineteenth century. Methods are not ques-
toned, so that the end is accomplished, no
matter if it be by failing and compromising
with creditors on basis of 10 cents on the
dollar. He has attained success If
he has made money. Is he a man of
culture? No. Is he a benevolent and
religious man with strong grasp on politi-
cal or social questions No. but he has
made money, and that fact covers all other
deficiencies. It is a merciful Providence
that sometimes keeps some people from at
tanning success.
There is a political success falsely so
called. 1t is achieved by the man of no po-
litical principles, who serves himself first
and his country afterward. A true states
man is often grander out of than in Office.
Gladstone was never q grander old man
than when he sacrificed Office to principle.
John Bright also. Such men tower more
grandly sometimes in failure than in vic
tory.
But there is a success at the primary
election that succeeds there and not in the
L. e Il
general thing, be pointed at such success.
The lecturer was here more suggestive than
explicit, but none the less understandable,
and his application might have been easily
made without going far from home.
MERETR1o1oUs SUCCESS.
There is also a social success (?) for which
women are mainly to blame. This is
located in multitude of little worlds, of
which Europe, Asia and Africa are
only suburbs. Woman to shine
husbands or fathers money criminally; |
caters to people who would not ever think |
of helping her in distress. Grief and bitter |
discomfort accompany this career, but thou |
sands in every city place success in the |
triumph of ball for which sacrifice of |
principle and comfort must be made.
These are all sham successes-all idolatry. |
A success is accomplished when life fulflls |
its purpose. Whoever fills his place in life |
usefully achieves real success. And some
times reverses are necessary to full fruition, |
Just as if McClelland had taken Richmond |
in the early days of the civil war the greater |
part of its fruits would have failed of |
achievements. Let each see to it that his |
aim is worthy and well directed and then
labor for accomplishment. The first requisite |
is good health, though it has occasionally |
been attained without it, as the case of John |
Milton and others that might be cited. Good |
health and strong constitutions explain why |
country boys so often achieve success in |
cities where city-bred youths fail. INTEL
lectual and spiritual life is generally built
ON PHYSICAL STRENGTH,
and he who abuses his body by dissipation /
is not worthy to attain success. John L.
Sullivan need not be taken as model. He
represents misuse of power.
Don't wait for opportunity. People who
do seldom find it. The clerk in humble
position who is faithful in few things is
generally in the end made master of many.
The man who does his best is pretty sure to
be successful. But sometimes we attempt
too much and become jack of all trades. 81
have often been asked to help people to po-
sition, and when I asked What can you
do?' they reply Nothing in particular, but
am willing to try anything I can do
nothing for such people,"
The value of good name was dwelt upon,
and the story told of the thiet who said he
would give e., 900 to have the name pos
sessed by certain man, for, said he, 'If
had it could make a1O, ,000." 1t was a
shrewd tribute vice paid to virtue.