Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-29
UNsELFIsH SERVICE.

-s-ss-
UNsELFIsH SERVICE.
One of the most striking scenes IN modern
fiction is that in Charles Kingsley's Iy-
patia," where the jealous young monk, who
has become almost convert to the fascinat-
ing Neoplatonism of the brilliant Hypatia,
is suddenly brought to a realization of its
entire inadequacy to human needs when the
beautiful teacher declares that she has done
nothing and can do nothing for his wayward
sister, A philosophy which can do nothing
for human life, whatever its conditions,
was philosophy that could not be true
and this incident suggests the test of, not
only all philosophy and religion, but all the
ideals and purposes of every human life. No
philosophy can be true which does not in
some way c.ntribute to the strength and
purity Of every human soul who studies it;
no religion can claim divine authority which
has not the right word for every
human need; no human life is wisely
and rightly ordered, which does
not In its own working out inspire,
direct and aid other lives. To make life
richer, STR nger and purer for men and to
help men to tlke to themselves this richer,
purer and stronger life, is the end Of every
kind of knowledge of all forms of activity,
and of every rightly ordered life This SER
vice to common humanity need not be
direct or immediat'; it may be very indi-
rect, and discoverable only in its ultimate
results; but at some point and in some way
this service must be rendered. The philoso-
ply, the religion, the action, the man or
woman, in which or in whom this element OF
divine hopefulness is not found may be put
aside as unworthy guides. The sci nee
which should abstract itself entirely from
human life, if such a thing were possible,
and work out some complete system which
could not in any way enrich or strengthen
men in the life they have to live, would not
be worthy the pursuit of any thoughtful
man.
1t is not necessary in order that one may
employ this quality of helpfulness that one
should be all the time in personal contact
with the needs and weaknesses Of others, or
that one should give himself up to specific
charitable work or mission. Some of the
noblest souls who have ever lived have by
the very necessities of the VIZ fl hpT-I
un1c--'t-,IenI been SGA4oWliaG ShuU Off from
immediate contact with the daily wants of
their fellows But the result of their laborS
has b .en so to expand the thoughts of men
about their own lives that they have i'm
mensely enriched and ennobled those lives,
and so, at long range, they have been il
lustrious helpers of their fellows. The es-
sential thing is that one should conceive of
his work in this spirit; that one should feel
that no kind of work or knowledge or
culture is an end in itself; but that the
ultimate object of it all is to make the world
sweeter, and the men who live in it better.
The student who devotes all his years to the
patient exploration Of some path of knowl-
edge, and by his devotion to truth, his self
denial, his untiring patience, becomes a liv-
ing example of the noblest qualities, may
sometimes SEEM to those who do not under
stand his ends nor appreciate the quality OF
soul which he is putting into his work to be
leading selfish life. 1t is a common error
which identifies unselfish service with acts
whose beneficent result is Immediately de-
tected. There are high and noble services
which do not seem to touch individu-
ais at all, but which are rendered
to humanity at large in the way Of a
general expansion of the knowledge and
conception of life. To most men, however,
this problem never presents itself in this
form. Most of us must choose to render
services to men who are direct and personal
If we are to render any, and no man
ought to be content who does not feel that
his life in its general result, no less than in
its specific actions, is easing the burden and
smoothing the way for others. A selfish
life is not only irreligious--it is distinctly
disreputable thing unworthy, and there
fore inexcusable. No man of any conscien-
'tiousness can live comfortably in the world
as he sees it today unless he is doing some.
thing to better the general condition Of
things A selfish life in the light of the
worlds needs at this end of the nineteenth
century is essentially an ignoble and mean
life.
A man may pass good muster as philan.
thropist, who makes but poor master to
his servants or father to his children
Maurice.
If man does net make new acquaintance
as he advances in life, he will soon find him,
self alone. A man should keep his friend
ship in constant repair.
J ! One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice
I Of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere
good thoughts warm feelings, passionate
prayers in which idle people indulge them
| selves.-J. Fl. NetOntGn.
WHISKY CAUSED HIS FALL
Henry D. Gregg, son Of the famous Rev.
| DR.. Gregg, of Dublin, Ireland, whose discus
sions with Bishop Mcguire about the Catho-
lie Church during the past ten years gave
him worldwide fame, was arrested at Kan
| fo, \. =