Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-11-22
CRITICISM AND CHARACTER.
[From The WaUerly Progress, by J. L.
LODGE, d. D., Editor
No. 2.


means to ends, righteousness in the cause,
weightiness of obligation; there is indie
dependence in intelection, and originality
in methods, together generating impulsion
which anticipates accomplishment Prn
ciples are adopted not for their popularity
but for their truth and reproach or even per-
socutionis welcomed if only martyrdom shall
seal and establish the right. The false cow
ard trims his sails to meet each shifting
breeze; regards not the eternaly true which
alone can fill the need of guiding himself to
safe ends, and Tending off evils from associ-
ates by illumination in practice of ethical
principles; but for ephemeral complacency
adopts conciliatory policy, and warns
you, in seeming candor, that
You must not pump spring water unawares
| Upon gracious public full of nerves.
A man of genuine conviction does not
throw away one thought upon the effect of
his mode of thinking and acting upon the
multitude. Such thought as comes to him
is inspired, and between the utterance of
his inward, real self and utter silence he has
no choice. While with him if he utter him
self his speech must be silvern, heaven-im-
posed dumbness will as surely be golden
Christ spoke little before PLATE. Aside from
the decree which forbade his rescue by le-
| gions of ready, eager angels, words were
ity of deafness was upon his accusers, and
a warning dream could more affect the
| trembling woman than the majesty of out
ragged innocence could nerve the Judge to
| interpose authority to save the helpless vic
| tim. He who, had he been man, would
have flung himself headlong between that
sweet, pale face, that noble and unprotected
form, and the pack of wolves fever burnt
with rage and painting for his blood, obeyed
only the cowardy instinct which hypo-
critically washes Its hands in semblance of
innocency, and shifts the responsibility to
holder if v;ler hands!
Aware, beforehand, that much virtue
must meet with repression, as it caa1sot suf-
fer destruction, courageous character con-
soles itself in the richness and freeness of
its donations, grieved, necessarily, but not
paralyZed, because its wish and effort have
partly failed. at never troubles the sun
that some of his rays fall wide and vain
into ungrateful space, and only a small part
on the rejecting planet. Let your great
ness educate the crude and cold companion.
If he is unequal he will presently pass away;
but thou art enlarged by thine own shining,
and no longer mate for frogs and worms,
dost soar and burn with the gods of the en-
pyran." In the realm of religious truth,
what is not worth dying for is not worth be-
lieving. Ignorant of those tickle moods
born of Difference to variant opinions, the
strong believer perceives the right, and re-
solves to hazard all in its defence or extern
sion. A majestic character is the conse-
quence, the mighty thought is the CAUSE
AS beheld in action, il is demonstrated that
as man thinketh so is he.
The critics sneer is the only answer he is
capable OF making; persecution is the weap
on OF towards whose own corruption is re-
buked by the strength and purity OF their
victim. Courage draws all its strength and
fire from conviction, and while time servers
debate the chances of the issue, and the
weak temporize while seeking for the place
and point Of advantage, or even the we'll
disposed but trembling hesitate to siezc the
nascent opportunity, the master of himself
and circumstances strides boldly past the
shivering crowd of imbeciles, daring to do
what he believes ought to be done. 70 these
dauntless spirits the world owes all it has,
though its recognition of the characters that
have gilded all its glorious historic pages is
tardy, seldom awarded till the life to which
it is indebted has passed beyond the reward
of the present to the sphere in which the
rewards of moral greatness are bestowed by
the hand of eternal justice.
There is no meaner case of cowardice than
to hold correct, divinely sanctioned opin-
ions, and to be deferred from their express
SlOn by InC lear Vi Iilhu ldCtS. III one lli-
ing the place of a teacher Of morals mean
ness and cowardice deepen into culpability
that shall be judged. Because right etern-
ally antagonizes wrong, the opponents and
promulgators of righteous principles should
expect the opposition of the vile. The APP
plause of the wicked is the curse of God
And he is wicked, though possessing the
reputation OF religion, who ressts the teach
Ings OF the infalible word, and refuses TO
welcome its call to personal conformity
thereto. Coaked carnality will have no
good opinion Of the fearless apostle, but its
criticism should meet his ineffable and en-
| during scorn. This honorable contempt of
depraved human judgments is sustained by
faith whose humility does not incapaci
tate for noble deeds, nor tend to boastful
failure through self-inflation, but is the rec
| ognItion of the source OF every gift, the CON
| troller of all events, the dispenser OF every
| grace, the faithful promise. keeper, whose
| rewards for dutiulness are ever in his hands.
| Without such faith the execution of grand
purposes would be impossible, courage
would expire within the hour, conviction
would be shorn of its strength, and the ris-
ing orb of adolescent greatness set in the
endless night Of shame. That God is, that
He is the rewarder of them that diligently
seek and serve Him, that right is dear to his
| heart, and that ultimate triumph awaits
| r;,ht anu ito vntarias arc snhierte or f,ith
u ao a s G'nnda,;nn nu,,r, trn,v ' drr
on "n,I h, DO a aa,nn =. Xiii, y , m,
| great this conviction, this courage, and this
faith agree
,;sS h ,e w. ~ ~ in%as Tm
. t'lieu uy .ne onaaa nu VI IpI - JGus ,hnr
pesS aot ,H arc ,hot ,hau ,o th ao ovoi
Iea s. 'neu wa. 'noy a,0 aooro 'nI aPp.o
Citation VI 'ne h o,as9 S Tn a,su,nea ~ pro-
nounce upon onedi -, II, pu'o,o a,o in,,, arc
ltnPusneu aoGo,u'ns " .no oii, IT,, s.; %
Oh ois,heles'eu anu SCI 9aoi'iic'ns sPi,i.I
their grandeur, because reflection upon
the drveling sentiment and paltry doings
with which they stand contrasted; That
| nedTb Wnele SCH has iOuuu ~ pidCc anu