Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-05-23
COURTESY.
From The Waoerly Progress, by j. L.
LODGE, ID. D., Editor.

/
One of the most convincing evidences
that the Bible is of divine inspiration is the
manifest fitness and necessity of its cautions
rebukes and comfortngs to the variant dis
positions and situations of mankind. 1t is
not little remarkable that the most hasty
and impulsive of the twelve apostles should
have penned the exhortation "Be courte-
GUS" There was q time when his young
hot blood urged to inconsiderate speech
and precipitate action; when an overesti-
mate of personal strength of character and
overweening confidence in the courage of
his convictions and endurance of his atfec-
ton brought ON Il trial so severe us to silt
false esteem, and reveal miserable weak
ness of whose existence he had before been
in blinded ignorance. We can easily see
how progressive age would tame violent
spirit; and bitter experience chasten pride !;
and increasing grace control mere natural
impulses and tendencies; and how, by ne
cessity, gradual accretions of wisdom would
nurture a just consideration of the actual
rights and privileges Of others, and generate
and maintain respectful regard for the feel
ings and even prejudices of Others. The
very same man who many years before had
whipped out his sword for unnecessary and
unwarranted defense of his great Master and
teacher, saw, now, more glory in illustrating
one of his specially difficult lessons, by en-
during reviling tongues without reviling
again.
The greatest of all human victories is that
which a man gains over himself. ale that
ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that
taketh city" For manifest reasons. Any
fool can rush to the cannon's mouth, in a mo.
ment ofinsanity ,immolating himself without
need and without profit to his cause. Even
where il required genuine heroism and was
worth the cost, il was not the supreme test OF
bravery. Infinitely more courage is there
in the passive and scornful endurance of the
savage from whom the kindling flames and
more dreadful taunts of his tormentors can
not wrench an exclamation or sign of pain.
Harder still is ii for great mind and gener-
Gus nature to forbear outspoken expression of
horror and disgust of natures vile and coarse,
impossible of redemption from habitual, con
genial vulgarity. Ii duty, or conceived duty,
lead to attempts at service in situation OF
such crucial severity it will be difficult be-
yond expression, but none the less impera-
lively necessary, to carry out the letter as
well as the spirit OF the divine Injunction.
For, in every possible condition, every
Christian is gentleman. We cannot, hap
PLY, reverse this statement, and say that no
man is Il gentleman who is not also Chris
tian; but the first proposition will endure
any and every human test. Courtesy is the
indispensable attribute OF gentleman. 1t
requires moral courage to which the cow
ardly burlesquer of poiteness is a stranger.
The coup de chdp6au is all that many know of
poiteness; and this external is in daily,
hourly practice by those whose disregard of
others feelings, whose brutal ingratltude,
and inhuman neglect have left incurable
gres in outraged hearts. Buster is not
bravery eiirontery is not strength; brazen
face and braggart tongue mark not man :,
nor are policy, cunning, an strategic ma
nipulation OF the deceiyer's instruments
misunderstood except by the easily gullible.
| have said that every Christian is gen
tleman; yet many of the most marked and
contemplate examples of discouresy are
afforded by SOME VINO clam both geniillty
and religion. When IA man that is called
Il brother" with iull knowledge OF the effect
Of his action deliberately and purpOsely
wounds the dignity and undermines the in
fiuence OF IL member OF his own calling /;
when he gives the enemies OF their common
cause opportunity To baspheme aud mar
the sacred work when he violates Christ's
rule by doing To another what he would
not have another do TO him, AMI dlsregards
Peters command to use courtesy with all,
but specially with brothers; when, Tor the
sake OF IA present paltry reward and to
tage to self, with wnsome graces and the
"ioolish lace OF praise" he deity handles the
tools adapted to the furtherance OF his plans,
without pausing to reflect that the conse-
qucnces Of his deed will be traced in tears
and stamped on aching, Borrowing hearts,
the just and generous OF the earth Will de
eide whether such an one can be either II
gentleman or Christian. In all such cases,
which happily ARE comparatively inirequent,
the effect is often that Of the boomerang
the missile projected returns to the sender.
No violation OF principle, no chicanery,
fraud, deceit, or dIshonorabe action but
eventually "returns to plague the inventor"
DIR. Guillotin, who proposed to the Constitu-
cnt Assembly OF 1888 "the razOr OF the Rev
outIon," died under that famous and in
famous death machine.
1t is IA sad spectacle, when bodies Of men
called churches, iorgetlul OF self respect, and
entertaining none for others, leave off their
war against the common enemy, and train
their artillery against one another. The
most faithful propaganda of pure doctrine
needs not 10 trespass upon the rights oi con
science II may require some grace and more
sense 10 Sce that i'll attacking systems one is
not attacking men and really intelligent
christians and churchesof like faith and order
may differ widely on polity, construction Of
questions and other thingsand yet be friends.
IL seems to have been Il matter of pride with
some OF the New Testament writers TO quote
instances Of courtesy in heather and unbe-
LEVERS. Jesus was Il model OF this virtue.
Rich and poor entertained him in their
houses and at their tables. He, everywhere
while not at all overcoming the hate Of his
oppOsers, in every instance compelled their
respect. Paul was the keenest disputant Of
his times, yet model gentleman. Men are
10
bic to despise. The men oil his own town
and county testified that the rough element
defeated at a recent election gentleman
nobiy born and magnificently bred. De
ieated him because they hated gentleman.
This must occasionally occur till Bellamy' 3
miliennium but before and after the TWEEN
tieth centurYIg genuine courtesy will be appre-
ciattd and acknowledged by the truest and
| best of men, as having its foundation in not
only that which is divinely human, but in
what is verify divine.
o