Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-01-31
THE FUTURE.


LODGE, D. D., Editor
Perpetual repetition in speech of the
solemn consciousness of immortal beings
makes il sound like trueism TO affirm that
time is but the entrance way into eternity.
Mentors infinite in variety OF quality and
degree stand ever close to our ear ii dullness
of hearing would permit advantage from
their pleadings and protestations. Figures
of speech, prose and poetic, yield ready ser
vice to earnest minds in demonstration OF
an awful fact, fearful or glorious az reason
and Just judgment or their lack determine
the nature of the final event. This of Dick
ems is striking for any who can see with
eyes a representative case "Iime and his
brother Care had set some marks, as in a
tree that was TO come down some time
relentless twins they are for striding
through human forests, notching as they
60" Whether in the teeming population
or the almost desert place, the destroyer
will overlook not one marked ready for his
dart. The endless procession of life, pass
ing here and there, hot and restless spirits
striving, urging to yet more passionate en-
deavor, and the hall. conquered, and the dis
appointed, and the despairing wretchedly
dragging to the close. Like a dry leaf
borne on the current, knowing not its source
or ceasing like the change from leafy time
to death like baroness we are hurried on
ward with the rush of years, and mark not
that in the changes we are changed, but
lightly speak, or read, or think it, tempus Tee.
git. While abusers of opportunities, mock
ers of stern destiny, may well tremble at the
word,
These thoughts may siartle but will not as
t0und
The virtuous mind that ever walk attended
By strong siding champion, Conscience.
All turns upon correct estimate Of time.
The fault is common TO the race to set too
high value on it, so far as it holds possl.
bilities of present, earthly good. A single
word, meaningless or misapplied, sums up
the aim of most-pledsure. That means
ranging all courses, sounding all depths,
scaling all heights, to secure self gratfica'
ton. Children, Pope remarks, from com.
mon observation, are "pleased with rattle,
tickled with a straw" Lower in view, even
to the dumb creatures, multitudes descend.
"Life should be something more than pleas
ant-an OK in pasture has a pleasant life. "
(Disraeli) Or the value of time may be un-
derrated, as related to the concerns of the
future. We appreheDd only what is pass.
ing; see only what may serve for present
use. The too thoughtless and the entirely
reckless, because OF false hopes, delnsive
prospects, or from chagrin over former fail.
ures, adopt desperately the sentiment quoted
by Horace: nunc ginO peiIits cu1us; Oras
i3genS iterd6ineus dequOp-now dispel cares
with wine tomorrow we shall sail again
over the vast ocean. Yes, yes, on the yet
hopeful, Teucer fled from Salamis, binding
his temples, bathed in wine, with poplar
crown, seeking new land. IL is madness.
Alas sigh the disappointed, to morrow we
tha yJhn
wrecked argosies of precious hopes lie buried
deep, but for to day, dispel your cares with
wine. 1t is the creed of Zeno; il is fatal
ism it is death
The only corrective for views of time SO
utterly runous is meditation. Round this
islet OF life the great ocean rolls, the endless
procession of its waves producing music
whose refrain is prophecy of eternity.
Will we hear il say that time is introduc-
tory, meant 10 be preparatory. That life is
short and uncertain. That it is the means
and not the end The most wicked and
irremediahe waste must occur without IA
total reversal Of our conceptions and courses.
The richest natural endowments, the NEST
liberal culture, the most energetic pursuit,
is worthiy directed to and lavished upon
single aim, the construction and develop
ment of character as Il means, with useful
,ess the one end in view. Settle the status
of the sonl with God. Let il be once and
fully known that all its interests are secure.
This is the basis. Without thia knowledge
there can exist no capacity for comprehend.
ing eternal purposes and plans as they refer
t. the individual, and no strength for the
execution ol worthy resolve supposing them
to have taken mental 10 IN. Provisions and
promises press home this duty. Sprcua
| ton must give place TO the actual, the prac
teal. Character commends itself to 0lhern
consclences, comments on revelation, iis
proves atheism, excites emulation, material.
ICES inspiration, supplies ability to produce
and apply forces essential to realization OF
meditated benevolence. Usefulness is the
consequences, and the only thing that makes
life worth living. IL contact with fellow
mortals does not create passion for service
| If an understanding of mems needs does not
root out every trace of selfishness, and Ere,
sent spirit ready for martyrdom or service,
so that the bodies and souls Of men shall be
saved alive, the character is yet too low for
crowning
May not our phraseology be defective p
| Is not cultivation better werd than pre-.
parationy Is il not untrue TO say that man
may prepare himself for either life or death
The starting point is ever from God. First,
the gift of nature in harmony with his
own anu tuen tue lnuulte SApuuslOu VI
powers divinely implanted.
But, whether we consciously will II or not,
character is making WhatY What We
| call the future in life is simply the continu-
alton OF opportunity. In eternity, the
character formed in time is reproduced and
perpetuated Here fits the powerful argu,
ment for diligence To thoroughly master
theorem in geometry or principlei in log
ic, whatever attainment in the exact or in
ductive sciences, will directly influence, as
a part of education, the degree of capacity
for progress in universal eternal knowl-
edge. Itself sufficient to evoke the highest
diligence and perseverance in this primary
school. Character presupposes not q
speculative but practical spirit. Moth
ing is so vain and full of mocking
as merely sentimental virtue. How good,
and pleasant, and sublime il is; how it Is
its own reward and therefore how virtuous
all men ought to be. Amidst this incessant
clstter one wishes To applaud that ruggedest,
honestest OF men, Thomas Carlyle, when he
blurts out, "ln the Devil and his grand.
mothers name, BE virtuous and let us
have an end of it," Let those who are go
ing through the agony OF New Year resolu
lions remember that
We do that IN our zeal
Our calmer moments are afraid To answer |;
and, without resolve, begin to make the iu
ture blessed by making the present so.