Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-01-30
Character.

Character.
The following extracts are from Rev. Mr..
Varce's sermon philippians 4:S) delivered
10 the Second Presbyterian Church last
Sunday morning:
Eome twelve or fifteen years ago two
young men went from the same town to the
aame college. Each gifted with much more
thar average ability, having enjoyed the
ssms Intellectual training, chose the same
profession-the law-and both faced the
world, commonly speaking, with the same
possibilities of obtaining distinction. To
day one of them is a judge, the other con.
vics.
What made the difference Evidently
not the environment, for in each case it was
substantially the same. Undoubtedly the
cause of the difference was internal, a differ,
ence of soul, OF moral appetites, of ideals, OF
character. Under the power of these diver
gent tastes and aspirations, the two lives
Inevitably grav;ated in different directions.
One started in life by giving his heart to
Christ Uuder the Influence of that act mis-
ideals became things Christlke, and, as the
lark mounts to sing his morning lay at beav-
ems gate, his life rose. The other drank q
little, played some, killed time in odd mo
ments by reading vile literature, gathered
class of dis;ipated fellows around him,
scrupled not to avail himself of dishonorable
and dishonest methods in the practice of his
profession, soon degenerated into veri!a.
be sbyster, one night stabbed man to
death aud thus rapidly, naturally and me-
cessarily went to the dogs. 1t was not bad
luck. 1t was cause and effect, as much 30
as when smallpox disfgures and kills.
Character creates destiny, character estab
fishes reputation, character seeks its level as
naturally as water.
Heaco the most momentous question thst
ever asks for consideration and careful treat.
meut is that which pertains to the formation
OF character. The soul is so delicate that
the slightest touch leaves it's impression.
It's like the ivory petals of the magnolia
that discolor from the lightest unkindy
blow. Nothing leaves us es it found US.
We are undergoing constant metamorpho-
sis. Every book read, every act performed,
every thought entertained, every habit in
dulged, every friendship csmented, Gil the
accidents and actions of life niDge with our
oeing, merge into our identity, become part
OF our life current. Therefore. watch what
touches your soul.
And yet, just here, perhaps, carelessne So
is most frequent. Few people care to reflect.
The average young man gees in for good
Time, regardless of consequences. He is al
ways ready to dispense with advice; is like
a great many older people who would rather
give it than take it,
After all it is not 30 strange TO sea young
Ban, the horizon of whose life is'limited by
the next hop young woman perplexed
and harassed to distraction over what she
will wear at the next Assembly," man
selling himself for business success his
wife blown about as a weathercoca by the
tickle fanciss of fashion, living for petty so
oiety triumphs and moving in sphere only
big enough TO bold the grievances and jeal
ousies of yesterday and the plans and aspi-
ratons and possible social victories of to.
morrow. Not so strange because a great
many of Us are caught by the looks of q
thing.
Tne7e are some things that make men
and some things that destroy meu-poisons
and elixrs n every chemists labratory,
and deadly acids as we'll as elixrs of life in
the great labratory to which human soul
has access. God has left it with man as to
whether he will take poison or health into
his soul, but begs him to choose life.
Every life has large possibilities within it.
Il sill depends upon the material which one
uses. The icicle on your window sill forms
drop by drop, slowly freezing until at length
1t hangs there sparkling as the sunbeams,
like jets of f7e, dance through its crystals,
eucrclng that slender finger of the locking
with bands OF gold bejeweled with gems
touched into living light by the master lapi-
darian. Thus spsrkles that bit of Ice, pro.
Vided the water was clear when the icicle
formed; but if the water was muddy, the
ice Is foul and the finger of flashing fire is
changed into dull, dead image of insen.
safe clay.
Character forms like ice Precisely the
same process makes the judge that makes
the criminal. The difference lies in the
materials assimilated. One Incorporates
honor, truth, justice, and he shines with the
glory thereof. Another Incorporates vice,
trash, dirt, and he sinks to the level of
what he himself is
The call of the text Is clarion note sum.
moning men and women to noble lives
Man cannot afford 10 linger with that
which makes him pusilanimous of soul. "Be
O man., is the cry of his better genius. end
whatever keeps him back from that goal is
a positive injury. Life is too short, the in
terests involved too weghty, the impress
sions left too lasting to admit of any tri1ing
here. He needs things true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, Of good report" for they hold
all that is virtuous and praiseworthy in
manhood, womanhood.
Truth, the backbone of character, that
which keeps it upright. Honesty, the bone
and sinew of character. Its station. Justice,
the equipoise of character, the symmetry OF
the soul. Purity, the health of character,
which keeps the complexion clear, the pnlse
steady, the life vigorous. Loneliness. or
lovableuess, the grace and beauty,
the flesh and blood of character that which
takes away the hardness and sharpness OF
the iron and, without decreasing strength,
makes character soft and tender. Good re
port, the atmosphere of character. ever fresh
a.a M nninn with the nnannoht hut ready