Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-05-29


There is danger Of misapprehending the
thing in phianthropic or Christian endeavor
which God approves Selfcrimination aud
despair are the result Of a false conception
of responsibilities which do not exist, and
the adiudging that to be a failure which Is
not really such. BY law In nature which
In its right use is benefioent, individual good
Is the aim Of every rational creature. To
range the scope of possibilities and grasp the
highest, is the thought of such as are en-
dowed with strength of mind and the en-
deavor is often quickened by the ambition
to surpass predecessors in the arena Of the
worlds unceasing striving. Discomfort is
the torment Of many who count all lost II
everything is not gained and purity OF
motive, assiduity of attempt, and partial
realization of hopes are counted as un-
worthy OF entering into the judgment of a
life Dread Of the worlds criticism drives
TO desperate exertion to meet the worlds
requirement, and gives strength to the temp
tation 20 deviate from righteous and safe
courses and to adopt doubtful or conscious
ly improper expedients, TO compass the OBJ.
iect Of desire He alone can be truly great
who is freed from apprehension of the yer.
dict Of contemporaries or postefity, strong
in the consciousness of inward as well as
external rectitude, and Is content TO do hon
est and conscientious work, according to &C.
iual ability, under existing conditions, find.
ing in the very doing an exceeding great re-
ward
Success through any means is the end
sought by the earnal and men OF easy vir-
tue; success, when Il is the reward of dill.
gence, pursued under yirtuous directions
aud restraints, inheriting the blessing of
God, and securing the approval Of the moral,
is the animating object of the truly pious.
"a
standard Of success, without an estimate OF
fne Uyti e1eUg upon the character, insepa
rablc from the degradation of faculties di.
yiuely noble, 20 the pursuit OF lgn0ble pur-
poses. Many man has only one defint'
ton OF Success With him il means a
change In his circumstances, from poverty to
wealth il means adding house 10 house,
acre 10 acre; It means that he shall be re-
puted rich among his neighbors, and secure
their Difference and-their envy. This Is
the profit sheet; look now on the side Of
loss An innocent mind, a clear conscience,
self respect as dependent upon the eommen.
dation OF conscience, sympathy with those
lelt behind IN the race, susceptibility to the
claims of God and humanity-these are
gone; In their place have come the fruits OF
the most tsordid passion -parsimony, callous.
ness of feelings, contempt of duty, tho pom.
posity ota little mind, dictatorial and supe'
fior airs, oapabilty of mean actions, and a
thousand other hated vices, disgusting to the
thought Melancholy examples are to be
seen IN the church; While man was poor,
or wellto do, he was generous aud gave
evidence ot spiritual life; as riches Increased
he set his heart upon them, and grew meaner
and meaner with each revolving year, TILL
whatever his place in the church, his power
To inspire confidence and respect was gone
This is one kind OF success but what GU
lightened mind oaa desire IL
A reputation for daring, won at the can
mons mouth, may have an ephemefal glory
but will die tomorrow under the cool crit
ictsm which pronouaecs the actor not u
brave man but fool la So noble a work
as the acquisition OF great learning, how
can that be called a SUCCESS, In which health
Is destroyed, the prospect ot continued use
MlAOsS hlotted out, and the students life
cut oil belore he has lived out halfh daysp
Aud So, mulutudes OF examples might bc
cited 10 show that that Ia the very opposite
0l SOooess that ia called SO,
Much that IL characterised as failure Ia
uniusty named, Here enters the question
0r atm That pure and benevolent sanctihcs
the attempt, aud derives merit, as righteous.
mesa Is Imputed to him who has faith In
/ 0hodiont holding S06ioetivity, too, has a
part Ia the resolution Nf the question, For
uisclnhhe, even thfouNh NoNefost Huuofthk,
IN the executing OF eternal ordination, pro,
dOoos the grandest success, Partial lmper
iOolioN IN results oaa mover deserve con
domNati0n, because, IN probation, taouH
ttes have not attained the limit Ot their p0,
l0Noy, and hiNdfanees are nurposely placed
TO evoke the reservation OF present power
Never In thiA world can perfection ot p0r'
pose, much lees ot achievement, bo attained
"Who, looking backward nom his man
heodN ntlae,
Sees N0t the spectre et hts mtaspent Om0N
Aud through the shatloa
ot WAelal 0Npross, planted thick hchlNd,
ll0agS No eepraaehl0( whisper on The w,Nd,
Er0m his loved deadS
WMAN da,@ not east
oN the ,Ngeaged pagOs Of his wemorys
book,
Az WMes, a sad aud halt reluctant hook,
ltegr,lal ot the pastS
Wet lf he hath (eW
SDpeNgth N the weak, aNd IN the hour ot
NVNd
over tNe satlNHag, MNllesa at hla or,'cd
Nr haMe, hath heNts
lie hath Nat lived IN VatA"