The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-13
TALK ON CHARACTER
First Of ! Series Of Six Ser
mons to Young Men.
The DEMAND FOR HONESTY.


Nv. LevI Gubertss Earnest Words-kev.
o. 4. rswksbsry's Resagsatiea-
other Religious Services.
The services last evening in the First
r. Z. church were Of q peculiarly interest
~ and impressive character, the pastor,
~. Dr. Gilbert, preaching the initial ser
,1,os, IN ) scrias OF lectures 10 young men,
Choosing the subject OF s'Cilaracte-" for
fhS 6rst serruon Of the course ard basIng
His remarks on the words Of David in his
nIf1fce 70 Solomon concerning the building
81 the temple, DR.. Gilbert defined charac-
~ q being the present, actual mental
nnd moral condition Of the being. the
raj state Of man in relation to good and
evfl. z In further defining the term
- sneaker indicated that charac-
~ s. that part of the human
lnctitution which lies revealed TO the om-
nsrrseent eye Of God, that which lies be-
nt1fh the surface, under all disguises-in
ovord, that which is the essential and not
residential feature of being. Hence char
6cter and reputation we're distinguished
1fom each other, and were only con-
bunded in the mazes Of an illiteratc, un-
fklnking mind. Reputation may te
o0bcted By the tongue of SANDER or the
yenoraous sting Of an enemy, so that all
worldly honor and respect fall from Us.
Hut such injustice and wrong cannot affect
he character. 1t Is that part of the man
untoncbed By the tongue Of SANDER or
vojoe ct calumny.
This being true, the speaker called atten-
Ton 70 the further fact that character was
eDco The best possession OF man, and
~ upbuildlng and development
consequently the most important
6ocupation and worthy effort which could
yoosfbly engage the attention and ability
q 3Oung men. while its loss and deprada-
Non b the saddest of all calamities. The
importance of character could not be over
estimated. The greatest of English writ
81 1ikens wealth as s'trash" in contrast
with the priceless jewel of an untarnished
1cputation and an upright character.
ur. Gilbert amplifcd at full on the propo-
oltfon that character is that which differ
entfates between humanity and the animal
&fn9dom. These latter have instincts to
Heooominatc over and control them, but
lick character, and hence cannot be de-
6cfibed As good or evil.
Further. character Is an evolution,
growth, with possibilities of downward
- well a. upward tendency. either going
towards nobility and grandeur of attain
ment, or sinking into sensuality and de-
feavity beyond all thought Of lofty ideals
- the character and being Of God, fact
evidenced not only in the individual but
- some races of men from whose minds
had passed all traces of the primitive reve-
1ntions from the Creator.
Character, again, is not only mans one
abiding possession, but is likewise that
which the man needs in fighting the bat
ttes of life and in the maintenance of his
Individuality. The speaker referred to the
general drift Of life as having tendency
= destroy individuality and eliminating
al "angles" to make one man hut the
counterpart of another. This was to
y fought against. struggle after indi-
yIdualism. Separate yourself from the
MASS. Be conspicuous by your own
original force. be unit. Stand by your
eeH. Cultivate power of your own for
resistance and for action, - were some of
The trite aphorisms with which this part
q the Discourse was concluded.
In taking up the second part of his SER
mon DR.. GILBERT said that the great cle-
ments entering into the makeup OF char
acter were too easily recognized to need
comment, but that the minor points were
the ones most easily overlooked. Since
character Is the complete moral express
eaon Of our inner selves, every action and
csrcumstance, however minute, affects its
growth and lends an influence to its de-
velopmcnt.
First-Character is made up of small
Things. Every emotion, word. act. look,
companion, or whatever else enters into
the mind, leaves its indellble and in.
eradicable impression. Hence, we shall
be judged for words and actions, however
trivial, because these register themselves
IN the character and make il TO he that
which Is approved or condemned at the
last.
Sccond-As character is but the result of
many small things, SO it manifests itself
In thousand little ways by an upright or
careless walk; by neasncss or indifference
in personal appearances. Character shows
itself in the expression Of the face. in writ
Ing. manner Of speaking. likes or dislikes.
4 shines through the eyes. speaks through
the lips. acts through the hands, and
shows itself in myriad ways
The greatest question which can concern
any one relates to the method OF develop
Ing character, the answer TO which is not
the outcome of the inventive genius OF
this age. In the advance of civilization.
lightning had been turned into galvanic
batteries for mans use. and water. inter.
pfeted into steam, is used in all the walks
OF commerce. but no one has invented new
ways or means By which to develop and
ennobac character. The answer 10 this
question lies far back in the worlds liter
ature, and is To be found primarily in the
ten commandments as promulgated by
Moses.
l. Character is gained by obedience 10
the moral law. and includes loyalty 10 con-
science. The intuitions OF man are pecu-
liar and not 10 be explained and vet there
Is an imperative voice in every mans con-
seriousness which indicates the Path OF
duty. The word fought, the index finger
Of duty, springs without human bidding
In oil hearts, and TO obey it leads towar,
the deepening light of the perfect day.
while to disohey it works harm and wrong
TO ones growth. The regal pre-eminence
Of duty asserts itself in every life till tisrc.
eardcd and trampled by passion and self
will. Prompt obedience to conscience re.
hncs the moral sense.
2. Another element OF character is
Darity. The man of clean hands and ,>rr,