The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-24
Character.


which distinguish one person or thing
from another In sentient beings il IS
generalization Of personality 1t is the
wholeness of personality. Looked at as 8
result it IS the product Of all influences
used by and brought to bear upon the
soul Il is the souls organism as the
body is the organ Of the physical life.
Like the body 1t may be undeveloped,
mutilated, diseased or dwarfed- Active
v it is the whole man working to one
end. In physics it is held that all forces
have their origin in some common source.
Light, heat, electricity and magnetism
are differen. manifestations Of the same
power. 50 intellect, sensibilities. will,
eonscience-mOrAla and mental manifest
ations-fnd their correlation in charact-
er.
Character is quality Of person 1t re-
suits from endowment and culture. The
man with one talent had endowment,
bat not culture His fellow servants
formed character by using wisely what
was entrusted TO them. A quality was
developed within them that made them
to be trusted. Thou has been faithful
in few things. I viii make the ruler
over many" Therefore to secure divine
blessings We must show this abiding
ftithfuiness written on our souls
One element Of true character is gen
uineuess- II is being rather than seem
ing. Toe thought Is shown BY the act.
This Jesus saw in Nathanael-an Israelite
without guile. Even faults must not be
hid The very sincerity Of lie. which
true character demands, reveals the sins
which the evil man coucsals; ike amber
whose transparency shows the insect il
has embaimet, 50 even failings may lean
10 virtues side.
Character Is formed from the activities
and passivities Of mans whole nature.
Each thought, feeling purpose, word,
deed, pleasure, pain, leaves iss impress
on the soul Fifty thoussnd flowers
make bat an ounce Of the altar Of roses.
Bat the quality Of each rose is in the pro-
duct - the quality and infuence Of q
myriad thoughts and deeds in the finish
ed life.
Character Is stored up moral force.
Infinite beams Of the sun are in a pound
Of coal. So eeaseless efforts and suffer
ings leave their deposit and store up their
moral force in the soul Thus character
.s reserve power, He who depends upon
bis strength for the moment and who
influence by direct effort alone,
IS ike the foolish virgins who took no
oil with them IN their vessels with their
lamps. Character IS the ~Old guard in
the battle oflife- Il bears the same rela-
.iOn % ones active life that ones capital
does to his business. While be works
his wages 90 on f; but his capital works for
him while he sleeps. So the wise busi-
ness man ever takes something from his
active earnings and stores If away into
this permanent form Of power. And he
who is instructed in spiritual things
makes the sum Of his past life as well as
the activities Of the present his strength.
Happy the man who IS storing up this
secret power
It Is not 50 much what a man intends
70 do that works through character as
what his life and principles suggest. The
saves his passengers and goes
down to his own death in the wreck.
He was intent on his duty to his employ
ers. He was intent on saving the pas
sengers He did more. He preached
sermon on heroism and sacrifice which
thrilled all who read Of his unselGsh
death. 50 IN the true life, every deed is
germinal in relation to other lives. In
spiration. therefore, IS quality Of true
character.
But character is more than reserve
force and inspiration for Others. The
activities Of the present are referred to IT,
Men measure deeds according to the
character behing them Liberal giving
is praised if it comes from liberal life,
Otherwise the giyer Is called 3 hypOcrite-
Tne politician S despised, not because he
Is afs5le TO every one, but because he
smiles for revenue. It Is out Of a selfish
life. If then We would have credit for
good and kind deeds, our Eorks Of mercy
must come out Of a good heart. A good
man out ofthe good treasure ofhis heart
brings forth good things, and an evil man
oHt Of the evil treasure Of his heart brings
forth evil things. Be what you say and
do, and you vii lack nothing Of power.
It is common 10 glorify truth a. the
solution Of every question Of life. But
truth gains It's power through character
In some form the truths that Jesus taught
might be found sc4tterad through the old
religion and histories; but they could
not regenerate until they were translated
into life. Il an the way, the truth and
the life" he said Water is insipid until
It passes through the soil and comes
forth with the qualities which satisfy the
thirsty soul. 50 truth gains is attract
iveness through character. PHILOSOPHERS
may interest the few bat truth incaruafe,
wrought out in character, will alone
draw the multitude.
True Characters unconscious greatness
Moses, when he came dosn from the
mountain, wis. not that his face did
shine The faithful disciples 10 not
see that the glory Of Christ shines forth
from their simplest service. @Lord, they
viii ssy in the Judgment, Lord. when
saw We thee hungry and fed thee 30 The
patient weaver fsome rare pattern does
not see lis beauty until the web IS done.
For months the Perseyering shuttle told
Of duty and coRfented labor. But now il
Is discovered that patience and duty
meant beauty as well. The work Of n
peasant shall adorn a palace or elothe
the king. - the web Of cur lives, shot
through with suffering, made Up cfceSse-
less little deeds, monotonOus repetitions
Of daily tasks. shall in the kingdom Of
our tod in the heavens shine forth as
garments Of praise.