The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-11
SACRIFICES.

When we make sacrifices. II Is either 10
escape the consequences Of some sin. fol
ly, or neglected. get out Of some has
bargain-or to ensure the chances OF
good luck in our enterprises. AVA,
back in the past. making or offerine
sacrifices. contemplated ruling deities. Il
whom the gifts or offerings were made
or offered that their anger might be
ayerted, or their favor propitiated We
own a Supreme Being. whose wise provi-
dence governs all things I'm Heaven and
earth; but the minor deities. Minerva
! Mercury Mars, Venus. the Graces, and
the Ike, we recognize as our own intelll-
gence. wit, courage, affections and talents.
our powers and faculties. which occupy
| the Heaven Of our souls, and make US
| the wonders that we are. And when VIC
make our sacrifices to these dclties, they
are in the shape Of self-denials, tolls,
| hardships. and endurances, that our pow
| ers may favor us and. by true working.
bring us success and honor and happi-
ness. If It be the will Of Heaven. And
in plain business language. this is cult
waiting virtues and gracos in the fear Of
God. And so 1t is that we have gotten TO
the common use Of the phrase. making
sacrifices"
1t was probably Mr.. Charles Kingsley,
naturalist and divine, who said that
self-sacrince was the great ruling prin-
nla ~ Al
and progress seemed to him to involve
the Weddings Of poorer to a better lie
saw it in trees and plants and earth
Others see it in humanity. Infancy gives
way TO youth youth TO manhood; man
hood TO maturer years; that TO ola age;
and old age to blessed immortality;
each involving a loss and a gain. Such
is the order Of nature. Except the corn
or wheat fall into the earth and die 1t
abideth alone. But let it die, and then
we have first the blade. then the ear,
after that, the full corn in the ear. And
the harvest makes the food Of man-the
lord of Creation.
Lord Chesterfield defined politeness 20
be making little sacrifices for greater adj
vantages. Et vous monsieur. might put
the courtier before the king; but it meant
that such civlity bespoke the king. Yin
honour preferring one another" is not
only a precept of Christianity. but
principle Of gentility. 1t IS only vulgar
to press to the front and to monopolize
things and places; and it is only absurd
to make ones self conspicuous. Modesty
is the clarifying grace Of merit. and
vice versa: self-assertion bcspeaks the
fraud
The great man, whom we all delight to
honor has left one utterance that is his
autobiography; Duty is the noblest word
in the language And with that word his
life was identified To that idea, all His
being was sacrifice, continuous and ha-
bitual And He has left a name that
stirs the soul, and awakes the admira-
ton of the world, as that of no other
uninspired man in history.
All these are handsome, almost golden |
thoughts. but it is a good thing to coin |
them for every day life and use.
Some Of the best sacrifices that we |
can make are offered by keeping quiet. |
\ large part OF the business of life comes /
of uttering unlucky words and acts And |
many of us count it the greatest happi- |
ness, the most irresistible impulse. to |
say and do the very things that we !
ought not Well has the poet said: "Tis |
self-government that makes them seem |
divine. lie that preserves a perfectly |
calm countenance and unmoved breast I'M
der provocation seems almost inspired
And so he seems to be very priest offer
ing TO patience the calves Of his lips, the
firstlinss Of his emotions; or rather he
seems as Neptune over the turbid waters.
or like an infinitely greater than these,
the Son of Man. commanding the waves:
Peace. be still""
But how multitudinous are the sacri-
fees to be made all along through life
for dutys sake? Burnt offerings to be
consumed. utterly; if ashes they to be
Our animosities, our pre-
JUDGES. our ambitions. all our uslinesses
OF character, our disquietudes, our IN
reasonable anxieties all these are offer
ings and sacrifices TO character TO high
manhood. Forever. our pride and selfish
ness is right in the way OF honest growth
Forever, the devil is Offering us fine
trades bread for a stone, II We adopt
his suggestions; the kingdoms Of the
world. with their pomp and glory, IL we
Will bow the knee to him: and safety
md notoriety. IL We will only make fools
II ourselves. And. continually. what we
all making sacrifices. Is only removing a
weed that a good plant may grow. Grad
eating a root Of bitterness In behalf OF
a sweet herb; breaking up the fall
ow ground OF our hearts for a gIoriou,
harvest OF good things. The severest
'acrifcs Is often conflict with our ADO.