The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-08

The men who are moving the world
onward and upward into more perfect
light and freedom, are the men who
think, and who form and express their
opinions unbiased by fear or favor.
n great New Englander, in speaking
of Martin Luther says: 1T Is good
to be born at sunrise. IL is good for
man to date his life from the days
when an order OF things which is to
exist for II long time in the world, is
in the freshness of its youth. Such
time was the first hall of the seven
teenth century. Then were sown the
seeds whose harvest have not yet been
reaped." If in these words the writer
means that Martin Luther was merely
the creature of the eventful age in
which he lived, he does him great in
Justice. Luther himself was the sun
rise" which made that era of light.
He was chosen and anointed of God for
that purpose. His coming to that
dark age of superstition and of in
tellectual conformity and stupidity
was like the advent of morning scatter
ing the gloom of night, gliding the
mountain peaks, turning the clouds to
amber and gold, and bathing the whole
earth in light. Luther was more than
u sower of seeds. He fellcd the forests
and fallowed the ground. He sowed
the seed in a soil which he himself, as
the instrument of God, had prepared.
What was the prime element OF his
mind, in re-opening questions which
priestcraft and ecclesiastical despotism
had declared settled. 1t was his deter
mination to study Gods word unbiased
by canons, creeds and traditions, and
to see If there was not light in it
that had not yet entered his soul.
Valient Luther Thy name and deeds
are as imperiShable as the truth which
thou didst dare to speak.
There was another sunrise when
William Carey lived. But he made
it. His brave, majestic mind gave to
tion of Christian obligation and enter
prise. That new conception gave
birth to modern missions, the triumphs
of which have splendored the earth
and multiplied the Joys of heaven.
There was another SUM- ise when
Jefferson, Adams, Patrick Henry and
George Washington lived. These
grand old thinkers gave to the world u
new and grander conception OF civil
and religious freedom. Out Of that
conception this American republic was
born, whose influence is destined to
subvert all monarchics and demOcratiHo
the world.
But no human quality is comparable
to moral couragc--the courage which
u true man exhibits in his devotion to
Il great principle. When in his love
Of a great cause and in his great de-
termination to do what is right in the
sight Of God, he regards not what men
say about him, and is undaunted and
unmovcd by opposition from any
a ~
of moral dignity, majesty and gran
deur.
For all moral courage there is u
basis Of intelligence and reason. Mere
physical courage is blind. 1t is guided
by no principles or motive or thought.
But behind every act OF moral hcrOiSm
there is Il rational motive and purpose.
Moral courage is the unconquerable
will and purpose to do what we know
to he,our duty. There is Il young man
who is trying to edit 4 newspaper. but
has neither taste nor aptitude for the
work. He has as little capacity for
such business as | have for making
railroad locomotive, or plotting u
steamship across the Atlantic. But
the position gives him social standing,
and it is gratifying to the pride Of his
family and friends. BY and by that
young man sits down IN some quiet
secluded place and thus communes
with himself: Am | doing what
ought to do? Is it right before God,
and justice to myself and my fcllowmcn
to hold on to IL vocation for which |
have no fitness, and in which | have
experienced nothing but failure No I.
1t is notright 1t is wrong, it is sinful,
it Is ignoblc. 1t is Il pcrvcrsion OF my
being, and Il sacrifice OF all the posi-
biiitles Of my life. | will give up the
Old newspaper and turn to something
that | can do, and in which can make
some real contribution to the worries
welfare" That is moral courage.
Many Il brielless lawyer, if he had it,
would mount u tailor's bench and make
an honest living. Many Il starving
doctor, if he had it, would lay aside
his medicine case aud find Il comfort
able support IN measuring tape and
calico. Many Il statesman out Of Il
job. if he had it, could find rcmnncra-
tive employment aJ blacksmitn's anvil
or IL carpcntcr'G bench.
There is Il young lady whose wealthy,
pround and ambitious parents want
her TO become society pageant.
They have bought her Il complete
Partisan outfit they have had her
Lionaities of hign social life; they
have already engaged and feed more
than score Of newspaper reporters
to write her up in the society
column The time is set for the debut
party: the guests have been invited
and the newspapers, in compliance
with their contracts, prophecy the
most brilliant social event Of the
season. But in the midst of all these
elaborate preparations ana high cX-
pcctatiOns an invisible power touches
that young woman's conscience, and
brings her face TO lace with these
questions WAS it for this life of
gaicty and fashion that God made me ?
Has he not some noblcr and divincr
mission for my mind and heart and
hand :" An hour Of communion with
herself Is followed by an hour of com
munion with God. In that hour she
secs her duty and records her vow to
do it at any cost. Father and mother
are advised Of her new aspirations
and purposes. The announcements Of
the great social event are recalled all
contracts with reporters are canccllcd:
the Partisan Quilt is shipped to some