The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-05-23
SELF-MASTERY.
BY REV. H. C. FARRAR, D. d.


BY REV. H. C. FARRAR, D. d.
Victories won on the worlds battle
fields have ever been cOmmemorated IN
songs, chiseled in marble and cast in
bronze. The PantheOns of Paris and
Rome, and Westminster and st. Paul's
of London are full of monuments to
the military and civic hero. All honor
to brave and heroic men who have toll
ed and sacrificed for the veal of home
and state. While we admire their
chivalric deeds, we must not forget |
that there is herOism far nober than
any founded on mere military distinc-
tions, victories far more splendid than
any won on bloody fields Of battle.
The Word of God, with higher wis
dom and a more just discrimination,
puts the brighter aureOla of fame on
the brow of the moral victor. Above
and beyond all conquest of city or state
or race is the grander conquest of self.
Greater is the man who cOnquers self,
rules his spirit, controls his temper and
curbs his tongue, than he who takes
city; greater in character, in influence
and destiny. So God eulOgiZes. The
world is slowly coming to it's recog
milton.
Self-mastery is that power by which
one overcOmes what is evil and does
what is good; by which one holds ones
self in restraint under temptation and
provocation, and keeps in equipose the
great possessions of his soul. It is dis
cipline, not Disagreement; curbing,
not maltreating. Christianity says to
every young person, every faculty and
power of passion of your three-fold
nature is good and is given for use;
use them, master them and put them
into service and they will minister
health and happiness and prosperity.
Self-mastery. then, is the whole man;
body, mind and spirit united for the
highest development of the individual
and the highest well-being of society.
God never meant the soul of man to
be a democracy, in which every faculty
should have equal voice and equal
power. The will is the divinely ap-
pointed generalissimo of the fifty or
: sixty sentiments or powers within.
How to gain the mastery of self and
give the freest swing to ones being is a
question of high interest, and is worth
the asking and the answering and the
needing.
For self-government there must be
self knowledge. If you would govern
wisely you must know the subject to
be ruled-yourself; the dangers against
1 which you are to guard; the wisest ends
toward which you are to work; and the
best methods of achieving those ends
If you would be an engineer you must
study engineering. If you would know
S the art of self-mastery you must ''know
: thyself." What subject for study and
t mastery. Miracle of miracles is ones
f self to one.
e There is power in me | must not
e waste, light l must not quench, q
SIOl L u1UOU IIOU Col IIlOu, q ll1S LII .Ao'
! not destroy.
e Napoleon III. went into war against
It Germany ignorant of self and war ano
l. his forces, and brought up at Seda1
It the laughing stock of the ages, the ruiz
e of his empire and the blasting Of
IS his house.
70 So many young person through {
70 foolish, ignorance of self brings up ;
l. moral Sedan-a wreck
# For f-mastery there must be th'
10 spirit of self denial. Self-indulgence i
% the inveterate foe of everything grea
If and good. He who now lays claim t.
IS respectability, morals, knowledge
r. position or possessions, has gaine'
l. them by way of self denial. This ele
re ment belongs to all life-the student
N the artist, the merchant, the mother O
s. the Christian. Day of days in tina
% young persons life, when this grea
a. purpose possesses him, 81 must nov
y, rule myself; nor parent, nor teacher
Sc nor guardian can help me in this grea
n inner struggle and conquest"
Then it is that will mounts to tn