The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1895-10-11

depend upon the resources OF pure Judge |
ment alone, and it will be seen, in many
cases, that this confidence Of procedure
will vanish away. They have entered q
new field, untrodden before. The pos
sibilities, chances, hazards are ell OF an
untried nature. The qualification is un-
common. Then again there must be en-
ergy Of feeling. Il must enter into this
character. There must he total inca
pacity of surrendering to Indifference or
delay the serious determinations Of the
mind.
"A STRENUOUS WILL.
must accompany the conclusions OF
thought and constantly incite the ut
most efforts for their practical accom-
plishment. The intellect, must be in
vested with a glowing atmosphere Of
passion, under the influence of which
the cold dictates of reason take fire and
spring into active powers. A person ac-
tuated by such a epirit seems by his
manner to say: ''Do you think that /
would not disdaiu to adopt purpose
which would not devote my utmost
force to effect? No, am linked to my
determination with iron bands. 1t clings
to me with the tenacity of fate" The
principle is illustrated in the conduct Of
Pompey distinguished Roman General
who said, against all the solicitation Of
his friends, who tried to dissuade him
from hazarding his life on tempestuous
sea In order to be in Rome on an inn
portant occasion: 1T Is necessary for
me to 60, it Is not necessary for @me to
live" Then again courage Is not only a
constituent in such character, but a
chief constituent, A man endowed with
the complete character, might say, with
sober consciousness as remote from
the spirit of bravado as 1t Is from timid-
ity. Thus and thus, Is my conviction,
and my determination. Let the phan-
toms of fear look me full in the face,
they will find l am not made of trem-
bling materials. dare do all that may
become man." I shall firmly confront
everything that threatens me In the
prosecution of my purpose, and am
prepared to meet the circumstances OF 1t
when it Is accomplished.
A decisive man Is always individual.
He has an individuality which is his
his own, and not another's. He is singu
lar, just as Noah was who built the ark.
No doubt he had some serious trials o1
courage during the 100 years In which
the ark was building. There were plen.
ty of men to censure him for his singu.
iarity. He might have said to each un.
gracious look and indignant voice. an
sorry to oppose you. am not unfriend
Iy to you while thus prosecuting my
| work, but nevertheless l am not to be
inundated by reproaches. 1 think
should have your appreciation If you dill.
gently listened to my reasons why am
constructing this vessel. l must con.
tinue my work unto the end.
DANGER MUST BE DEFIED.
Luther, the great light Of the Reform
alton, had moral equilibrium, true eleva.
ton of character, when he was cited to
appear at the diet of Worms, under very
questionable assurance of safety from
high authority. His friends urged him
| not to go and brought the example OF
John Huss, who in a similar situation,
and with the same pledge Of protection,
had notwithstanding been burned alive ut
the stake. His reply was: 81 am called
In the name Of God to go, and 1 would
go, though l were certain to meet as
many devils in Worms as there are tiles
on the houses This is that decisive en-
ergy OF rational courage which con-
fides in the Superior power. In omnipo-
tence, 1t is the vision Of the sublime. 1t
makes man, who intrepidly dares every
thing, that oppose or attack him within
| the whole sphere of mortality, who
would retain his purpose mistaken
amidst the ruins of the world. Here we
find full agreement Of the mind with
itself, the cooperation OF all It's powers,
and all its dispositions. The conduct Of
Peter and John who were brought before
the council for examination, is clear IL
lustration of persons who have moral
equilibrium. They are called and COM
manded not to speak at all, nor teach In
the name Of Jesus. Hear their answer: .
whether it be right In the sight Of
God to hearken unto you more than unto
God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak
the things which we have seen and
heard This is moral courage, moral
heroism. When Paul was on his way to
to Jerusalem and the brethren at Cesa-
rea, tried to persuade him not to 20 as
bonds and imprisonment awaited him
there, he replied: 81 am ready, not to be
bound only, but also to die at Jeru salem
for the name of the Lord Jesus" Could
he be deferred from goiDg9 Never. His
face was fixed as flint to 60 thither.
TO 60 he would, and did.
It is interesting to know how 1t 10 and
what the circumstances are which tend
to consolidate such character. We
certainly know that all character Ii the
result of growth. But such character
is the result Of peculiar circumstances.
Opposition has been means Of form
ing such character. Men of decisive,
fixed characteristics, have reached their
present condition by opposition, and
contest. They acquired prompt acute
ness of faculty and an infiexibility Of
temper, which even strong minds could
never have attained In the tame security
OF facile, friendly condolences.
DEsERTIoN, ALSO STRANGE
as II NAV Seem. aervea RI nr0dnca anch -
character. Deprived Of social support,