Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21
How Early Environment Affects
Success in Life.
CHILDHOOD OF OUR GREAT MEN
An Interesting Address Last Night
bv Dr. Hamlin
BEFORE YOUNG CHRISTIANS

For the first time>in local history there was
last night held in Foundry NJ. e. Church
Joint meeting of four large organizations
of young people connected with the Protest
ant Church-the societies of Christian En-
deavor, the Epworth Leagues. the chapters
of the Brotherhood OF st. Andrew, and Of
the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip
Rev DR.. Elliott. rector of the Church of
the Ascension, representing the Brother
hood of st. Andrew. presided over the meet
ing. Rev. DR.. Brown, pastor of Foundry
Church and an Epworth Lacquer, welcomed
the four organizations. urging them to de-
noIninational loyalty and interdenomina-
tional fellowship. Let us build up our
own walls" he said but at the same time
help In the work around the whole world !;
let us not neglect In waving our own ban
ners, to exalt the banner of Christ"
The Scripture lesson was read by Rev.
Mr.. Ennis of the Western Presbyterian
Church, an active worker in the Brother
hood OF Andrew and Philip, who also led
in prayer. Mr.. Cohen acted as organist
and Percy Foster as precentor.
DIR. Hamlin's Address.
Rev. DR.. Hamlin OF the Church of the
Covenant one of the trustees of the Society
of Christian Endeavor, delivered the ad-
dress of the evening on the subject, Early
Environment as Affecting Success in Life
DR.. Hamin said in part:
Our American theory is that the best
environment of childhood Is the humble
simple life of the working people This
means neither sordid poverty nor luxurious
wealth. The former is thought to be para
lying; the latter, enervatng. One Is sup
posed to crush out ambition at it's birth or
10 prevent that wide outlook which is essen
tial to even conceiving. not to say execut-
ing, great designs. The other Is supposed
to smother ambition under ease and self
Indulgence and sloth; or even to forestall
IT altogether in the absence of any press
ing need of eXertion.
So We have come to expect that our great
men will arise from the ranks of common
life. We believe more in the efficacy of
Pure, true, honest, duty-loving surround
ingS in early years than in all the splendid
advantages of education. travel and Gull
ture that wealth can give. We believe also
in the force of compelling circumstances
Human nature is indolent, and needs the
whip and spur. These come from Straitened
conditions. Plain living, even to the ex-
tent of deDrivations and hardships, goes far
to prepare for future achievement.
OF the twenty-three men that have held
the office of President of the United States
one, John Quincy Adams, was born to the
purple and enjoyed every advantage of
high station, travel, education and asso-
citation with the greatest men of his time
both in this country and in Europe. Six
others, Washington, Jefferson, Madison
Monroe, William Henry Harrison and Tyler
were sons of wealthy parents. chiefly plant
ers, and reared in the midst of abundance
But in not one case out of the sever was
there anything approaching ensrvating lux
ury or inviting to Incidence. The home life
was pure and ennobling and both its pre-
cept and It's practice stimulated worthy am
bition. On the other hand, three of our
Presidents We're born to>tXtrame poverty
Lincoln, Johnson and Garfield.
Turning now from such extremes and
exceptions under them, we will glance at
some of the men that have risen to eminence
from the ranks of the plain people; the SIM
Pile, humble, industrious, patriotic, GoI-fear-
ing households that are the strength and
glory of America.
The old adaSe that ministers sons turn
out badly has long ago been disproved. Most
of the ministers whose sons have become
famous We're country or village pastors, on
very small salaries, and who educated their
children at the cost of ste-ne:st self-denial
and even so could have succeeded only by
the childrens hearty cooperation.
MIR. CIeveIand's Boyhood.
At the head of the list, of course, stands
President Cleveland. His father was the
Rev. Richard F. Cleveland, graduated at
Yale in 1924, and whose ministry spent
in village parishes In the states of New
York and New Jersey. He was settled at
Caldwell, In the latter state when his son,
Grover, was born, on the 18th of March,
1891. Four years later he removed to Fay
ettevilie. N: Y, near Syracuse. The fam
u t., N.
Y, when. in 1885, at eighteen years
of age, this son, who had had only
common school education. left home to seek
his fortune. His remarkable career is IA
miliar to the American public. At his first
inaugural ton, in 1885, he took the oatn of
Office on the Bible that his mother gave him
on leaving home thirty years before. At the
Centennial Presbyterian Assembly a t Phil
adelphia in 1SSS he spoke in terms be!itiiug
one whose father and brother were min
listers and whose sister foreign missionary
of that great church.
EX-Nice President Levi Parsons Morton,
row governor of New York, is son of the
Rev. Daniel o. Morton and of daughter of
the Rev. JUSTIN Parsons, one of the first
American missionaries t. the Holy Land, and
who died at Alexandria, Egypt in 1874 He
was born at Shoreham, Vermont, in the
same year in which his maternal grandfath-
er died. He had few early advantages of
education, and began his career as clerk in
country store. Now Mr.. Morton ranks as
one of the most brilliant as well as safe
business men of this country, and has made
an immense fortune in the most thoroughly
honest way.
The Supreme Court.
Turning to the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States, we find at present three sons of
clergymen. And they are from two fami-
lies that Illustrate in remarkable degree
the best qualities of New England rural
clerical life.
MI. ouoliSC w olIOHS WdS the OlueSl
of eleven children of the Rev William L.
Strong, whose entire ministerial life was
spent in country or village churches on a
salary averaging some $GGO year, although
he was man of great talent and wide
learning. All his children have been nota-
bly, successful in life. William was born at
Somers, Conn.,, on the 9th day of May, 1SUS
and was graduated from Yale College at
twenty years of age. His entire course of
four years cost $500. He studied law COM
bining this work with teaching, and entered
upon the practice of his profession at Read
Ing, Pa. This was largely a German settle
ment, and one of the first needs CT the ycun q
lawyer was to master the German language
OF which he knew nothing. This done, he
soon built up, by hard work. scrupulous
honesty and incessant study Of the law. Al
lucrative practice. He served two terms in
Congress. declining reelection. He was an
pointed to the supreme bench of the state
ana served with great distinction finally re,
signing to resume practice at PHILADELPHIA
But ne was not allowed 10 remain in private
nre, President Grant nominating him 10 the
Supreme bench Of the United States
Justice Stephen j. Field is one of four some
OF the Rev. David Dudley Field, a cradI,a "a
OF Yale College, very strong man in every
way, yet always village pastor, at Hadann
stockbridge and Higganum, Mass.