Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-30
CHARACTER BUILDING.
A Talk to Young Men at the Y.
NJ. c. A.
Yesterday Afternoon by B. s. Ali
son-Dr. Cunningham and Dr..
Riker Discourse Upon New Year
RESOLUTIONS - Other Religious
Matters.

b. 5. Allison, Esq, delivered an IN
teresting and practical talk to young
men at the four o'clock meeting at the
y. M. C. A yesterday afternoon. HIS
subject was Character Building" In
his Introductory remarks he said the
subject was particularly appropriate for
discussion in a Young Mems Christian
Association. The tine was also aDoro-
priate-a time when every man makes
a resume Of the Old, and plans for the
new year.
What then" he sad, "is character
building? Some one has said, Our rep
uJauons are what people say Of us, and
our characters are what We are The
| building We wish 10 erect is what we
would be. Every building should pro-
| gress upward toward heaven. and our
am should be the highest manhood Of
which we are capable. What is that
highest manhood? Ii is imitation Of
the highest man. It is Chr.st-l.keneess
# Chr,st-HkeneSs is the building we
wish TO erect, how shall we build it?
How shall we initiate Him?
Every intelligent builder studies his
plan or model from the beginning until
the completion of his building. The
nearer perfection the model and grand
er the building, the more careful the
/ study. We have the perfect model, and
we wish to build grand buildings. Let
us. then, faithfully study the life and
character Of Christ, in order that we
may initiate Him.
Some men, who deny His divinity.
admit that He was the only perfect man.
But ne claimed to be divine. There
fore, to believe that He was perfect. one
! must, logically, also believe that He
was divine. The same men will affirm
that Chrisc's teachings present the only
perfect statement Of moral truths ever
written The trustees Of Girard Col
lege were by the VIII under which that
institution was founded. prohibited
from permitting any form Of religion. TO
be taught therein. but they introduced
the B.b.e as the best textbook on
morals.
rs Christ was the only perfect man.
and His teachings the only parfect svs-
ten Of morals does it not follow that
his religion Is the true religion? Re
llgon is as much a part Of mcn as IN
st-nct is 4 part of a bird. Both were
implanted by God. Every man be-
heyes in the best religion. which we
know 10 be the religion Of Christ.
Most Of us have not time to learn
all that can be learned about the dark
and hidden things IN the Scriptures. and
1t IS neither necessary nor profitable
that we should That knowledge x not
q condition precedent TO cur right 4,
inherit eternal life. and It need nor be
a part Of our religion God will iudga
MS according to our deeds. and il is far
better that our acts be pleasing to Hin.
than That we acquire greet theological
learning. unless we do greater and bet
ter deeds. commensurate with thai
higher learning. L s especially true
that in order 10 understand Christ for
the purpose Of character building. T s.
nc5 necessary that We understood all Of
the statements CT the New Testament.
much less Of the Old. Christ himself
said. T am the light Of the world: he
-hat fo'lowsth me shall no. walk in
darkness. bU, have the light Of Nfe.
"The intelligent builder should nm
ders-and tho material he IS 70 use. as
well rs his model Tho Injunction.
Know thvSe| IS rs important today
rs when il was inscribed in lettors Of
cold over the por.ico Of the temple Of
Dslrhi
we arc compelled 10 use. as part C
the foundation Of the character we wish
70 build. the character We now have.
and that foundation s. n safe one to build
upon, only if IL Is laid upon the Rock
Of Ages
'BJ- w,th a knowledge of. and belief
in, Chris as the rock on which We
build. and our present character as the
foundation from which we hone 10 re-
move many stones. what are the new
stones that we wish TO put into that
foundation and what shall be the SUI
parstruc.ure2
"Christ's Sermon on the Mount con-
tains many precious stones that should
90 into our character building. Among
those whom he prOnounces blessed are
the poor in spirit; the meek; they
which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness; the merciful; the pure
in heart; and the peacemakers.
Among the most essential stones in
or foundation character are we'll
placed affections How much better it
is TO love the true. the beautiful and
the good than the world, the flesh and
the devil. II man were q mere Crea-
ture of duty, he would be. in a sense, a
machine.
Every work should be inspired by
love Who can be a musician or
painter without love for his art? And
who exhibited the greatest love for
mankind? Greater love hath no man
than this. that a man lay down his life
for his friend a stone 20 be laid be-
side well placed affections is an APPROX
Ing conscience. The prince OF poets
said:
"'This above all; to thine own self be
true,
And it must follow, as the night the
day,
Thou canst not then be false to any
man..
"a gem of purest ray serene, which
was part Of the character of the meek
and lowly Jesus. is humility. This IS
a stone on which many a heavenly viz
tue has been erected, and on when
much happiness is based.
Another characteristic OF Christ
was energy in thought and action.
How much thought is wasted in air
castles. day-dreams and vain regrets,
and how much faster does the keen,
observing intellect grow than the IN
observing one. One of the most sue
cessful business men of this city told
ma -hnt hn I'D made Il rule OF his