The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-26
CHARACTER N THE PACE.
Rev 1. +. Mendes' Lecture on Charac-
ter Reading.

ter Heading.
/ Rev. I. p. Mendes' lecture al the syna-
/ gogue Friday evening on the Study OF
! the Face was very much enjoyed by
I those who heard it. The line followed was
rather unusual. The main idea was The
/ expression Of character in the face.
Mr. Mendes began his lecture with
/ description Of the counrenance Of Sir
| Moses MontehOre. the great Jewish phil
! anthropist. who died several years ago
/ at the age Of l0l. In his Introduction he
said:
/ I'm one Of the rooms Of my modest. but
I very happy home, there hangs upon the
wall the picture of a man whom the world
+ has delighted to honor. and to whose word
/ kings and queens have most willingly and
/ cheerfuily acquiesced. The Divine Light
\ Of the heavenly Shechinah seems to illu-
/ mine the features Of that face, and in its
every line there is most clearly written
/ the benevOlence and goodness which were
/ characteristic Of this grand old man. The
/ kindly eye seems to be endowed with life,
ana appears mol only 10 follow but 10 no
| ice every movement of the occupants Of
| the room That picture is perfect like
ness OF natures nObleman. philanthropist
and saint, Sir Moses MOutefiOre, of blessed
me mory. 1t represents him as an old
man Of "a years, having been taken soon
alter his last memorable journey TO the
land he loved 50 well, Jerusalem, the holy
city of Almighty God. That dear be
mgnant lace / have always looked upon
as a most eloquent sermon to humanity,
teaching as II does how true an index il
was TO the character and disposition Of
It's fortunate owner. Indeed, TO the OBJ
servant student, there is nothing which
ai1Ords so many opportunities for whole
some instruction, there is no book printed
or written, which can read us a better,
/ or more profitable moral than does the
| human face. Each one We meet is differ
/ ent from its fellow, has different lines.
/ suggests different characteristics marks
/ certain traits which might be admired or
/ condemned as we may have the power or
/ perception to interpret them
I Mr.. Mendes discussed the impression
made by expression Of the Countenance.
/ 1t IS more than posi- BILE, he said, that the
1 mark Of Cain might have been to some
/ extent the peculiar scowl or look OF dis
I trust Of the fratricide. who was endeavor-
/ ing TO hide some great secret, and il was
/ equally probable, he said, that the sight
/ or such face would suggest to the be-
/ holder the effects and results of wrong
/ dong. tie contrasted with this scowl of
/ Galn the shining brightness of the counte-
/ nance or the immortal lawgiver Moses,
with the attributes of the soul mirrored
upon the face.
The philosophy of the human face. he
concluded, is nothing more nor less than
/ Inc Interpretation Of character, through
the lines and curves which form the face.
quoting from LOngfelloWs Hyperion,
| ne said: Every face has a story to tell;
| some OF these faces speak not. They are
books in which not line is written save
! perhaps date. He enjOined upon his
| listeners TO so mold their characters that
me race might express the beauty of the
1T must be borne well In mind" said
] ne that every human being Is the archi-
/ tect of his own future Bending over it's
plans ne traces out room, hooks and cor
| ners, destined for certain posi- blltes
! and not abilities, which he sincerely and
| honestly hopes TO accomplish. Here he
may place the battery which is 10 furnish
! n set IN all 1aF-
| lngS toward God and man; here he is ex-
/ pecting TO deposit the ark Of allegiance to
ms ms maker and God; here he purposes to
halS the perpetual lamp of kind
| ness and charity towards all
ms Fellow creatures; here he
| trusts to be able to entertain the heaveuiy,
angels OF good resolutions, which have
! baen set apart by Almighty Cod himself
| TO lead MIN onward and upward. Bear
| ING IN mind then that he is to inhabit that
| contemplated structure himself at least
! during tho span Of his natural life if
/ would he advisable for him to exercise all
| due care and DrccaUtion in it's finishings
fittings and surroundings. in order HAT
| the whole work might reflect credit. hon
/ or and distinction upon him. He docs not
/ dc5lre, or to be more precise. he should not
desire to have the exterior of his building
! give wrong impression OF the beauty and
nmsh OF ITS interior. In other words he
| must not rest content to cultivate and 70
have all these good trates and oualifca-
tions which go TO make up a perfect and
an enviable character, and then hide them
- DAAi AiA9 ANALoW btilisSs ny means OF sour,
| discontinued, repulsiVe face thus leadine
| every one to form a wrong estimate of his
! true worth, but he should bring some OF
! the inner sunbeams, without, always re-
memberlng that there are oh so many in
| the world who would feel refreshed and
buoyed up by only one look at a pleasant
| good and blessed face. And going back TO
| our picture on the wall, you have a most
beauutul combination of all these lessons
! in the inner and outer life of Sir Moses
| Monte1ore. No one had greater sorrows
imam he: no one experienced greater trials
| in life than did this good man; few had
| more earthly goods and less physical abil-
! ity to enjoy them, than he; no one lived
very saint on earth, and yet, supreme
! goodness, kindness, contentment and res
! ignation forever beaming upon that face
could not but create a lasting and favor
| able impression upon all who were privi-
! legged to look upon it, Indeed 'it came
| like benedietion that follows after pray
er. know we cannot all be Montefores.
L admit that, but we can all so shane and
mould our characters, as to allow them to
/ leave their impress of blessedness upon our
own faces. We can at least assure our
selves of a continual welcome in society
! by softening the lines of the countenance
through inward goodness, that our face
| may be justly deemed our passport to
! honor love, distinction and respect We
can at least make every praiseworthy at
| tempt to travel through life with such vir-
tues as our constant companions as will
! earn us the deserving tribute, that we have
/ each been, by the grace of God
| Formed on the good old plan,
true and brave, and downright honest
man."