The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-10

few would ever come within reach
of these elements of greatness. But
true and lasting greatness does not
wholly consist in these things.
What. then. do we mean by greatness?
We answer: 1t lies within the power of
every man to make his life one which
Will be great In Its motives, great in its
aims and purposes, great in its work.
ngs. and. finally. great in its culmina-
ton. The possibility of having high and
lofty ideals of having pure and holy
motives. of living Il life In accordance
with the divine ideal of uprightness and
virtue lies within the reach of every one
and in this consists greatness which Is
more to be sought than the greatness
men have often sought for in the past
This possibility is open TO all men. The
poorest as we'll as the highest, the uncul-
tured as well as the cultured. the inlet
tered as we'll as the lettered, all have
the same possibility open TO them. In
this thing we can all be great men and
women.
Look into the lives OF the men whom
the world considers really great, and
you will find, If I mistake not, that back
of all their mighty deeds lay something
AN undefnable substance-wh!ch gave
to their life and! character that charm
which. In the end. made them great in
b-iC cy CO VI IGIlON men, ldlntt IlldIl
their achievements While in Il measure
mans greatness depends on what he
does, 1t is nevertheless true that what
he does depends upon what he Is. 4 man
cannot do great and lofty deeds; man
cannot do pure and noble Hhings unless
he is filled with high and pure motives,
and full Of those great and exalted
purposes which fill the mind of Cad
THE greatest man." said Claiming.
lis he who chooses the right with irwin
chile resolution; who res!sts the sorest
temptations from within and without
who bears the heaviest burdens cheerful
ly: who is the calmest in storms, and
whose reliance on truth. on virtue. on
God Is most unfaltering.
II We may speak of greatness in con-
nectiOn with the life of Christ, Is II not
that greatness lies in his choosing Of
right with invincsble firmness, in his re-
sisting the sorest temptations, in his
becoming the bearer Of the heaviest bur-
dens in the most accomplishing manner.
in his calmness In the severe storms OF
life. in his reliance on truth, virtue and
on God?
The same is true of all truly great men,
Paul, Luther, Savonarola, and others
VINO became great in life and character,
became so because of these essential
qualities of true moral greatness. Ii
VIII De thus with US. In our souls lie
slumoering the great forces of truth
ana righteousness, which, If awakened
and given control of the reins of our
soul and heart. will lead us into the way
OF true and lasting greatness. We must
acquire the habits of greatness. He
alone Is great who has formed the habits
OF greatness. who. after performing
what not one in 10000 could accomplish.
passes on, like Samson" and tells nei-
ther his father nor his mother of II I"
That there Is room in this world for
such men will be readily seen. There IS
a crying need for men who have pat
termed their lives according to the divine
model No matter what may be our
theological bias, we all admit that the
Christ HE was the only perfect one
ever hVed on earth. His definition of
greatness is in the end the only correct
one. 1t can be given In a single word
service. Let him who would be great