The Republican journal., 1896-12-31
"Respect Thyself."

w ouoJeSl is Vi more Importance W
any individual than this subject of self
respect, and gladly avail myself of the
opportunity given, by the request to
speak upon 1t, hoping that in my feeble
way | shall speak some word that shall
be help and an inspiration to some one,
in developing higher altitude of individ-
uality than hitherto attained. Self-respect
has been defined by one OF our leading
dictionaries as "a respect for ones char
acter and reputation.' This definition
contains great truth, and one that should
receive our most thoughtful consideration.
The Apostle recognized this great truth,
when he wrote to the young pastor at
Crete, to LET no man despise thee" He
might have written to the citizens of that
island, and told them, that as this young
man had come among them to labor, it
was their duty to honor and respect him.
But Paul well knew that this would be ut
terry useless, unless that Young man
should so order the affairs of his own life
as to command their respect. If this
young man wished to be respected, he
must respect himself. He might have
his enemies, as most workers in the Cos
pei do, but it was possible for him to live
a HE OF Uprightness and integrity that
should command the respect of even these
We often get wrong Impressions of
the meaning OF self respect. Self-respect is
not egotiSm. There is such thing as hav-
ing too good an opinion of ones self. But
this is nothing mole OF less than self con
eelt, and self conceit never makes man.
neither does it command the respect of
Others. The world will soon distinguish
the difference between self-respect and
self conceit. The world has no respect
for the man W hn lnaC NOT rac moot him, Golf
1t may have sympathy for him, but not re-
spec, The Chinese proverb is true that
If man would be respected he must re-
spcct himself. Selt-respect is one of the
first laws Of manhood. The old Scotchman
dld no wrong, neither did he ask amiss,
when he humbly prayed that he might
nave good opinion OF himself. Man does
not nave that measure of selt-respect that
his creator intended he should and as a
result he does got attain to the height OF
ms possibilities i'll character building.
The contamination of the law of self-re-
spect is the perfection of character.
The law of seit-respect is based upon
three great principles. First Know thyself.
Self knowledge is absolutely essential to
selt-respect No man can properly respect
himself who does not know himself The
character we develop will be simply the
limit OF our self-knowledge. We will never
build beyond the knowledge of our posi-
bilities. Our possibilities are inherent in
our natures. Every individual should
study himself that he may know what
powers lie latent and inactive in the inner
lite OF those abilities and talents hat can
be developed, of his possibilities in attain
ing the highest possible type of man
hood and Of those counter influences
a.
building. our true success in life depends
upon such knowledge and your confidence
to develop the higher manhood within
You One Of the first lessons
learned by self examination is that you
have a distinct personality that has no
real dependence upon any other being ex-
eept the creator of that personality. Not
but that on associations in life make Us
mutually dependent upon one another,
yet these associations can neither build
up noI destroy that personality only SO
lal as we allow ourselves to be influenced
by tnem We often confound
this personality with our physical beings,
but 1t IS none than flesh and blood. 1t is
that inner life denominatcd as the Spirit
OF Man. 1t is the germ from which we
develop ON Individuality for individuali-
~ a. u"lh'ng more or less than personali-
~ developed. There are forces within
TnS personality that viii be revealed BY
the process If examination. They are
the 4'I aud ethical natures of man. his
conscience and Will power.
The evil element of man 5 nature does
not nightly belong 10 his personality and
wa not in the plan OF his creation. God
gave Alm pure pelsonality 1t is the re-
suit OF another power seeking to destroy
the true manhood within him. Its intiu-
ence is deadly and debasing. 1t has not a
sign OF purity in its nature, but its whole
tendency IS to destroy all righteousness in
man Its effects can be seen on every
hand. 1t is lamentable fact that the ma
]oflty OF mankind is controlled to more
or less extent by this power. As result
society becomes corrupt, crime is rampant
on every hand, police courts constantly do
ing business, prisons filled, insane asy-
iums constantly receiving additions, news
papers filled with accounts of murder.
suicide and divorce cases, cities become
sunk in iniquity, and sorrow and sadness
crowd out the sunlight of ioy and
peace that would fill the hearts of men
but fer this power. We cannot compre-
mend the results of this evil principle in
the HE OF man, but observation will teach
us that 1t is destructive to true manhood
anu "oludHHOOu. Inc ethical principle
OF man S nature is the law of natural
righteousness in the heart 1t is the
higher nature from which may be devel-
oped true character. 1t is elevating and
uplifting in its influence Its laws are
purity and holiness of living. 1t constant
ly strives to assert itself and appeals to
us to give it the controlling power, and
where such power is given it will make
the lite pure and beautiful. Let it be
united with the spirit of Divine righteous
ness and it will lay the foundation of a
6od-like character. Its ideal of manhood
was revealed in Jesus Christ There is a
constant conflict in the heart of every
man between these two forces. Each
seeks control The moral is constantly
appealing to conscience to decide in it's
power and to let the principle of upright
ness control, and in its own nature
conscience will always be in sympathy
with this higher nature of ours Con
science is the light that God has given to
every man to guide him into all truth,
into purity and holiness of character.
But we can educate our con-
sciences to approve of good or evil and it
is too often the case that men cultivate
their conscience to approve OF those things
which will aid them in carrying out their
selfish purposes in life. If we allow CON
do,