Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-09-17
essex County 9nala.
ISLAND PoxD. SEPTEMBER II.
Dignity and Consistency ESSEN
tiaI In Life.

Whether these qualities are es-
.sential to success in life is a ques-
ton the affirmative of which we
hardly have the temerity to
maintain. Success comes too Of
ten by running in easy andpopu-
lar currents, pandering to the
lower instincts of men, and cum
ningly directing the currents OF
sentiment to individual ends and
purposes. That these qualities
are essential to the good of man
kind there is no question. Only
one genuine Roger Williams ever
lived on earth. Men OF his class
have always been plainly dis
tinguished from the masses.
Such men make deep and lasting
impressions. There never was
any great premium offered for
such men. They have always
had to row against the current.
The discovery of the rotundity
and revolution of the earth and
of this continent was made amid
the worlds scorn. Many who
are creatures of accident and
who ride on the wave imagine
that they are elevated through
their merits or power in control
ling public sentiments. The i'm
portance of maintaining per-
sonal, professional and national
dignity and consistency is very
much underestimated. Happily
the necessity for their mainte-
nance by the clergy is so great
that it is impossible to overlook
it in that profession. It's disre-
gard from the nature of things
would be destructive of the the.
DRY and principles which sustain
it. Unfortunately success in
other professions, attained by
artitice and cunning, is too otter
accepted as the criterion of merit
Popularity too often comes
through slavish conformity tc
the varying sentiments, preu
dices and passions of the masses
The time was when heroic an(
independent individual charac
teristics meant something ant
accomplished something. Toda.
applause and commentator
comes almost exclusively to mel
contending for individual end
and purposes. Two men ma.
enter into a bitter contention
indulge in billingsgate and a
sorts of denunciation of eac
other personally. 1t may hav
some remote relation to grea
principles, but it is allconcernin
the men and their plans an
purposes. At once all enthusiast
and interest centre in the me
themselves, and the principles
to which the controversy ha
some remote relation, are los
sight of. This is so even thong
one of them be a crank and III
faithful to every association I
may form induced by a desire
be a censor or dictator; viii
the other may be true to assoc
ations and party for what az
vantages such loyalty may brin
to him. So that the times nevt
offered greater rewards or MOI
tempting inducements to egotis1
and selfshness than now.
People have been more or lie:
inclined to look to the press fc
true and independent sentimet
and courses of action. 1t hi
been a mighty engine of powe
directing, controlling and shaJ
ing public sentiment. No 0,
now can fail to see it's decaden,
in these respects. If the Peep
are not running the press we mi
take the signs of the times.
still maintains a great polite
power, not so much because
shapes public sentiment as b
cause it creates a belief and e
pectation that certain thin,
will succeed and a large cont
gent fall in in order to be on tt
winning side. 1t denounces &c
tain things most bitterly ar
then falls in with the crowd ar
runs after them. On one page
such periodicals may be seen d
tailed with great enthusiasm tt
proceedings of a Moody meetir