The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-18
SELF-HEROISM.

n. Y. Herald Prize Sermon. NO. ..
BE strong and an, quiet yourselves like men
Reputation is what q person seems TO
be; character is what he is. A mans real
self is within, not without; and any per-
manent progres, must proceed from tho
centre toward the circumference or mis-
life. What Is on him or around him eau
not determine his value. The aristoc'
raoy of character includes the msmb bers
OF the real nobility OF earth. such are
they who fight the bravest battles and
win the most valiant victories.
Real glory
Springs from the silent conquest OF our
And without that the conqueror Is naught
But the first slave.
My sermon Is dedicated TO these yictors.
ana my subject Is their namesaKe. self
Heroism the heroism OF self-examlna-
tion, the heroism OF self-preparation, the
heroisn OF self oncontration. thelheroism
OF self-perpetuation.
1.-The Heroism of Self Examination.
Nothing is insignificant There Is
divine meaning In the xistenoe OF every
thing No life can infringe upon another's
right of way I'm living: for the legitimate
property of no two lives lie along exactly
the same track. Each life Is monopoly
I'm Itself; for To each has been given the
sole permission to exurcise certain exclu-
sive powers The author OF my being mas
made "a mistake or my life Is OF tremend-
Gus Significance Interrogation partakes
OF the heroic. Ignorance OF self knowledge
Is the reef upon which many OF the con-
querors OF the world have been wrecked.
They knew Others, but did not know
themselves They guided Others, but
failed to guide themselves. They mastered
others. but could not master themselves.
The fields upon which they were victors
lay beyond themselves; the fields upon
which they were victims lay within
themselves. III self-examlpation were an
applied science L venture the opinion
that some who are now In the pulpit
would no behind the plough; some who
are at the bar would no IN tho black
smith shop; some who are In Congress
would be in the cornlield some who sit in
faculties would lie in fossil beds ana
others would awake to their native right
and riches and nut honor upon lives
diyinely gifted. Whoever you are. wher-
ever you are be brave enough, be honest
enough To get intimately and accurately
acquainted with yourself and with Jean
Paul Richter be enabled TO say -
have made as much out OF myself as
could be made OF the stun, and no one can
require more.
1.-THE Heroism of Self Preparation.
Gibbon tells Us that every one has two
educations-one which be receives from
others and one which he gives to himself.
The popular idea OF education seems 10
la the art OF allowing others TO do IA
muuh tor us as we have the capacity OF
receiving. "He Is not capable of receiv-
ing an education IL a suggestive express
sion. True education is self preparation.
IL must find something within you, or
it brings nothing out of you. IL converts
your possibilities into practical powers.
The richer - nature the harder and slower
its self-prepars tion anddeyelopmert {. Today
the noplest figure In Europe stands erect
under the SHOWS of more than fJurscore
winters, ami because of his rig id, righte-
Gus. self preparation through all these
years the Grand Old Man. is the fresh
est In thought aud maturest in wisdom
of all who meet In the councils OF men.
Patient preparation Is permanent power.
In ON ago that lacks composare men are
apt to mature too quickly and decay TOO
sooIL Reserved power should be greater
than spent power. by self-prs paration
deposit each day for future drafts, and
then you are not apt to oyercheck your
account.
IIL-rhe Herosm Of Self-C Concentra-
tion.
life often fails to make n lasting
impression because Of it's diffusion. What
we call genius is frequently only the
child of application. To attempt every
thing and to accomplish nothing Is a
fatal folly. While we are striving TO know
something about everything we must
zeaiously try to know everything about
something. The higher anu more unset
fish the end toward which we direct our
lives the greater Is the demand for. intense
ami ceaseess concentration OF our noblest
powers. Focus your best powers upon
thu details of your life work. These may
seem to be tritles but remember the wise
words OF the painstaking artist, "Irities
make perfection, and perfection is no
trifie" Like the tabled bird in the ORR
entail legend which slept on the wing,
learn to rest in your labor, but never rest
from your lauor. Contemplate Conoen-
tratal Consecrate!
IV.-The Heroism of Self -Perpetuation.
Great aud good men are not nalf living
when they are alivel Their Uest and
truost life comes after they walk no
longer on earth. In their day Moses and
Paul were not near so influential as they
are today. Truth. like a so ed, does not
bsar its fruit In day, and the richer the
truth and more precious the seed the
longer the full fruitiop Is delayed. Great
principles end great lives, like great bod
les, move slowly. A mans self becomes
part of the truth ~ which his life is
welded, and as this truth passes beyond
the liIhit Of his visible existence and
takes its endless course through the ages
the best part or the man is perpetuated.
Each life is contribution to history
hut few lives have their historians.
Heroic lives are oftentlmes written
anonymously upon tho tablets Of time.
and coming ages never recall by pame
their greatest bcnefactors. some men are
dead while they are living; others are
living while they are dead. Think much
OF your post-mortem life among men.
Maintain an uncompromising enmity to-
ward the false, an invinoible friendship
toward the tiue. Cultivate practical
faith I'm the living uod Accept Christ
M your ideal and Redeener. This is the
hidden spring Of self -heroism, IL crowns
mans life with the truest success; apn
when tho veil is lirted he shall stand erect
in the light Of n glorifisd mannood.
II. ALLEN TUPPER, Jr., ID. d..
Pastnr First BaptIst Church. Montclair.