Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
The Importance of Familiarity.
observations Of a Philosophical Friend
of Ours.)

Observations Of Philosophical Friend
of Ours.)
We are never the easy masters or
agreeable enjoyers Of anything until we
have made IT familiar by use. The ar
fist and master workman makes a very
part Of his being the designs and methods
of his business He works under the IN
spiration of his subject, and guidance OF
instinct, and the force of habit. Habit Is
said to be a second nature. But the busi-
ness of education and training is to make
the thing taught and trained work true
to its constitution, normally, after It's
very best and most beautiful design. The
study Of the master is to know the great
est possibilities, and help in that dlrec-
ton. He does not invent or create; ne
merely follows the revealed designs OF the
maker. He perfects what is healthy and
right, supplies what is wanting OF re-
stores what has been obliterated.
The mission of our Lord in this world
was to seek and save that which was
lost: to restore the individual to his nor
mai uprightness, and society to harmony,
to a condition of peace and good VIII,
mutually. and with the Almighty. by the
fall all was thrown into disorder, the IN
dividual was disorganized, and society
was nIled with antagonisms, and lost all
the ties that bound it to obedience to
the Supreme: law and order gave way 10
confusion and disorder. 4.
Jesus of Nazareth came as God among
men. To our mortal nature He present.
ed perfect manhood-the absolute, the
ideal. the divine. His gift to mankind
was Himself. He was the Gospel Inc
knowledge OF Him was light ana ire.
Hundreds and thousands OF mankind
knew of Him before the Gospels were
written. and have known perfectly OF
Him and horne His image without read
ing the writings OF the evangelists. III
an the Bibles were burned and not re-
produced the knowledge Of Jesus Christ
would remain set in the soul of human
tv. Christianity does not rest upon sa-
cred books. It has come into existence
divine light, by the fiat OF Almighty
God. and il will never go out. Books are
a means Of spreading it, ordained by Goo.
But they are not q necessity OF It's con-
tinuance among men.
familiarity with His character makes
| the Christian. A passing knowledge, see
| ing II as q man sees his natural race III
| a glass, and then going away ana forget-
| ting what manner of man he was. does
not make character. That sort or knowl-
edge of anything makes food for gossip
| and idle pratter, the character that is
| like chaff which Is blown away from the
face of the earth. A steady contempla-
ton of one clear and distinct image alone
makes clear, positive, and abiding charac-
| ter The setting Of the Lord always be-
| fore the eyes is the condition or fami-
liarity and growing resemblance. The
great philosophic Apostle says: I'VE be-
holding as in a glass the glory OF the
Lord. are changed into the same image
| from glory to glory
| And this steady contemplation is the
| way and means OF grace by which our
souls are brought under the fear and con-
| troll of Him whom we worship; whose
kingdom over each individual heart and
! all hearts Is the yearning desire or our
race.
The precepts Of the Gospels and teach
| ings of the New Testament are the laws
| customs. and manners of the coming
/
| 10 know and talk OF them. They make
| good conversation. but the preaching and
| talking of them does not make Chris
| tians. 1t helps Only warm familiarity
| Of heart and soul and life makes and es-
| tablishes character. Lip-service. moral
izing. philosophizing. and talking pious
| IS delusiye. We may deceive ourselves
| with beautiful and devout imaginations,
| only the established familiarity and
| power Of habit, gained by oft repetition
| and consistent action. is to be relied on.
| The words of our Lord are enunciations
| OF natural law. He that heareth My
words and keepeth them Is as house
| founded on the rock. He that hears and
| does not Is as one built on the sand In
| the one case Is strong character and the
| force OF habit. In the other case Is mere
| imagination and good talk, powerless to
| resist the undertow Of old habits. Less
| than wind and storm--the mere creeping
J of mouse-destroyed the greatness OF
she cat who turned princessl