Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-14
High Notions.
observations of Philosophical Friend
Of Ours)

observations Of a Philosophical Friend
OF Ours)
Everything that has life feels the up
ward and outward impulse-the desire to
grow and expand. What we call am
btion Is only this force within us. II
moves us for the better; to Improvement
in everything. To grow smaller is to
waste and wither; to go towards sleep
and numbness is to go towards death.
Life is a thing to be fed and cultivated
and cherished and increased. Our i'm
pulses and energies make our life. The
power within that directs and controls.
and gives character to these is the heart;
out of It are the issues Of life.
We can consider the lilies, and learn
from them unselish, instructive, natural
growth, and increase in size, in lowell
ness. in fragrance, in diffusive delight
fulness. They have plenty of spirit and
life and character; they develop TO the
fullest all the virtue and grace that IS
in them But, while we admire and en-
10Y them, we do not receive from them
the slightest suggestion of what we call
ambition. They do not appear to be
seeking their own. but only in the light
Of the sun, to be doing their duty in
that state in which their Maker has set
them. And how unquestioned is their
responsibility; how great their glory!
There is no more Of selfish ambition
about the oak than there is about the
lily. Its life, the will of its Creator. is
the heart of the acorn. The oak no
sooner begins to feel itself. but it throws
off its baby-clothes; 1t sends down its
roots to the depths Of the earth, and
fastens itself and it's strong foundations
In the rocks. and spreads its laterals to
the rivers; and 1t sends up its shoots to-
wards the heavens. Its life is not IN
darkness. but out In the light; In the
light its grand development manifests
itself--but there is no suggestion OF
ambition In 1t; its great limbs mean
only strength, and officers OF comfort
and service to man. It's leaves and
acorns, beautiful in their simplicity.
mean life for itself, and reproductions OF
Itself for generations to come. II Is
strong to resist tempests; 1t Is out
spreading to afford protection; II is
light the heart OF man, and give honor
10 the Almighty.
There is nothing In nature TO teach sell
fish ambition. though there Is everything
TO animate and instruct the heart and
fortify the soul
The typical man Is "as hiding place
from the wind. covert from the tempest,
as rivers Of water in a dry place, as the
shadow of a great rock i'm weary land.
The commonplace, ambitious man is al
together out OF the order and harmony OF
nature. His development Is not from
within. The germ of manhood Is faith:
conscious dvineness. and kinship TO the
Almighty, and sense OF the image OF God.
This is knowledge of God and OF His Son.
Jesus Christ; the life immortal. On this
foundation. and out OF this germ, develops
life worth living; first the blade, then the
ear. and after that the full corn In the
ear; the fulness of manhood. out OF the
life revived by the Spirit OF God.
This Is the true evolution OF manhood.
This is the true idea misrepresented by
worldly ambition.
A mere desire for place. position. promi-
nence. regardless OF merit. has no respect
able place in nature. 1t Is only the weed
or stubble. Essential virtue and real
manhood are fed Wy everything. AL the