The Irish standard., 1898-02-12
AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE
Intellect Ahead of Muscle in This
Age of Brains.
HONESTY THE BEST POLICY
The Lecturer ELECTS Applause
From His Audience,

Rt. Rev. John L. Spalding, bishop of
Peoria, recently lectured on "Opportun-
ity" in Central Music hall, Chicago For
nearly two hours the prelate dealt with
the subject, considering it both from
Its ethical and practical standpoints
Bishop spalding's address was appre-
ciated. Its philosophy, its truth and
Its humor caught the fancy of those
who had come to listen and to learn.
Like periods in his most forcibly deliv-
cred remarks came round after round
Of applause. He spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Opportunity is favorable occasion,
time or place for doing a thing. me
word itself is derived from two Latin
words, OBJ and portus, close to port,
near the haven. It Is an invitation to
seek safety and refreshment for the
soul, an appeal to fee from danger by
taking refuge in high thoughts and
worthy deeds, from which flows in
crease of life and JOY Emerson calls
America but an other name for oppor-
tunity, because in America more than
elsewhere it is possible for men and
women to improve not only their condi-
tion but themselves. Opportunity fer
doing mischief says Voltalre, lis found
a hundred times day, OF doing good
once a year. Nothing could be more
false. Life is good, and opportunities
tor doing and becoming good are al
ways with US. What we call evils, as
poverty, neglect and suffering, are in
truth opportunities for good. Lowli-
ness is young ambitions ladder. Poy-
erty is the north wind that lashes men
into vikings. What is more pleasant
than to read Of strong-hearted youths
who in the midst of want, neglect and
hardships of many kinds have clung
to books, feeding like bees on flowers?
BY the light Of pine logs, in dim lit
garrets, in the field, following the plow,
IN early dawn when others are asleep
they ply their blessed task, seeking
nourishment for the mind, thirst for
truth, yearning for full sight of the
divine worlds of which they have
caught faint glimpses. Happy are they;
happier now, lacking all save faith and
great heart, than in after years when
oh
and gold.
Since life is great, nay of inesti-
mable and infinite value, no opportunity
by which it may be improved can be
small. Greater things remain to be done
than have yet been done. God and his
universe still wait on each individual
soul, Offering opportunities. In the midst
of the humble and inevitable reality OF
daily life each one must seek out for
himself the way to the higher life
Our strength, our worth, our greatness,
will be proportional to the industry
and perseverance with which we make
right use of the hundred little cppor-
tunities which are always occurring
whether by becoming good or doing
good. 1t is not opportunity that is lack
ing for any of us-there is a place for
every man, but we lack will, we lack
faith, hope and desire; We lack watch
fulness, meditation and earnest striy-
ing.
DO we imagine that it is not nos.
sible to lead high life in lowly room
That one may be a hero, sage or a
saint in a coal pit Or factory, at the
handle OF the plow or at the throttle OF
the engine? We are all in the center
of the same world and whatever hap
pens to us is great if we know how to
use it rightly. Little is to be hoped for
from these who make excuse, who tell
us what they would do if circumstances
were otherwise. What hinders helps
when souls are alive: Say not thou lack
est talent. What talen! had any Of the
great cnes but their passionate faitn
and trust in the efficacy Of labor? We
cannot wait, we cannot wait is the cry
of Cur young men. But true workers
can wait, for in doing right work they
become strong, and the strong can be
patient. The important thing is to have
an aim and to pursue it with perseyer-
ance.
What is the greatest aim one ca,
propose to himself? Not getting and
possessing, but becoming and being. A
man is not only more than anything
which can belong to him, he is greater
than planets and suns. We imagine
that we want material things, but what
& we really need is to have richer life il
ourselves. Money is but a remedy fci
poverty, and poverty is but one OF many
evils, and if we give our hearts chisil3
to riches We leave ourselves exposed tc
Ill the ills save one which make human,
70 y ~