The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-08-19
claims more than half valid, if they have


perfectly possible for one to have all the
polish of q Chesterfield, all the brains of
Gladstone, all the wealth of Wander.
bilt thus insuring the most abundant
leisure and pedigree running back to
William the Conquevor, and still be no
true gentleman. We have so far simply
been able to get hint or So, as to what
does not constitute a gentleman, let us
now turn to the positive side of our sub
iect and in good faith ask the question,
"What Is q gentleman" and seek faith
fully for the answer. Were l to give an
answer il the briefest possible terms,
should say that at the very least two eIe-
ments were necessary:
/. Gentle manners, and
3. Christian character.
| speak advisedly when / characterize
these elements as both necessary; as
one having the first without the second
will not be perfect gentleman, and one
possessing the second without the fret
will be but an imperfect Christian. The
man of the world is very particular about
his manners in society; he never forgpta
to remove his hat in the presence of lad
ieS, nor does he neglect to bow at the
proper time nor at the correct angle. He
gives up his seat on the cars, that lady
may not be forced to stand, and If one
should drop her handkerchief, he would
deem himself guilty of an unpardonable
social sir, if he failed to pick it up and
return it to the owner with bow OF
more or less ilnpressiveness according to
her social position, for be it known that
he is rather particular as to who may be
the object of his polite endeavors, and
never wastes courtesy upon one whom
he regards az socially inferior to him.
self. But whatever he does in word OF
deed, he does it all in obedience to ar
unwritten social law, which to him ba'
all the force of absolute authority; but
4! which is not moved by any Christian mo-
tive; and he may be for all the world
knows q very marvel of courtesy and
propriety in public, but the veriest bool
at home.
On the other hand, one may lead per
fectly correct life, be at deadly enmity
with sin in all it's forms, may love Coo
with all his heart, mind, soul anC
strength, and yet be totally wanting il
those little courtesies and politenesse
that go to MAKE up the sum total of so
cial life. II some friend should call hin
to account for his lspses from strict 80
cial propriety, he will perhaps scoff at j
and call 1t putting on airs. In this cas-
he only obeys the first half of the diyin
command,
WITH REGARD TO LOVING GOD;
the second half he unconsciously ignore
he does not love his neighbo
as himself. Now these two men ar
much like the two halves of pair o
shears; separate, they are of no possibl
use, and can only be fully effective whe
put together. That is to say the polish
ed counrier must be imbued with th
spirit of Christ, and the boorish Christia
must be imbued with that kindly love t
his neighbor which Is manifested by littl
courtesies, little acts Of kindness, an
little words of gentleness and so shall
they both by their life and conduct fulf
the royal law of love.
| However let us turn to st Paul, an
see what he has to say about it. In th
fourth chapter of Philippians fror
which our text is taken, the holy apostl
is giving his brethren at Philippi certai
general admonitions about holy living
the midst OF which he jots down certai
things that he wants them especially t
think about, for example, honest things
pure things, just things, but after a
there seems to him something NOR
necessary, so he sets down the words
have chosen as my text, "Whataoeve
things are lovely, think on these things.
Il After the manner of our every da
Ispeech, the idea of loneliness suggest
weakness rather than strength, but tni
thought Is not at all in the mind of tn
lapostle at any time, and least of all i
these words under consideration for q
| a matter OF fact the lovely aspect O
christianity is it's cniefest strength, 70
all these things about which st Pau
speaks, the true things, the homes
things, the pure things, the things o
good report; all come under the head o
lovely things, and this makes our text /
sort OF climax and epitome OF the who'll,
discourse. We all know, as fact which
cannot be gainsaid, that the unloveIy