The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-26

with becomes from that moment a shaping
force in our life; what we take as our ideas
we take as our masters; what we love is
what we are destined to resemble. Hence
the supreme Importance of right ideals.
The means for this culture lie all around
us, as in the great lteratures OF the world,
especially in the Bible and in the life and
character of Him Of whom Plate said. and
the whole world after PLATE has been
saving, Il find no fault in Him" To at
tempt the cultivation OF right feeling by the
presentation of other ideals while ignoring
the matchless ideal of the New Testament.
would be like saying, Give us the daylight;
never mind the SUM-"
We must reach down and around, as well
rs up. There are stars in the sky and pearls
in the ocean depths. 1t is easy for the
scholar TO isolate himself with his books or
TO limit his acquaintance to a select circle
of friends, but herein lies his danger-that
of severance from the great, warm, common
sympathies which are flowing through the
world, and apart from which any life must
become impoverished, If not absolutely de-
humanized.
THE SYMPATHIES.
In the cultivation of the sympathies we
can hardly put too great an emphasis. will
not say on breadth-that comes by expe-
rience-but on elasticity. This is what gives
one the power to take another's point Of
view; or, if the case demands, as it probably
will in this ever-changing life, it enables us
to create an ever-fresh interest, and to
adapt ourselves, with ease and without re-
piEing, to new conditions.
1. The power to do. No person can be
said to live a full life, or a life that is at all
-af fufoo ctr he
thing to the value of life for others; and the
education which expends itself on the other
powers. but leaves untouched the power to
DO, is woefully defective. While it is true
that if we see right and think right and feel
right when it comes to action, the danger
lies in the possibility of our stopping short
of action. There are persons having all the
other educational equipment who, neverthe-
less. do nothing and count for nothing in
the communities in which they live.
1--WE live in deeds, not years; in thoughts,
not breathS;
In feelings not in figures on dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He
most lives
Who thinks most feels the noblest acts the
best"
Closely connected with this topic and, in
fact. with all the others. is one important
word which have not yet used; yet what
it stands for has formed the background of
all L have said. 1t is not always necessary
to give the name of a thing in order to pre-
sent the thing itself. The word I refer to is
religion-the principle and power that
should dominate the whole. 1t is the func-
ton of religion to put one into right relation
with God and man. and the education
in which the religious nature is underfed, or
UNDETERMINED or unproviGed for, is sadly
incomplete.
Sectarianism has no rightful place in
school, or college, or anywhere else; it is
different with religious culture, for that
deals not with prejudice, but with character.
And character. you may depnd upon it, is
the chief thing after all: if we fail in that,
we fail in everything Character is what
life itself is for: it is life itself in its best
results; it is the sweet image of God in man.
And therefore we may complete our last
quotation by adding its closing lines
Life is but means unto an end: that end,
Beginning. mean. and end TO all things
God