Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-03-25
THE MORAL OF A MYTH-Part Q.
from The JetersOnian, by ]. L. LODGE,
d. D., Editor

plane of living enables him to estimate tn,
majesty of mind, and rate ephemera at theiI
true value, or no value the lust of wealth
appears the meanest passion that debases
human kind. Yet so nearly universal Il
the longing and the thirst for riches that
they who rightly understand their intention
and proper uses constitute an elect class
The insane struggle is deprecable because
of the vanity of possession, Happiness is
not the real purpose of life; but il it were
there is no surer way to lose it. Satisfaction
in physical things is derivable only from
use. Excess in ownership becomes hence
not only superiluous, but may become in.
furious. Under the creative provision, the
fixed law for the physical in man, need IL
absolute reduction to food and clothing
That is the divine basis of contentment. Use
beyond necessity is dissipation; and dissi
patton is dishonor, death. The vanity lies,
too, in disappointment Satiation brings dis
gust; often, remorse. The misery spirit,
which boards for the sake of boarding, is
even more detestable. The spendthriit at
least initiates circulation, to the benefit of
those who utilize his waste The idolater
loses all to himself, and makes a thing for the
whole worlds scoruing. Both are the pity
of sorrowing moralists.
All that clusters Is not BOlu,
Often have you heard that told;
Many man his life has sold,
But my outside to behold,
Gilded tombs do worms infold.
Wealth inherited contains its peculiar
dangers. From the cradle, II emasculates
Experience ioTbids expectation OF nobility
evolved from so untavorable condition.
1t expects nothing more than an object Tor
the false worship of satellites aud the stare
OF the vulgar The origin, environment,
and training are all in opposition to the de.
velopment of a man. Scarcely may we look
for that sympathy, that mental grasp OF re-
sponsibility, that inspired devotion OF per
sonal powers, that proper conception OF duty
intolded in the adventurous, that superiority
to seltishness and ease, that agonlzing for
the worlds betterment, which gives worth
to lite in heroism. There is vast differ
ence between this kind and the pauper
grown rich. Unless preserved from folly
by unusual good sense, his imitation, Dor
rOwed pomp, and aping the carriage OF those
whose manners are their blrthright, afford
amusement to spectators. But in every case,
where the gift Of means is not employed to
ameliorate suffering, bless the unhappy, re-
lieve the unfortunate, and do missionary
work designed in its bestowment, the ten
dency is TO bestialize, harden, anu destroy
the image of the Creator in the creature.
The example serves TO create the doubt OF
Gratiano, in The Merchant Of Venice:
Thou almost makst me waver In my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That souls OF animals inluse themselves
Into the trunks OF men.
The worst and most dreaded exhibition
of excessive wealth is tyranny. All history
shows that when bad men have power they
will Cypress their fellows. 1t has been neCes
sary TO correct the scales Oi Justice with revo.
luton. The means which gives the power
prompts 10 the evil IL turns mems hearts
TO stone IL knows nothing OF rights, except
the right vi power to enslave. 1t will hear
nothing till the thunderbOlt, see nothing
but the lightning flash. The phiIosophic
Judgment OF the French Revolution Is A
dire necessity; a.dreadiul remedy Heaped
up wrongs exaggerated vengeance U nder
any government, in any society, the tragedy
is liable to repetition. Because the spirit Of
the oppressor changes never, and endurance
evermOre is limited The spirit Of acqulsi
ton, and the vantage OF possession, remain
the same. This Is its most hldeous danger
but, whether we regard its vanity, It's etfemi
macy, or its power, this siren of wealth will
serve as well as any to sing the death song
of the deluded
The fable indicates two methods Of escape
frcm the peril oil temptation. When the
Argo neared the siren Islands, Jason and
his heroic companions began 10 yield TO the
influence of the wondrous music. Media
appealed To Orpheus, he of "the divine voice
and touch" who took his golden Tyre and
sang as he had never sung before. lie sang
their trials, victories, and hopes. and gradu-
ally the fascination relaxed, the spell was
broken, and the danger passed. This the
method of conteractiOn. BY IL victory is
possible, with superhuman help. But the
case demands the utmost exerLiOn OF the
strongest powers OF strong character 1t
requires appeal TO every motive that can IN.
splre and endow fiercely struggling ma.
Lure. Substitution alone will avail "NO
human fault, the smallest, is overcome, save
by the bringing IN OF true, grand things"
Macdonald IL is possible to arrest the
flood of evil, and turn the course OF life in
the direction of the good But at mighty
cost. Resistance is internal, and from with.
out. The man must first conquer himself,
and then the world. In reality, the first is
more painful but usually the second APP
pears so. No truer words were ever written
than those OF Jane Porter "The man who
dares to be vrtuous beyond others, and to
appear so, arms the sell love Of all common
characters against him" There are thous-
and reasons for the fact. Alas men are
weak enough To consider the judgment Of
the world. Saving the elect, It's opinion IS
as worthless AS malignant. lis pity this
lesson can never be impaired, but must be
lear ed. Yet learned IL must be, and the
dirt spurned, before CO urageous right doing
can reveal the man
Prevention is the wiser course. Ulysses,
making the dreaded passage, ordered him.
SELF bound fast to the bow, and the ears OF his
crew securely sealed with wax. Even then,
he struggled TO be free and go To his death,
but the crew tied him all the faster, as they
heard no sound. II is fortunate that having
sinned the man is rescued but 1t is better
not TO have erred at all. See Psalm /, verse
|.
The myth relates that when mans supe.
rority had been asserted In the safe passage
Df Jason and Ulysses, the sirens cast them
Ives into the sea, and were changed into
cliffs along the shore. Failure overthrOws
and puts 10 flight the tempter. Young men,
,hun the temptation; conquer yourselves,
conquer the world be pure, be strong, lie
brave. Deserve the best, in this present.
md reign princes 10 the hereafter
In Memoriam.