The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-16
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
THE MOTIVE or CONDUCT AND ITS
EFFECT UPON MEMS ACTION.
short sermon by Rev. G. Monroe
Royce, Late Rector American Epis-
copaI Church, Florence, Italy.

"If We know these things. happy are we
II We do them. John xiii. IA.
Life is made up for the most part of
conduct The world nearest about us is more
concerned with what we are and do than
with what we say or think.
There are. to be sure, men whose thoughts
and sentiments are vastly more important
20 the world than their conduct Of life. l
refer to the great poets and philosophers;
the great scholars and men OF science; the
great painters, scuIptors and musicians. 1t
Is plain that the thoughts and sentiments
OF such men are of more interest to the
world than their manner Of life
Nothing is really known of the life of
Homer. the father of poetry. and the same
might almost be said of Shakespeare. We
know that he was born and died in the
little Warwickshire town of Stratford-on-
Avon; that he spent the greater part of
his life in London, and that he was sue
cessful theatrical manager and playwright.
But as to the man William Shakespeare, of
the vices or the virtues of his daily life,
we know little or nothing. He has given
to the world great variety of characters.
the greatest perhaps that has ever been
evolved from the creative brain of one man;
and yet we are wholly unable to identify the
of his conduct is buried with him.
But does the fact that we do not and
cannot know Shakespeare the man. destroy,
or in any way lessen our interest in Shak-
speare the master poet? 1t is, perhaps,
better that we are ignorant Of the personal
life and character Of both Homer and
Shakespeare. We have thus the full light
OF their mighty genius, unrefracted by the
conduct of what must have been imperfect
lives.
But the cases are exceptional in which
the practical conduct of a human life is
not more interesting as well as more i'm
portant to the world than it's thoughts and
sentiments What is it that gives interest
10 the words of gossip as they fly from
mouth to mouth, through the cottages of a
hamlet or the palaces of a city? Is it not
that the conduct of some one is in ques-
ton? Have you heard what A or did? is
the form of the gossip. Gossip has to do al
ways with conduct, never with sentiment.
Are the old wives of a village ever found
gathered together discussing the thoughts
and sentiments of their neighbors? The
conversation in the drawing rooms of the
great world is hardly less free from this ele-
ment of personality. We all, for the most
part consider things in their practical re-
lations to the conduct of life. There are
multitudes of people who read the biography
of a mans life to one who reads the phi
lcsophy of his life. For example, thou
sands have read the charming biography of
John Stuart Mill to one who has read his
system of philosophy.
Doing, then. is not only the principal, the
capital thing in life. but it is also by far the
most interesting thing in life
DEFINITION OF RELIGION
Now, religion may be defined as "the
science of right DOING This is g. very i'm
perfect definition, but it is true so far as it
goes-and it goes very great way, fur
Their, / apprehend, than we are wont to
think or imagine. If we all did the thing
we know to be good, what Transformation
would soon take place in this world of ours!
Whatever, therefore, may be the preachers
special or immediate purpose his Interior
object is always to strengthen and purify
the motive and method of right living.
We must begin, then, by recognizing the
TACT that there is some motive for every ac-
ton. 1t may not be clearly defined, but it
exists, whether we seem to be conscious of
it or not. There is some motive for every
thing we do. No sane person every did
anything good. bad or Indifferent without
some kind of motive; that is, reason for do
ing it. The slanderer, the murderer and
the adulterer have their motives as surely
as the philanthropist. the patriot and the
lover. What, then, is the highest motive
by which to judge human conduct? For it
Is the motive that gives characer to action.
Examine some of the motives which have
been as standards of conduct
1t has been held that happiness is the
supreme purpose of all rational beings. BY
happiness was not meant self-indulgence
into a system OF philosophy what too many
people put into their daily practice, viz, sell
fishness. OF course there are different de-
gress of selfshness, but the motive is the
same in all. Will this motive stand the
test of reason or of practice?
For example, how long would any family
hold together if self-love were the ruling
passion of it's members? Do we not all
know that the mother will sacrifice any
comfort or pleasure for the sake of her
child? Is this not true in every relation of
life? Are not men and women constantly
sacrificing their own selfish pleasure for the
wellbeing of others? And do we not all
know that the supremely selfish man is
the most unhappy creature in this world?
But there is difference between selfish
ness and self-interest. This would be very
dull and tame world indeed without the mo-
tive OF Selt-lntereSt 1t is this that gives
spirit to all enterprises, social, commercial
industrial, intellectual and political. But
there can be no such thing as moral self
interest, however refined and devoted that
self-interest may be. Sef-sacrifice has
been defined the last refinement of ju-
dicious self-interest. But If the object is
selfInterest it cannot be self-sacrifice at
all The motive of wise selfinterest If uni
versally observed, would prevent vast
amount of misery and sickness. of pain and
sorrow. 1t would make this world a para
disc though not heaven. But men will
not do what reason declares to be for their
highest self-interest. This fact OF human
nature is well known This motive, then,
will not answer.
SEEKING A MOTIVE
win the interest OF others furnish us a
motive for the highest conduct? 1t is only
necessary to state this proposition to see
its absurdity. We are willing and happy
TO help the helpless. TO minister to the poor
and needy. TO give our lives, if necessary,
for the cause of humanity, but to make the
selfish interest of others the handspring of
our action is impossible.
There have always been men, there will
nlvavS he men who gladly sacrifice thar,,-