The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-04
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
A SHORT, PERTINENT AND INSPIRING
DISCOURSE on MANLINEss.
BY the Rev. Dan Il. Bradley, ID. d.
Pastor of First Congregational
Church, Grand Rapids, Mich.
ashow yourselves men."-Isaiah XVII. s.

Manliness is subject in which every one
of US, from youngest to oldest, is interest
ed. The boys highest ambition is to be a
man. And when he has attained to mans
years. mans strength and mans duties.
/ and knows he cannot go back to childhood.
he still desires to possess the best charac-
teristics Of his present estate-to be man
in the true sense OF the word. 1t is still his
| pride to be considered manly.
But we all know there is a great deal
| of sham in life as We commonly find it.
much pretense of knowledge not possessed
much self-deceptlon as to the fulhllment
of what is admired and praised a great
deal Of self-satisfaction which has no right
to exist In other words, we are still boys
i'm many respects-mannish instead of man
! ly. Without intending TO be, we are con-
ceited. We feel our Importance. and the
first thing we do is to try some of those
things which we at the time consider
| manly.
| Solomon says THE glory of young men
is their strength Instead of remaining in
the quiet use and enjoyment of what is al
ready theirs. most men early begin to sub
| ject their powers to test, and aim to dis
| cover what they can stand. To a certain
extent, and along certain lines, this is
commendable and right. Those are grand
words.
II dare do all that may beseem man;
| Who dares do more is none.''
| Men often knowingly undergo a trial Of
| strength which it was never intended they
should stand Some few show amazing en-
| durance. but the greater number are ruined
| by foolish tampering with their powers.
| Thus you find some men old at thirty, who
| with prudent use of their energies might
| have been strong at sixty. Ali will agree
! that such wilful misuse of our strength is
| a miserable travesty upon manliness. We
| are to use our best efforts TO be men in
| reality, not in appearance merely. and that
| we may have something to serve us a
| pattern we take a sample of manhood
| which is most approved in all respects
| emphasizing the three-fold composition of
mans nature-body, soul and spirit. To
| suffer these last TO decay would De the
| worst species of suicide.
Many have seen the reproduction OF 2
very old piece Of sculpture, called the
| "Torso''-the body of a powerful man
without head or limbs. 1t was once as
| perfect a man as human arr could frame
| out of marble; but now the parts which
| expressed life, activity, mind, are all gone
| the trunk only remains to testify to glory
| departed.
| Such is a man when his manliness is
ruined by those base qualities which I'M
dermine it, grind it away, or shiver it to
pieces; such when the soul has lost it's
highest virtues and it's proud aspirations
are smothered forever; such when the
spirit is dead through Imprisonment and
neglect, and the germ of life is yielded
up blighted and fruitless. There remains
the trunk, the body, to tell the story of
powers squandered and opportunities I'M
grasped, until the decay of time and the
mold of the grave reduce it to dust and
| leave not a trace behind
| Such must everyone become who de-
| votes himself TO the undivided service of
| the body, obeying its passionate DEGREES
and following its unlawful designs. Surely
| this is not to be a man.
There was time when to be a man
| meant to WELD the ferceSt sword, to
| repel the slightest insult, TO settle all con-
| tested points by an appeal to brute force.
And unhappy the boiStrouS oathS, the
| harsh words which we daily hear in the
| crowd, and even in the home, not to speak
| of sights rougher still, are evidence that
the spirit of barbaric manliness is not al
/ together wanting in this generation. But
| will any who take pride in being true men
stoop to what belongs to a lower order of
! created beings whose ruling power is
| momentary passion and violent appetite?
The ideal manliness of a very large num-
Der of young men to-day is of a milder
| but no less debased type The greatness
in one case is perhaps to excel in the
rivalry of drink. Yet another acquires
/ manly fame by his cleverness at cards or
| dice, by whose lucky number he sweeps
| the table and fills his purse with the fruits
| of another's toll, the rghtful comfort and
| enjoyment of mother and children. Duty
honesty. principle, where are they? Is
| this manliness?
But without further illustration of false
| idealS-Of manlineSS SO-called-I turn to
| the true conception
If there is one quality more than an
/ other that affects a mans life and work.
| ii is earnestness-the combination of en-
| ergy and perseverance which knows moth
| ing but success. Its watchword is that
| of the hero of Trafalgar-"Victory or
! DEATH 1t is this which distinguishes the
| great man from the insignificant. 1t IS
| this which raises a man from a low mental
position to shine among his fellows. 1t
| leaves its mark on all it takes in hand
| il is the soul of progress.
| Do not suppose it is confined to the con-
| Querors of nations, to generals and states
4 men whose names are famous, TO phiioso-
| piers or inventors who have startled the
| world. 1t is found among men who have
| never been heard of outside their trade or
| town; among women who have seldom
| gone beyond the home circle. When you
| see a man force his way through obstacles
to keep square with the world and live
| honestly, you may set il down for earnest
| ness. Life is too short 40 spend il In
trifling. Be earnest in your work What
| is worth dong ct all Is worth doing we'll,
| and earnestness even in the smaller duties
| makes it's value felt.
| There is a very current idea that a man
| gains when he does least work for most
| pay 1t may be shrewd, but it Is not man
| ly; for IL is not honest, and dishonesty is a
| characteristic feature of unmanliness. 1t
| shows a lack of moral courage.
| ANOTHER MANLY TRAIT.
| Here then we come to a second manly
! trait. Some think it manly to be hearty
| with everyone they meet, and to acquiesce
| in everything suggested. They make no
| distinction in friendships plans. Com
| pany and association is all TO them, no mat
ter of what kind. They even assume vice
as IL it made them more manly, while in
| reality it makes towards of them; they are
| ashamed or afraid TO say no. VIII you
give up your position man because
| some debauchee with mouthful of oaths
! will laugh or sneer? Let him have the
| 'fun." but you keep your character; let
| him understand that you value your life
| and self-reSpect too much TO waste them
1 foolishly, not TO say wckedy.
| Scorn TO do mean act Be open, candid
/ truthful Knowing a thing TO be wrong
/ don't be ashamed to say so, come what
may. All else is cowardice.
| We have not only body to nourish and
| support, and soul to aspire TO future