The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-04-03
TRUTH, PURITY, HONESTY.

The power of truth. purity and hon
ty can scarcely be overestimatad and
the mind that earnestly seeks it be-
comes noble in its noble quest. Ii this
can be said of truth, purity and hon
esty in the abstract and their humber
manifestation, how omnipotent truth,
purity and honesty become in their
grandest elimination and embodied in
a being capable of inspiring our pro-
foundest fear and deepest love. One
may accept of religious forms and be
little changed thereby. But the one
who accepts Jesus as a personal and
living teacher, as did the fishermen of
Gallllee, that man or woman begins to
grow noble, brave and patient. There
are thousands who have been warped
and marred by early influences, but
more seriously injured by personal
and wilful yielding to whatever form
of evil that proved attractive. Multi
tudes, for whom society has compare
lively little criticism, are more vitiat-
ed at heart, more hard-hearted and
deliberate i'll their evil. If one imag
ines that he can corrupt his own soul
and make it the abiding place of foul
thoughts, mean impulses, shriveling
selfshness and yet go forward very
far in Gods universe without me citing
overwhelming disaster he will find
he is thoroughly mistaken. Yes, and
the tongues that feed on mischief,
tattling, shy whispering. the imperti
nent meddling-aIl these tongues are
tresspassing on the community con-
stantly. Such tongues scatter fire and
mn h l1nYn iVon tFaInn nd
families, neigh borhoods, churches and
social circles in flame.
[ can understand how a person who
has never been taught better might
carry torpedoes in his pocket and de-
light to throw them down at the
feet of others to see them bound,
but [ cannot understand how an
instructed and well-meaning person
coule do such thing. And yet there
are people who carry torpedoes all
their lives. Also, there are people
who will do everything they can to de-
coy persons who are trying to live
pure and true lives to stoop to folly,
and to give up to their pettish whims;
and when once they yield the pursuer
is then ready to get off and laugh and
talk about them. Is this not shame
in person who will stoop so low as to
do such thing? 1t does seem to me
that if a person had a speck of pride or
the least grain OF love for himself
or others he would never do such. |
have all my life been close observer
of society, and am quite sure I'm
right. | know we'll that the path Of
strict virtue is steep and rugged. But
for the stern discipline of temperance,
the hardship OF self-denial, the crush
ing of appetite and passion there will
be the blessed recompense hereafter. |
Good company, and good conversation
are the very sinews of virtue. Ii one |
speaks evil of us, let life be such that
none will believe it.
If Icould speak to all the fair maid
ems in the world | would strive to utter |
the intrinsic beauties and essential !
qualities of purity. l would seek 10 |
illustrate 1t as the fountain of all that |
is great and good: all that is grand and |
redeeming There is no virtue, no |
spiritual life, no moral beauty. no |
glory of soul nor dignity OF character |
without purity. A woman appears In |
one of her lOyeliest aspects, when she |
appears as the practical follower OF |
Him who went about doing good. |
Good deeds double in the doing and |
the larger half comes back to the doer.
We do most for ourselves when we do |
most for others. The most benevolent
soul lives nearest to G d. Purity is
the meek-eyed maid of heaven that
holds her sister, Faith, in one HAND |
and Hope in the other and looks up |
ward with confding smile, saying:
q NV traaSurp is above
Dear readers, l hope to live in the
future as l have in the past, only :;
wish to be of more service to my coun-
try than [ have been. Yes, and when |
called for by the Allwi5e Creator to |
from this world | hope to be |
able fill an honored grave.
]. A. S. ADAMS. |
T arrell County, Ga.