Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-21


one overshadows with it's wings both
self and others. Temperance on the one
hand, benevolence on the other, truth
In the middle supporting the other two.
1. Notice our relation to temperance.
do not use this word in it's ordinary,
restricted sense; but in its broadest,
most comprehensive sense. I refer to
self-control, self-mastery in every de-
partment of a mans being. "Self-con-
troll Is at the root Of all the virtues" D."
There can be no solid character without
it. LET a man give the reins to his
impulses and passions, and from that
moment he yields up his moral free
DOM" He becomes slave to his weak
er self.
Praise is given in the Bible, not to
the strong man who taketh city, but
to the stronger man who ruleth his own
spirit. Nine-tenths Of the vicious de-
sires that degrade society. and which.
when indulged, swell into crimes that
disgrace it. would shrink into insignif1-
canoe before the advance of valiant
self-discipline, self-respect and self
control. BY the watch"ul exercise of
these virtues. purity Of heart and mind
becomes habitual, and the character Is
built up in chastity, virtue and temper
ance."
There must be self-control before
there can be any stability Of character.
A man that Is not able to control him
self Is absolutely helpless in the
achievement Of victories in the world.
He Is led about by every passing wind
and influence. The character cannot
be what 1t ought to be without a careful
discipline Of self-a rigid, well-round-
ed, persistent training of the heart,
mind and will.
There must be a self-denial and a TAX
ing up the cross-a restraining and a
constraining-a holding back Of self
when there Is tempetation to self-in-
diligence and pressing forward Of self
when there Is an inclination not to go
in the right direction.
A man must know himself; he must
educate himself; he must control him
self, before he can possess a character
that has any moral force and power for
good. Self-knowledge. self-culture and
self-control are the essential elements
Of solid and genuine character. This is
the right kind Of temperance, we'll
rounded. symmetrical, comprehensive.
Anything that tends to encourage the
abuse or contraction of any Of our ply
sical, intellectual or moral powers is
disastrous to individual character, and
consequently disastrous to the commu.
nifty. No man can develop into the
stability and nobility of a good. SYM
metrical character until he has in sub
lection all the powers Of his being. His
passions, his appetite and his affections
must be governed by an intelligent and
authoritative will, which must be regu-
lated and directed by right principles.
1t is right for man to labor to i'm
prove his condition; but he must labor
first and always to better himself. If
he Is so tied down to his surroundings
that he has lost control of them, then
indeed Is his nose bound fast to the
grindstone Of earth and ignominious
failure awaits him. A man to be any
thing in the .iorld and to attain any
thing In the world must be master of
the situation, and he can never be this
until he has first mastered himself
2. CHARACTER Is DETERMINED BY ITS
RELATION TO TRUTH.-There Is nothing
by which we can test character more
effectually than by truth. Tell me q
mans beliefs and practices as they are
related to truth. and I will tell you the
character Of that man. Not only is
truth test Of character. but It Is also
regulative in the formation Of charac-
ter. A mans relations to the truth
permeate his character-every part OF
1t. Devotion to truth adorns the whole
character and elevates the entire man;
disregard for truth corrupts the ep-
tire character and degrades the whole
man. There Is nothing more essential
to good character than an unfaltering
adherence and devotion to the truth.
Truth Is the very soul Of character-its
tower Of strength; its crown Of glory.
Truth Is the very foundation upon
which true character and real worth
are built. He who Attempts to build
good character without the materials
Of truth, Is like an architect who tries
to build monument without q founda-
tion.
There is nothing that is more disas-
trous to individual character than the
want Of a proper regard for the truth.
Falsehood Is sin, which Is either the
mother of all sins or the protector Of
them all. It demolishes and destroys
everything in man that Is valuable,
as a man prizes his character, yea, as
he prizes his very soul, so ought ne to
prize the truth. There Is decided, un-
compromising, constitutional antipathy
in an upright mans heart against ev-
erything that is opposed to the truth.
He detests a falsehood; he abominates
a lie.
Truth Is a necessary and all-pervad-
ing element in the makeup Of good
and successful character. And just to
the extent that truth enters into the
characters and lives Of the people, just
to that extent will the community be
elevated. There is nothing that tends
to make society and government what
they ought to be more than truth.
Truth Is the spinal column In society;
and. If there Is no truth there, there can
be no backbone there.
Imagine a community where every
person has lost confidence in the verac-
ity of every other person, where a
mans word and promise are worthless,
where every man suspects every other
man of being false. Could you think OF
a more unfortunate and appalling state
of affairs? This would be hell on earth.
1t is truth that makes good society
what it Is and holds it together.
In every department Of life and So
ciety, truth is an essential and con-
trolling factor in the successful car
rying on Of all laudable enterprises.
Truth is the cement which binds the
members of good society together. 1t
not only strengthens all the individual
parts but it utilizes all their powers in
supporting the whole. When the char
ter of the individual members Of
society is built upon the foundation
of truth, this society possesses a
strong defence and safeguard against
the invasion of any destructive
agent that would come in. Under such
circumstances alone can society proper
ly support and encourage her social,
commercial educational and religious
institutions. Falsehood in communi-
ty Is blasting and destructive to every
thing that elevates a people and gives
them true, moral greatness: 1t takes
away every safeguard against inter-
nal dissensinos and external invasions.
Every promise that is broken, every
falsehood that is told, every confidence
that is betrayed, and every obligation
that is ignored are powerful factors In
the defeat of noble plans and efforts In