The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-06-14
SHOW THYSELF
A MAN. J"
Rev, A. P. MCFerrin breaches a Pow
erfuI Sermon,
From This Text, to the Retail
Clerks Association of
Columbia.

Mr. McFerTin's $ sermon at the First
Methodist Church Yesterday morning
was one of those strong, forceful,
earnest efforts that sends the congre-
CATION away with something to think
about and talk about The speaker
has delivered many strong sermon
from that pulpit, but this was GER
tainly one of his best. His subject
and the go or 20 young men who
occupied the middle section of the
church, immediately in front of the
pulpit, seemed to inspire him; so that
the flash of his eye and the earnest
ness of his delivery gave burning force
to the eloquence of his words
The sermon was in response to re-
quest from the Retail Clerks Associa
tiop, who attended in body. The
following does not purport to be a
stenographic report, but only an in
complete synopsis. 1t lacks much of
the beauty and force the word paint
ing and energy of the speaker gave
to the occasion, and yet it carries
with it the one wholesome truth
sought to be impressed, both by text
and argument; towit;
"Be Strong and Show Thyself Man"
Il Kings -.
Some one has tersely said that pur-
pose is the primary element of all true
| living. Character is purpose crystal
lied. Success is purpose Loyalty
obeyed. Achievement is purpose bear
| t,,Cr or nol
result are mere side issues, and of
secondary Importance. Without pur-
pose and personal effect the best of cir
cumstances can produce no result.
| We place great store on environment
and opportunity, and fondly imagine
them to be the cause of glorious re-
suits But environment and oppor-
tunity have never yet made a great
life unless they were interviewer with
the weft of noble purpose and earnest
effort. The history of the world is al
attestation of the fact that from
heaven-favored circumstances have
! grown many of the poorest specimens
of our race; while from volcanic sol
and the gaunt surroundings OF
poverty have issued lives that shine
as stars of the first magnitude III tn,
galaxy of the worlds truly great
No one ever rises above his ideal Th,
grandeur of life and the measure o.
its success is measured by the purpos'
which inspires I'll e soul. If that pur
pose is to be man, then the highes
note of earthly existence has beer
struck. ''Be strong and show thysel
man. :" A grander purpose canno
move human heart "a loftier ideal can
not be offered for human attainment
God asks no one to he more than
man he is satisfied with nothing lefs
And that we may not be deceived b,
any low or false ideal, he robes hi
Son in human flesh, and placing hin
here upon earth. points to him ant
says, There is my ideal of man
To meet this high calling of Go,
means to reflect his image, and il
obedience to his will, and for tn
glory of his name employ the won
derous powers with which he ha
graciously endowed us. To be a MAJ
means to live a life patterned afte
that of his own blessed Son. And S
he comes to you this morning wit
life's highest ideal, and grandest
noblest purpose, and in the languag
of the text bids you be strong and shoy
thyself a man.
Show thyself man in the bushes
world. To do this means fidelity t
every trust committed He who is nc
true to his employer, is false to him
self and falls below the dignity of
man. You have taken as your mott
the Golden Rule; see that you carr
its noble teaching into every detail c
, your business life Attention appli
cation, accuracy, method. punctu
, ality ana dispatch are the sprincipf
qualities required for the efficient cor
duct of any business, says Samut
J Smiles in his self Helps a boo
which commend to you to read an
seriously ponder Be dlligent in til
exercise of these qualities; have a
; eye to see, a ear to hear, and a will
ing hand to do. You may sometime
be tempted to think that your efforl
are not duly appreciated, that you
promotion is not according to YOU
deserts, that your wages are not con
= mensurate with your worth. And a
this may be true but anothers failuI
to do the right is no license for yo
to do a wrong. Fidelity in the Ion
; run is sure to win. If you woul
achieve for yourself an enviable sue
|, cess, b. true 10 every trust and sho'
! thyself a man. And to this end, r,
: member that you can not give you
: leisure hours TO revelry and dissips
! tion. No man can run till midnil
! or later, and faithfully discharge HI
: duties ON the morrow In this que
: tion of pleasure, disdain to stOop 1
the low, the frivillous and the sensua
Waste not your leisure moments j
idleness and aiInless quest for earns
pleasure. Employ them faithful
in self-culture. and the growth
character. An hour wasted daily G
trifies. or in Incidence, would. if d,
!, voted to self-improyement, make a
ignorant man wise in few year
Read books that stir the depths
y manhood. and send the mind out {
the grander highways of though
z StOOp 10 no pleasure Of which you wi
/ one day be ashamed; nothing that wi
!, make you coward in the presence
+ your conscience; nothing which vi
e sweep from beneath yOu the fOundi
, tion Of true and noble manhood