The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-14

~ AA4A IVo IA
sink the boats in which the women
and children are The brave men
kept to their post, and just as the ship
was about to make its last plunge
they fired a salute TO those in the
boats. What sinking Of self in thought
fulness for others,
Many years ago two men entered the
largest locomotive workshops in Phil
adelphia. They were treated in a very
Indifferent way and were allowed to
depart without any show of courtesy.
They went into other shops, and no
especial attention was given them.
After awhile the two men entered a
smaller shop, and the o%verseer took
great pains in showing them every
thing and how they wrought and on
what plan the shops were run. The
two visitors were agents of the a
Of Russia, and those shops were trans
ferred to st. Petersburg. and that po-
lite man hat bestowed such attention
was called TO build the locomotives for
all the railroads Of Russia and had for
tune after fortune roll in upon him.
Courtesy is a mighty force in temporal
things as well as i'm spiritual things.
Let US start each year. each month,
each day, with the question, What can
1 do to make others happy? On our
way to office or store or shop or rail
train let US be alert for heaven de-
scended opportunities.
What the World Needs.
The time must come when the world
will acknowledge international cour
tesy. Now courtesy between nations
is chiefly made of rhetorical greeting.
but as soon as there is a difference Of
interest their ministers plenipotentiary
are called home. and the gun Of the
forts are put in position. and the army
and navy get ready. Why not n cour-
tesy between nations that will defer
to each other and surrender q little
rather than have prolonged acrimony.
ending in great slaughter? Room for
all nations of the earth and all styles
of government. VIVA. the world wants
is less armament and more courtesy.
less of the spirit of destruction and
o of the spirit of amity. This cen
fury has opened with too many armies
in the field and too many men-of-war
on the ocean. Before the century closes
may the last cavalry horse be hitched
come Il merchantmen.
There is nothing worthy in the
thought that the earth will get too
crowded with population if vast multi
tudes are not destroyed by a When
our old world is full of inhabitants,
it will have fulfilled its mission. and it
will be put aside like an old ship turned
into a navy yard and d~ismantled and
the worlds inhabitants transferred to
some other constellation The angels
in the song celebrated this coming in
ternational courtesy when in the Beth
lehem starlight they chanted. Good
will to men"
Divine Grace In the Heart.
If others lack courtesy, that is no
reason why you should lack it. Re-
spond to rudeness by utmost affabili-
ty. Because some else is a boor
is no reason why you should be a boor.
But how few show urbanity when bad
ly treated! Human nature says, IAN
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, re-
tort for retort, SANDER for SANDER,
maltreatment for maltreatment." But
there have been those you and | have
known who amid assault and carica-
ture and injustice have maintained the
loneliness of blossom week in spring
time. Nothing but divine grace in the
heart can keep such equilibrium. That
is not human nature until it is trans
formed by supernal influences To put
it on the lowest ground you cannot af-
ford to be revengeful and malignant.
Hatred and high indignation are stages
of unhealth. They enlarge the spleen;
they weaken the nerves; they attack
the brain. Rage in a man is one form
Of apoplexy. Every time you get mad
you damage your body and mind and
soul. and you have not such a surplus
Of vigor and energy that you can af-
ford to sacrifice them.
So l applaud Christian courtesy. |
would put it upon the throne of every
heart in all the world. The beauty OF
it is that you may extend 1T to others
and have just as much Of it-yea, more
of it-left in your w heart and life.
It is like the miracle Of the loaves and
fishes. which. by being divided. were
multiplied until twelve baskets were
filed with the remnants. 1t is like q
torch. with which fifty lamps may be
lighted and yet the torch remain as
bright as before it lighted the first
lamp.
But this grace will not come to Its
~coronal until it reaches the heavenly
sphere. What a world that must be
where selfshness and jealousy and
pride and %acerbities Of temper nave
never entered and never will enter!
No struggle for precedence. No rival
~ between cherubim and seraphim. No
ambition as TO who shall have the
front seats in the temple Of God and
the Lamb. No controversy about the
place the guest may take at the ban
quet No rivalry Of robe or coroset.
No racing OF chariots. No throne ,