Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-01-17
The GRACE OF COURTESY.
DR.. Talmage Says Christian ThoaghffM'
ness Is Born in the Heart by The
Power Of the Holy Ghost.
Shows How Such a Benigaant Spirit Hay
Be Fcstered.

WASHINGTON, D. Gin this discourse
Dr.. Talmage urges thoughtfulne5s Tor otn-
ers, and shows how such benignant spirit
may be fostered; text, Peter II, ., be
courteous"
In an age when bluntness has been ca
nonized as q virtue it may be useful to eX-
tol one of the most beautiful OF all the
royal family of graces-courtesy. 1t Is
graciousness, Difference to the wishes or
others, good manners, affabiity, willing
ness to deny ourselves somewhat for the
advantage Of others, urbanity. But what
Is the use of my defining the grace OF cour..
tesy when we all know so well what 1t Is?
The botanist might say some very inter
esting things about q rose, and the chem
list might discourse about water or light
but without ever seeing a botanist or 8
chemist we know what rose is and what
water and light are. Do not take our time
IN telling us what courtesy is. Only show
us how we may get more Of it and avoid
what are its counterfeits. Mark you, II
cannot be put on or dramatized success
fully for long while We may be full OF
bows and genuhections, and smiles and
complimentary phrase, and have nothing
of genuine courtesy either in our makeup
or in our demeanor. A backswoodsman
who never saw q drawing room or o dane
ing master or caterer or fold OF drap.
cry may with his big soul and hard hand
and awkward salutation exercise the grace
while one born under richest upholstery
and educated in foreign schools, and both
cred to know which Of ten, garments ne
will take from q royal wardrobe, may be
as barren OF the spirit Of courtesy as the
great Sahara desert is Of green meadows
and tossing fountains.
Christian courtesy is bern in the heart
by the power of the Holy Ghost, who has
transformed and illumined and glorihed
ones nature. Mark you, / am speaking
of the highest kind of courtesy, which Is
Christian courtesy. Something like tor
binary politeness-may grow up with us
under the direction of intelligent and
watchful parcntage, but / am not speaking
of that which is merely agreeableness OF
conversation and behavior, All that may
be matter of tutelage and fine surround.
ing and show itself in lifting the hat to
passers-by and in a graceful way of asking
about your health and sending the right
kind Of acceptance when you cannot go
and understanding all the laws Of .prefer-
ence at table and parlor door, all of which
is well. I am speaking of principle. OF
courtesy so implanted in ones nature that
his suavity of conversation and manner
shall be the outburst of what he feels for
the happiness and welfare of others, a
principle that will work in the next world
as we'll as in this, and will be as appro-
pirate in the mansions Of heaven as III
earthly dwelling places:
Now, you know as well as do that some
of the most undesirable people have been
seeming incarnations OF courtesy. IN our
early American history there arose man
of wonderful talent, an impersonation OF
all that can charm drawing rooms. and
cultivated circles. Aged men who. knew
him in their youth have told me. that he
was the most irresistible man they ever
met. his voice silvery, his smile bewitch-
ING. his glove immaculate, his eye piercing,
his high forehead wreathed in cur!s, his
attire a fascination. He became Vice-Pres-
ident of the United States and within one
vote of being President. Men threw away
their fortunes to help him in his political
aspirations and to forward him in con.
spiracv to overthrow the Government OF
| the United States, he trying TO do. IN
| America what Napoleon at that very time
was trying to do in Europe--establish q
| throne for himself But he was immoral
and corrupt. He was the serpent that
| wound its way into many a domestic par
| adise. Re shot to death one of the great
| est of Americans - Alexander Hamilton
| The world found out long ago before he
| left it that the offender / speak OF was an
embodiment OF dissoiuteness and base am,
| bition. He was the best Illustration That
| / know of the fact that man may have
| the appearance Of courtesy While within ne
| is all wrong.
| Absalom. a Bible character, was a speci-
men of a man of polish outside and OF rot,
| tenness inside Beautiful, brilliant and
| with such wealth of hair that when it was
| cut in each December as a matter OF prlde
he had it weighed, and it weighed zoo
| shekels. He captured all who came near
him. But. oh, what heart he had--full
of treachery and unflial spirit and base
ness! He was as bad as he was alluring
| and charming. =.
Tn the famous Athenian Alcibiades his,
| tory discourses of the same eplendor OF
| manner covering utter depravlty. NOBLE
| pedigree, transcendent abilities. radiant
personality, eloquent tongue, triumphant
debauchee and an Improvisation OF al the
vices. Alas, that all up and down history
and clear on into our day there are Sc
MANY of what Christ called Evolves in
| sheep's clothing - "whitewashed sepul
chers, full of dead mems bones and all I'M
cleanness" Gilded denominations, walk
ing lazerettos, attired in vermillion anc
gold Perdition hanging out the banners
Of heaven. As far as possible are they re
moved from all genuine courtesy
[ like what John Wesley said to mar
when their carriages met on the road
The ruffian, knowing Mr.. Wesley and dis
liking him, did not turn out, but kept the
middle of the road. Mr.. Wesley cheertuliy
gave the man all the road, himself riding
into the ditch. AS they passed each Other
the ruffian said, II never turn out tol
fools" and Mr.. Wesley said, y always
| do I like the reproof which Chlnamar
in San Francisco gave an American; Tht
!! American pushed him off the Sidewalk
until he fell into the mud. The ChinamaI
on rising began to brush off the mud ant
said to the American: "You Christian; mi
heather. Goodbye" A stranger entered
a church in one of the cities and was al
lowed to stand long while, although there
was plenty of room. No one offered seat
The stranger after awhilee said to one O
the brethren, "What church is thls?, Ih
answer was. "Christ's church, sir" III
He in?" said the stranger. The officer o
the church understood what was mean
and gave him a seat. We want more cour
tesy in places of business, more courtes.
in our homes.
But heart courtesy must precede han(
and head and foot courtesy. Cultivation
of it should begin in the fathers house
You often notice that brothers and sister
are often gruf and snappy and say thing
and do things that they would not nave tn
outside world know about. Rough thing
are sometimes said in households whicl
ought never to be said at all-teasing ant
recrimination and faultfnding and harsl
criticisms. which will have their ech,
thirty and forty and fifty years afterward
In the seet driven by the east wind M
sweet flowers of kindness and geniait,