The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-06-07

make an mtellgenb cnOlcei Trans
iating this ever-perfecting idea into
life, then is the task before us 1t is
not sitting in a studio and trans
ferring to canvass the likeness Of a
chosen model, but it is a spiritual
ideal, changing daily, that one is
endeayoring to realize and actualize
in actual life.
Without forgetting the overlapping
of these ideas we may now speak of
self-esteem.
1t is not se~lf-infation. A vulgar
self-conceit is always contrary to ones
best development. 1t is a mental
~deformity and, like many other de-
formities, is the child Of ignorance.
Men and women are inflated by life's
accidents rather than by Its divine
appointments. A supposed beauty Of
face, grace OF figure, elegance Of
dress, nobility Of birth, brightness Of
mind, and such like, are the excuses
Of s%elf-dattery. Napoleon is an exam
Pile of the self-inflated man.
A proper self-esteem must take
knowledge Of others. Valuing others
according to their real worth aids one
in rightly valuing himself. He must
comprehend the greatintellectual and
spiritual gifts Of mankind. 1t is
something to have an intellect, sensi-
bilities and will-to be able to
imagine, understand, reason, love. To
be a personality.
But even this IS not sufficient. Man
must have an ideal. The Man of
Nazareth is that ideal. His was a
perfect physical manhood; a perfect
social life, a perfect intellectual life.
Education Of intellect alone is not
1t only makes clever devils.
If we must have devils, let them be
dull devils. We need clever Christians.
1t is astonishing how many never
try to learn the lesson Of ~self-control.
Drummond's Natural Law in the
Spiritual World gives a suggestive
chapter on this idea.
Amputation-for fragrant trans
erosion. Swearing, lying, stealing,
drunkenness, ETC., must be cut off. II
ihy right hand or foot offend, cut it
of.
Notwithstanding making dead Of
a thing. Mortify the dolngs Of the
body. Such as passions, evil desire,
,ovetousness, anger, wrath, malice,
evil speaking, railing, etc. We do not
use this in any technical sense, nor
an exact Interpretation of the
passages in which this word occurs,
but to suggest the gradual death OF
evils that are not all gone in an
Instant. So put to shame and mortify
every uprising Of evil that it will die
out Of your nature.
Moderation 10 lawful things must
be p%racticed. Appetites, desires and
affections must be controlled. Love
money for instance as much as its
intrinsic value iustifies.
Self-surrender sounds p~aradoxical in
this connection, but is natural. We
are utterly dependent. We must have
in God and surrender to Him.
Surrender is necessary 10 order to
strength. "When l am weak then
am | strong. The wicked and wilful
are always weak. We are only strong
when harmonizlng with law. Men
have the strength Of electricity, since
they know how to adapt themselves
the law by which God has ordained
electricity shall serve men. Jesus
perfectly harmonized with the Father
and was accordingly strong.
Sympathy-Orientals say, "WAat
does the phoenix know Of the owl?"
Chinese say, 1.-THE mar 10 boots
knows nothing of the man 10 shoes
French princess said, LET them
eat cakes"
When passing through some great
sorrow some will come whom you
would have stay away. Another
puts his arms about you and weeps
without a word. 1 stress this because
your life will be useful or useless
according to your power Of sympathy.
Thousand thousand lives are his
WhU carries the world 10 his SYM
p~athies."
Remember-in nature aud grace
God teaches
nm. =. ~ .t--I ia A..Arr1 thu