Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-02-13
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject: The Grace of Courtesy-Christian
Thoughtfulness is Born in the II cart
by the Power of the Holy Ghost-Speak
We'll of One Another

We'll of One Another.
| WASHINGTON, d. Gin this discourse
DIR. Talmage urges thoughtfulness for 9TH
ers, and shows how such benignant spirit
may be fostered; text, l Peter ii, s, BE
| courteous"
| In an age when bluntness has been ca
nonized as 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 of
others, good manners, affability, 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 it is !?
! The botanist might say some very inter-
i esting things about rose, and the chem
| lst might discourse about water or light,
| but without ever seeing a botanist or a
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
lis how we may get more OF it and avoid
what are its counterfets. Mark you, it
| fully for a long while. We may be full of
bows and genuiiections, and smiles and
| complimentary phrase, and have nothing
! OF genuine courtesy either in our makeup
or in our demeanor. A backswoodsman
who never saw a drawing room or a dane
| ing master or a 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 he
will take from royal wardrobe, may be
| as barren OF the spirit of courtesy the
great Sahara desert is of green meadows
and tossing fountains.
| Christian courtesy is born in the heart
by the power of the Holy Ghost, who has
transformed and illumined and gloriied
| ones nature. Mark you, / am speaking
Of ha irha l., of ;o1,
| Christian courtesy. Something like it-or-
binary poiiteness--may grow up with us
under the direction of intelligent and
watchful parentagc, but l am not speaking
of that which is merely agreeableEess 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. / 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,
principle that will work in the next world
as well as in this, and will be as appro-
pirate in the mansions of heaven as in
earthly dwelling places.
| Now, you know as well as | do that some
of the most undesirable people have been
seeming incarnatons of courtesy. In our
early American history there arose man
| of wonderful talent, an lmpersonatlon 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 curls. his
/ IatE, f,,A L. d.,
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 a con-
| spracy to overthrow the Government of
the United States, he trying to do in
was trying to do in Europe-establish a
throne for himself. But he was immoral
| and corrupt. He was the serpent that
wound its way into many domestic par
adise. He shot to death one of the great
est of Americans - Alexander Hamilton.
left it that the offender l speak of was an
embodiment of dissoluteness and base am
bition. He was the best illustration that
| | know of the fact that a man may have
the appearance of courtesy while within he
| is all wrong.
Absalom, Bible character, was speci-
men of 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 pride
he had it weighed, and it weighed 200
| shekels. He captured all who came near
him. But. oh, what a heart he had--full
of treachery and unilial spirit and base
ness! He was as bad as he was alluring
and charming.
In the famous Athenian Alcibiades his.
tory dscourses of the same splendor of
manner covering utter depravity. Noble
I ! Il
personality, eloquent tongue, triumphant
warrior, victor at olympic games. but
debauchee and an impersonation of all the
vices. Alas, that ell up and down history
and clear on int, our day there are so
many OF what Christ called wolves in
chers, full of dead mems bones and all un-
cleanness." Gilded denominations. walk.
ing lazerettos, attired III vermillion and
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 man
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 cheerfully
gave the man all the road, himself riding
into the ditch. AS they passed each other
FOOLS" and Mr.. Wesley said, Il always
do" like the reproof which Chinaman
in San Francisco gave an American. The
American pushed him off the sidewalk
until he fell into the mud The Chinaman
on rising began to brush off the mud and
said to the American: "You Christian; me
heathen. Goodbye" A stranger entered
church in one of the cities and was al
lowed to stand long while although there
was plenty of room. No one offered a seat
The stranger after awhile said to one of
the brethren, "What church is this?" The
answer was. "Christ's church, sir" "Is
He in?" said the stranger The officer of
the church understood what was meant
and gave him seat. We want more cour-
tesy in places of business, more courtesy
in our homes.
But heart courtesy must precede hand
and head and foot courtesv. Cultivation
of it should begin in the fathers house
You often notice that brothers and sisters