Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10
Journals
Saturday
Sermon

There was a time when the individual
was not properly valued in civilization. In
estimating civilization value was attached
to systems, organizations and govern
ments. The individual was nothing.
Not until the standard of individuallsn
was taken up by our Puritan fatheSs and
planted upon American soil did society
recognize the value of the individual.
Now the individual is everything. The
government is but the reflex influence of
the individuals composing it. The crystal
lized influences of individuals make civil
ization what 1t is.
This brings us face to face with great
responsibility. Every man has an influ-
ence. That influence is reflected In the
government under which we live and in
the civilization of that age. Whether that
influence is good or bad depends upon the
character of the individual Therefore the
subject of 'fndividualism" is one of i'm
portance.
There are three things in the text for
our consideration. First, the emphasis or
the individual, LET each man." Secondly,
the divine call of the individual, wherein
he was called" Thirdly, the divine re-
lationship of the individual, wherein
abide with God"
EMPHASIS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
LET each man." That is a familiar ex-
THAT man. EVERY man." How beauti-
fully does the history of the Bible cluster
around the names of individuals, marking
off the epochs, and giving us an outline
of the plan of the ages. The Bible is
book of men. Men called of God and
filling their calling. Men that made histo-
nv and not history made men. Men that
were great and great because they were
men.
T cd tn
Patriarchal age / would have been great
man. have learned that an age does not
make men great but men make ages
great.
LET each man." That is the Bible en-
phasis of the individual
The trouble is we try to shift the en-
phasis Here is IN emphatic call to you
for service, but you say it is meant FOR
somebody else. There is a need Tor
preachers, preachers that preach. Tnere
is a need for lawyers. There is need Tor
governors and presidents. Have you
ever studied your inner self to see If there
is anything within you that responds to
any of these needs? There is need Tor
floorwalkers in the stores of our city.
There is a need for managers Of our
great manufacturing establishments.
There is need for men to own and rent
real estate. These are needs that renect
q mighty emphasis upon tne lnulNluu1i
Have you ever felt its weight? Do these
needs appeal to you? Are you content
with an ordinary life? Do you know
there is an opportunity to be great IN
any calling that presents itself to you
today?
But some one will say, lit would be
egotism for me TO aspire to be great.
1 answer, for you not to aspire to be
great is egotism. Take the two words
egotism and greatness. What is ego
tism? Self-praise accommodation
making ones self of Importance. What is
greatness? Magnanimity, elevation OF
sentiment, nobleness, endowed with eX-
traordinary powers, able to accomplish
vast results. The egotist looks at him
self as he is, and perfectly satisfied with
himself imagines that he is of sufficient
Importance to be acceptable without any
endeavor on his part. while the man VINO
aspires to be great recognizes that he is
not sufficient as he is, that there is need
for development of character and eleva-
ton of sentiment that he must reach
higher attachments and accomplish some
thing Therefore, if you do not aspire
unto greatness, If you are reaching out
after something beyond what you have
already attained, If you are not striving
to accomplish something, you are pre-
suming that your past record is sufi-
cient, you are, satisfied with yourself as
you are, you are imagining that because
of what you are and what you have done
the world ought to be proud Of you.
Young man, every four years the people
of the United States elect a president.
The time may come when they will want
to elect you. impossible" you say, ''all