Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-01-23
GRACE OF COURTESY
DR.. TALMAGE'S SUNDAY SERMON.

a Commemorate Christian
Virtue-Let Us Speak Well One Of
Another. @.
WASHINGTON, d. C.-In this discourse
Or. Tallnage urges thoughtfuiness for 9th
rs, and shows how such a benfgnant spirit
l,ay be fostered; text. I Peter ii. 8 BE
courteous"
In an age when biuntness has been ca
tonized as a virtue it may be useful to ex-
royal family of graces-courtesy. 1t is
rraciousness, Difference to the wishes of
others, good manners, affability, willing
ness to deny ourselves somewhat for the
advantage OF others, urbauity. 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-
csting things about a rose, and the chem
list might discourse about water or light,
but without ever seeing a botanist or a
chemist we know what a rose is and what
water and light are. Do noe 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, it
cannot be put on or oramatized success
fully for a long while. We may be full OF
bows Inc genuhections, aud smiles and
complimentary phrase. and have nothing
Of genuine courtesy either in our makeup
Or in our Gemeanor. A b-ackswoodsman
who never saw a drawing room or a oanc-
ing master Or a caterer or a fo.d Of drap-
cry may with his big soul and haBd hand
and awkward sanitation exercise the grace,
and educated in foreign schools, and both
cred to know which OF ten garments he
will take from a royal wardrobe, may be
as barren o. the spirit OF courtesy as the
great Sahara desert is OF green meadows
and tossing fountains.
Christian courtesy is born In the heart
by the power OF the Hoy Ghost. who has
transformed ard i!!umined and eiori6ed
one's nature. Mark you. I am speaking
of the highest kind Of courtesy. which is
Christian courtesy. Something like it-or
binary po,iteress-may grow uo with US
! under the direction OF intelligent and
watchful percentage, but I am not speaking
Of thai which is mercy agreeabieness Of
conversation and behavior. All that may
ing and show itself in lifting tho hat tc
passers-oy ard in a graceful way Of asking
aoont your health and sending the right
kind o; acceptance waen YOU cannot sc
and understanding all the laws Of prefer
ence at table and par Or door. all of which
is well. I I'm speaking Of e principle Of
courtesy SO imp.anted in ones nature tina,
DIS sTaNlGy OF COnVeTSatlOH anu mauIsel
shall be the outourst o. what he feels to1
the happiness and welfare Of others. q
princip e that will worS in the next wore
as well as N this, and will be as appro
pirate in the mansions Of heaven as IN
earthly dwelling places.
Now, you know as well as I 10 that some
of the most undesirable people have been
eeriy American history there arose a mar
o. wonderful talent, IN in,personat.on OIL
all that can charm drawing rooms and
cultivated circles. Aged men who knew
him in their youth have tod me that he
was the most irresistio' man they ever
met, his voice ~si.verv. his smile bewitch'
ing, his glove immaculate. his eye piercing
attire a fascination. He became Vice-Pres
ident o: the United States and within one
vote o: being President. bIen threw away
their fortunes to hep him in his po,itica.
aspirations and to forward him in a 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-estab]ish q
throne for himself. But he was immoral
and corrupt. He was Che serpent thai
wound it's way into many a domestic par
adise. He shot to death one o. the great
est OF Americans Alexander Hamilton
The world found out long ago before ,.
left it that the offender I speak o. wa, ar
embodiment o. Gisso,ntepess n base am
bition. He was the beat illustration tina
+ know of the feet that a pan may hav'
the appearance o. courtesy wni.e within b!
is oil wrong.
Absa'om. a Bible character. was = speci
men OF a man o. polish outside and OF rot
tenness inside. Beautiful. brilliant al;
with such wealth OF hair that when it wa
cut in eaca December as > matter Of pr,d'
he had il weighed. and it weighed 20
sheke.s. He captured al wao came nea
2. HIM. Eut. Oh. what q heart he haG-sul
o. treaoaery and initial spirit and base
ress! He was as bad as he was aliurin,
ard charming.
IN the famous -A~ttenian A.cib;ades his
tory discourses OF the same sp,enoor @
manner covering uster ~cep-avity. Mob.
pedigree. traoscendeat Abilities. radian
personality. Eloquent tongue. triumpnan
warrior, victor az olympic Games. but
oebaucnee and an impersonatiou OF all tn
vices. A'Ss, :h,t all up and down histcr
and Gear on into our dav there are $
many OF what Christ called Evolves i
cheers. full 81 cead mems bones and all "
c~iearness::" Gided a~tominaticns. wall
ing lazerettos, attired in vernilljon an
god. Perdition hanging out the banner
Of heaven. Al far as. possible are they n
moved from all genuine courtesy.
l like what John Wesley SAID TO . sna
when their carriages met on the roat
The rufian, knowing Mr.. Wesley and d
liking him. did not turn ont, but kept th
middle Of the road. Mr.. Wesley cheerful
gave the man all the road, himself ridin
into the ditch. As they passed each othe
the rnfiau said, Il never turn out fc
foo's," and Mr.. Wesley said, IT Away
do" I like the reproof which a Chinan,a
in San Francisco gave an American. II
American pushed him of the sidewa]
until he fell into the mrd. The Chinama
on rising began to brush off the mud an
said to the American: "Xou Christian; n
heather. Goodbye" A strange entere
a church in one Of the cities and was a
lowed to stand a long While, although the,
was p,enty OF room. No one offered a sea
The stranger efier awhile said to one
the brethren, .yVhat church is this:" II
Isanswer was. "Christ's church. sir" &C
He in" said the stranger. The. officer
the church understood what was mea,
and gave him a seat. We want more con
tesy in places Of business, more courtes
in our homes.
But hears courtesy must precefe han
ard head and foot courtesy. Cultivate
Of il should begin in the fathers hous
You often notice that brothers and s;ste
are often gruf and snappy and cav thin,
and 60 things that they would not have Il
outside word know a5ont. Rough Trim
are sometimes said in households whit
ought never to be- said a. a1l-teasiur ar
reorlmlnatiOn and fan t-fndicr and har,