The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-14

1AAL1 =. N1G
right opinion. Most OF the people whom
i know are doing about as well as they
can under the circumstances. When I
see people who are worse than I am, I
conclude that IL I had the same bad
influences around me all my life that
they have had / would probably have
been worse than they now are. The
work Of reform is the most important
work, but many OF the reformers,
dwelling on L evil. see nothing but
evil, and they get 50 used to anathema
they forget the usefulness once in
awhile of n benediction. They get so
accustomed to exco-iating public men
that they do not realize that never
since John Hancock in boldest chirog-
raphy signed the Declaration of indie
p~endence. never since Columbus pick
ed up the floating land flowers that
showed him he was coming neal some
new country. have there been SO many
noble and splendid and Christian men
in high places in this country as now.
You could 60 into the presidents cabi-
net OF the United States senate or the
house of representatives In this city
and find plenty Of men capable of hold
ing an old fashioned Methodist prayer
meeting. plenty Of senators and repre-
sentatives and cabinet officers to start
the tune and kneeI with the penitents
at the altar. In all these places there
are men who could. without looking at
the book. recite the sublime words, as
did Gladstone during vacation at Ha-
warden, 81 believe in God, the Father
Almighty. Maker of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ" and from the SEN
ate and house of representatives and
the presidential cabinet and from the
surrounding offices and committee
rooms, if they could hear, would come
many voices responding "Amen and
amen!"
eff You Please"
Christian courtesy l especially COM
mend to those who have subordinates.
Almost every person has some one un-
der him. How do you treat that clerk,
that servant. that assistant. that m
ployee? Do you accost him in brusque
terms and roughly command him to do
that which you might kindly ask him
to do? The last words that the Duke
Of Wellington uttered were, IF you
please" That conqueror in what was
in some respects the greatest battle
ever fought in his last hours, asked by
his servant if he would take some tea,
replied. "If you please" his last words
an expression of courtesy. Beautiful
characteristic in any class. The day Ia
borers in Sweden, passing each other,
take off their hats in reverence. There
is no eXcus for boorishnesS in any cir
Gle. AS complete a gentleman as eve
lived was the man who was endorsed
on the road to Damascus and beheaded
on the road to Ostia-Paul. the apostle.
I know that he might be SO character
lied by the way he ~apologized to Ana
MAS. the high priest. l know it from
the way he complimented Felix as a
judge and from the way he greets the
king, 81 thank myself. King Agrippa.
because l shall answer for myself this
day before thee touching all the things
whereof | am accused of the Jews, eS-
pecially because l know thee to be eX-
pert in all customs and questions
"lIlIu Il oLlOnS lHC jews. hhO"
that Paul was q gentleman from the
way he opened his sermon on Mars
hill, not insulting his audience. as King
James translation implies. but saying.
Eye men Of Athens. l perceive that in
all things We are very devout." l know
he was q gentleman from the fact that
when he. with others of a ~Shipwreck,
on the island Of Melita visited the gov
ernor of the island he was most i'm
pressed with the courtesy shown them
and reported that visit in these words:
I'm the same quarters were posses
sions of the chief man of the island.
whose name was Publius. who receiv-
ed us and lodged US three days cOur-
teously." And then see those words of
advice which he gives: Bear ye one
another's burdens "In honor prefer
ring n another" Honor all men,"
What a mighty means of usefulness
is courtesy! The lack of it brings to
many a dead failure. while before
those who possess it in large quantity
all the doors of opportunity are open.
You can tell that %urbanity does not
come from study Of books of etiquette.
although such books have their use.
but from q mind full Of thoughtful
ness for others and a heart in SYM
pathy with the conditions OF others. If
those conditions be prosperous. a glad
ness for the success. or If the condi-
tons be depressing. a sorrow for the
unfavorable circumstances. All. this
world needs lighting up, To those Of
us who are prosperous it is no credit
that we are i'm a state of good cheer,
but in the lives of ninety-nine out of Il
hundred there is a pathetic side. a tax
ing off. a deficit. an anxiety. a trouble.
By a genial look. by a kind word, by
q helpful action. we may lift a little
of the burden and partly clear the way
for the stumbling foot. oh. what q
glorious art it is to say the right word
in the right way at the right time!
How reprehensible the behavior Of
those who pride themselves on the op-
poSite quality and have a penjus for