The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1902-01-24
Al BEAUTIFUL GRACE.
Courtesy Fxtolled in This Sermon
by DR.. Talmage.
Thoughtfulnes for Others Is Urged
-How Benisnant Spirit May
Be Fostered - What the
World Needs.
sy-opyright, 1902, by Louis ISlopsch, N. ~
Washington,

nov such benignant spirit may Ut
fostered; text, / Peter 2:S: BE cour'
Eeous."
In an age when bluntncss has beer
raponized as a virtue it may be use
full TO extol one of the most beautl1u+
of all the royal family of graces-
courtesy. 1t is graciousness, deter
ence to the wishes of others, good man
ners. affability, willingness to deny
ourselves somewhat for the advantage
of others, urbanity. But what IS the
use of my defining the grace OF cour-
Sesy when we all know so well what II
Is? The botanist might say some very
Interesting things about a rose, and
the chemist might discourse about wa
Ger or light, but without ever seeing a
botanist or a chemist we know what
a rose is and what water and Il9nt
are. Do not take our time in telling
us what courtesy is. Only show us
how we may get more OF it and AVOID
what are it's counterfeits. Mark you,
1T cannot be put on or dramatized sue
cessfully for a long while. We may
be full of bows and genufections, and
smiles and complimentary phrase, ana
have nothing of genuine courtesy
either in our makeup or in our de-
meanor. A backwoodsman who never
saw a drawingroom or dancing mas
ter or caterer or fold of drapery
NAV 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 bothered to know which
of ten garments he will take from a
royal wardrobe, may be as barren of
the spirit of courtesy as the great Sa-
hara desert is of green meadows and
tossing fountains. .."H
Christian courtesy is born in the
heart by the power of the Holy Ghost,
who has transformed and illumined
and glorifed ones nature. Mark you,
j am speaking of the highest kind of
courtesy, which is Christian courtesy.
Something like it-ordinary politeness
may grow up with us under the d.
rection Of intelligent and watchful
parentage, but l am not speaking of
that which is merely agreeableness of
conversation and behavior. All that
may be a matter of tutelage and fine
surrounding and show itself in lifting
the hat to passersby and in graceful
way of asking about your health and
sending the right kind of acceptance
when you can so and the right kind Of
regrets when you cannot 60 and under
standing all the laws of preference at
table and parlor door, all of which is
well I am speaking of principle of
courtesy soimplanted 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 appropriate in the man
sions of Heaven as in earthly dwelling
places.
Now, you know as well as l DO that
some of the most undesirable people
have been seeming incarnations of
courtesy. In our early American his
tory there arose man of wonderful
talent, an impersonation of all that
can charm drawing-rooms and culti-
waited 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
his glove immaculate, his
eve piercing, his high forehead
wreathed in curls, his attire fascina-
fion. lie became vice president of the
United States and within one vote of
being president. Men threw away
their fortunes to help him in his polit
Zeal aspirations and TO forward him in
a conspiracy TO overthrow the govern
do in America what Napoleon at that
very time was trying to do in Europe
a throne for himself. But
he was immoral and corrupt. He was
the serpent that wound its way into
many a domestic paradise. He shot to
death one of the greatest of Americans
Hamilton. The world
found out long before he left it that
The offender L speak of was an embodi-
ment of dissoluteness and base ambi-
tion. He was the best illustration that
I know of of the fact that man may
have the appearance of courtesy while
within he is all wrong.
Absalom, Bible character, was a
specimen of a man of polish outside
and Of rottenness inside. Beautiful,
brilliant and with such wealth of hair
that when it was cut in each Deem
Der 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 unfilial spirit and base
ness!