The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-03-18
THE GRACE OF COURTESY.
DR.. Talmage Says Christian Thoughtful.
ness is Born in the Heart by the
Power of The Holy Ghost
Shows How Such a BenlSnnut Spirit May
Be Fostered.

DC fOStereo.
WASHINGTON, ID. C.-In this discourse
DR.. Talmage urges thoughtfulnt.s for 9th
ers, and shows how such benignant spirit
may be fostered; text, l Peter Ii, 8. "Be
courteous
In an age when bluntness has been ca
nonized as virtue 1t may be useful to ex-
tol one of the most beautiful of all the
royal family of Graces-courtesy 1t is
graclousness. Difference to the wishes of
others, good manners, affabiity, willing
ness TO deny ourselves somewhat for the
advantage OF others, uv0anity. But what
IS the use OF my defining the grace of cour.
tcsy when we all know so well what it is!
The botanlst might say some very inter.
es,ing things about rose, and the chem.
lst might discourse about water or light
but without ever seeing a botanist or
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
US how we may get more of it and avoid
what arc Its counterfeits Mark YOU, il
cannot be put on or dramatized success.
fully for long while We NAV be full of
bows and genuhections, and smiles and
complimentary phrase, and have nothing
or genuine courtesy either in our makeup
or IN our demeanor A backswoodsman
who never saw drawing room or dane.
ing master or a caterer or fold of dram.
cry may with his big soul aud 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 n ROYAL wardrobe. NAV be
as barren OF 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 Holy Ghost, who has
transformed and illumined and gloriiied
one nature. Mark YOU, | am speaking
OF the highest kind of courtesy which is
Christian courtesy. Something like tor
binary pohteness-may grow up with us
under the direction of intelligent and
watChiul parentage, but I am not speaking
OF that which Is merely agreeableness OF
conversation and behavior All that may
be matter OF tutelage and fine surround
ing and show itself in lifting the hat to
paSscrs-by and IN graceful way of asking
about your health and sending the right
KIND OF acceptance when YOU cannot 90
and understanding all the laws of prefer
ence at table and par,or door, all OF which
Is Wei. / I'm speaking OF n principle of
courtesy so Imu,antcd in ones nature that
his suavIty Of conversation and manner
shall he the outburst OF what he feels for
the happiness and welfare of others a
principle that viii worl, 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 I do that some
of the most undesirable people have been
seeming incarnations of courtesy In our
early American history there arose n man
OF wonderful talent, an impersonation 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
attire a fascination. He became Vice-Pres.
n n1 nil
vote of being President. Men threw away
their fortunes TO help him in his political
aspirations and to forward him in a con-
sDiracy to overthrow the Government of
the United States he trying TO do in
America what Napoleon at that very time
was trying 10 do in Europe-establish n
throne for himself. But he was immoral
and corrupt. He was the serpent that
wound It's way into many a domestic par
adise He shot TO death one OF the great
est OF Americans - Alexander Hamilton
The world found out long ago before he
left ID that the offender l speak of was an
embodiment OF dissolutenCss 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, a Bible character. was a speci-
men of a man OF polish outside and Of rot.
tenness inside. Beautiful. brilliant and
with such wealth of hair that when it was
he had 1T weighed, and it weighed 200
shekelS. He captured all who came near
him. But. oh, what a heart he had-full
of treachery and un6lial spirit and base.
ness! He was as bad as he was alluring
and charming.
In the famous Athenian Aicibiades his
tory discourses of the same splendor of
manner covering utter depravity. Noble
pedigree. transcendent abilities radiant
personality, eloquent tongue, triumphant
4HsFr#. D..
debauchce and an impersonation of all the
vices. Alas. that all mp aud down history
and clear on into our day there are so
many of what Christ called wolves in
Sleeps clothing 'whitewashed sepul.
cheers full of dead mems boncs and all un.
cleanness!' Giided denominations. walk.
ing lazercttos, attired in 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 a man
when their carriages met ON the road.
The rutiiau, knowing Mr. Wesley and dis.
liking him. did not turn ont. 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. 'I always
do ] like the rtprool which a Chinaman
I'M san Francisco gave ana American. The
American pushed him OF Che sidewalk
Nl'iI me- IfIl INTO the mUu. lHo OuIn1mau
ON rising began to brush off the mud and
said TO The American. "Iou Christian: me
heather. Gooibye' a stranger entered
@ church in one of Che cities and was al
lowed To- stand q long while. although there
was plenty of room. 80 one offered "a seat
The stranger eftcr awhile said to one of
the brethren What church is this2" The
answer was. "Chrsts church. sir' "Js
lie lnt' 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
}I. hcart courtesy must prccode hand
and head and foot courtesy Cultivation
OF it should begin iu the fathers house.
You often notice Chat brothers and sisters
arc often uuf and nappy and say things
and do things chat they would not have the
outside world know about ROUGH Things
are sometimes said iu households which
ought never Co bee sail at an teasing and
rccrmln1tiou and fauIthuding and harsh
criticisms which win have their echo
thirty and forty and fifty years afterward.
I'm the eIcct driven bv The east wind no
sweet flowers of kindness and ceuiality
w.. sr1w
let children hear their parents picking
ct each other. and those children 1gil he
found picking 1t each other. and far down
the road off Ii'c win be seen the same dis.
position to pick 1t others Better than
thus habit of picking at children. which
$50 many parents indulge u would be one
good. healthy HuuIrrnfrru Of tho rod Hrt