The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-10
PRIDE HAS REAL VALUE
THE REV. j. c. SMITH SAYS CHRIS
TIANs HAVE NEED OF 1T.
Paul, the Apostle, Was Heartened by
consciousness of WOrth-PhilOso-
ply of a Thinker.


His text was Romans vii. "a, "Oh. wretched
man that ami He said:
1T ought not to cause surprise that the
best man should think himself the worst
His verdict upon himself depended on the
superiority and superhneness or MS stand
ards of ideal conduct He had an ardor Tor
holiness approaching to divine frenzy ana
passion, and consequently he was sensitive
to microbic errors which others with
numb or blunt moral culture passed over
with the slightest condemnation NOR is
this unique.
The highly organized temperament is
most aware of reflections from purity. Inc
constructive statesman is quickest TO note
political fallacy leading the unwituhs
and unframed common people 10 the pref
pices of danger The most end onsi a aIIst
ton OF harmony, and in religious develop
ment 1t Is not at all strange that Souls tnas
scared the highest into the heaven ne. ven, passsu
nesses. Read Luther. Read Augustine.
Read Thomas a Kempis. But look now
IDEAL IN BACKGROUND.
while Paul loathes and bewails his sin
it is clear that in the background lies a
consciousness of supreme devotion to God
and a fervor to realize his highest ideals
which explains his scorching criticism upon
himself. He is proudly conscious OF his
conservation to the standards of life Jesus
that there was an absolute heroism and
munifcence of mind and a care of the
churches and an unblemished morality and
a secret inextinguishable aspiration to have
the love of Christ formed within him; he
was conscious of this high integrity and
undimmed vision; and it was just because
OF this magnificent abundance or spiritual
life within him that he felt the cruelty OF
his lower life clogging his steps. You need
not tie an eagles wing TO cripple its hight:
Just pluck one feather out and the great
bird is conscious of a serious impeachment.
Now, when in these depths OF self-re-
Duke and remorse over unattalned Ideals
and uncrowned ambitions the most con-
spicuous saint of ancient times reveals the
proudest self-consciousness and tenderness:
And just as the landscape does not reveal
its perfection on the nigh rougns Wnete
sides are arid, but where 1t slopes down
toward the lower levels with the tender
virgin soils and the profusion OF perry ana
bloom Just so when the inspired human
being Is on the attitudes or experience ne
awes us; but when he opens his heart and
dips down into the abysms or common hu-
man experience, then he reveals warmth
and earnest wrestle with sin that touches
all hearts He. also reveals the nobility OF
his purpose when most bitterly he laments
and chaStiseS his shortcomings.
DEEP PRIDE UNDER ALL.
Hence out of his protest against his
errors we pluck the deep pride that lay
much humility has sunk into cant just be-
| cause a man forgets his own self-respect
when he dwells on his faults. How many
have been alienated from religion just be-
cause of the false note in so much human
| expression of the inner life! The world
| feels instinctively that while Pharisaism
is detestable, no less suspicious is the ex-
| IRENE habit of self-depreciation. II you
/ m lower MADE
| the child like himself.
| Now glance at some of the practical
phases of a true Christian pride; pride
| as far removed from arrogance or tyranny
! as ii is from sickly subserviency or cow
ardly leaning on others
to gauge the world. He will put the accent
| on the inner culture and consequently ne
| will not worship mammon. He will recog-
| nize the value of wealth and sanity and
| earthly pleasures because these enrich and
| embelish the true mans life, but he will
| never descend to the minion who magazines
external possessions. He is too proud to
| proud and erect before the king, even IL
he is poor. Some immortal minds have
| dwelt in prisons and garrets and bare
| apartments. Some fadeess lights in song
and literature have known the tooth OF
poverty and perhaps luxury would have
| quenched the originality of their genius.
In our own materialistic age, when so
many plume themselves on greatness just
because of their immense wealth, when.
| after ALL there is a perfect vulgarity and
| meanness underneath all their snowy APP
pearance; in a time when people are afraid
| to offend magnates because wealth has
| such despotism and power TO crush those
who can be crushed; in such a time 1t is
| right not to rant against wealth. not to
| despise riches In themselves, nor TO dis
| honor those who have shown experiences
in finance. and yet not to enthrone ex..
ternal things They are to be used and
enjoyed. A Christian millionaire is an as
surfing spectacle.
WHAT RICHES MEAN.
"A triumph in the eager arena of COM
mercial effort marks a very admirable
standard Of shrewdness and farsighteG
management. But these things do not
prove real greatness. A magnate outward
ly may be bankrupt inwardly; a paupel
in outward circumstances may be a prince
in affiuence Of culture, in largeness OF
horizon, in creative imagination, in tire
less benevolence, in gentleness OF dream
How proud Paul was even although stint
ed in every external quality. Jesus wa.
poor and how resplendent His gifts, how
The list Is too long. The point is that th'
attainment of interior excellence and thu
enthusiasm for richness of soul endows {
man with the calm power to weigh tn,
world impartially.
Then, too, a pride of this regal orde
founded on the sense of inherent sincerit,
|
own judge Of himself and the censure o.
ignorant criticism of floating. fluctuatin,
public sits lightly on him.. He does no
tremble under the frown of a promiscuou
neighborhood. Gossips amuse him. Publ
opinion usually is capricious A few lea,
and the many follow like flock of sheep
A man of conscious elevation is not ruffie,
by whispers of lightweights. The oil
Quakers announced a doctrine of the inne
life that was really reaffirmation of tn
teachings of Jesus. They accentuate
| Of nd lo~dl-
independence that sprang not from an over
measuring of ones SELF but from a sturd
consciousness of ones probity or royalt
| of mind.
Let us revive that old dogma. Let n
stirling soul have panic because of tn
dizzy or underbreath guessings of local
ity. Let us restore the simplicity of mo
tive the quiet, self-respecting power tina
is too great a power to defy, but also to
great 10 sell out ones liberty and frank
ness to every common passer-by. 1 affirm
that he who has most enthusiasm for tn
inner life. who cares above all, whether
when the books are opened and the eye O
| Omniscence searches his soul to it's depths
he will come forth from the trial un
blamed, he will not allow the fiutter an
caprice of common opinion to rob him O
: his pride or peace. and only such sort O
. man adds materially to the aggregat
value of a neighborhood. and only he VIII
most lntelligently respects himself will b
most earnest in his respect to his fellows.
, THE INNER LIFE.
Then, one suggestion more: A generou
and intelligent recognition OF ones ow
: inner life qualities a man to enter tn