The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-01-16
THE GRACE OF COURTESY.
DR.. Talmage Says Christian Thoughtful.
ness is Born in the Heart by tha
Power CT the Holy Ghost.
Shows How Such Benignant Spirit May
Be Fosiered.


DIR. Talmage urges thoughtfulness for 9th
ers, and shows how such a benignant spirit
may be fostered; text, Peter ii, g. 'Be
courteous"
In an age when bluntness has been ca
nonized as a virtue it may be useful to ex-
tol one of the most beautiful of all the
royal family of graces-courtesy. 1t is
graciousness, Difference to the wishes of
others, good manners, affability, willing
ness to deny ourselves somewhat for the
advantage of others, urbanty. 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
esting things about rose, and the chem
ist might discourse about water or light,
but without ever seeing a botanist or a
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 1t and avoid
what are its counterfeits. Mark you it
cannot be put on or dramatized success
fully for a long while. We may be full of
bows and genutections, and smiles and
complimentary phrase, and iave nothing
of genuine courtesy either in our makeup
or in our demeanOr. a backswoodsman
who never saw a drawing room or dane
ing master or a caterer or fold of drap-
cry may 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 both
cred 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 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 ilumined and gloriied
ones nature. Mark you, / am speaking
of the highest kind of courtesy, which is
Christian courtesy. Something like it-or-
dinary politeness-may grow up with us
under the direction of intelligent and
watchful parentage, but | am not speaking
of that which is merely agreeableness OF
conversation and behavior. All that may
be a matter of tutelage and fine surround
ing and show itself in lifting the hat to
passers-by and in graceful way of asking
about your health and sending the right
kind of acceptance when You cannot GO
and understanding all the laws Of prefer
ence at table and parlor door, all Of which
is well. | am speaking of principle Of
courtesy so implanted in ones nature that
his suavty 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 appro
pirate in the mansions of heaven as in
earthly dwelling places.
Now you know as well as / do that some
of the most undesirable people have been
seeming incarnatons of courtesy. In our
early American history there arose a man
of wonderful talent, an impersonaton 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 fascination; He became Viee-Pres-
ident of the United States and within one
vote of being President Men threw away
their fortunes to help him in his political
aspirations and to forward him in a con-
spiracy 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-establish a
throne for himself. But he was immoral
and corrupt He was the serpent that
wound its 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 it that the offender ] speak of was an
embodiment Of dissoluteness and base am
btion. He was the best illustration that
/ know of the fact that man may have
the appearance of courtesy while within he
is all wrong.
Absaom. 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
cut in each December as a matter OF pride
he had it weighed. and it weighed 200
sheke,s He captured all who came near
him. But oh, what a heart he had-full
OF treachery and un6lial spirit and base
nessl He was as bad as he was allurlng
and charming.
In the famous Athenian Alcibiades his.
| tory dscourses of the same splendor OF
manner covering utter depravity. Noble
| pedigree transcendent abilities, radiant
| personality. eloquent tongue, triumphant
| warrior, victor at Olympic games but a
| debauchee and an impersonaton of all the
vices. Alas. that all up and down history
| many of what Christ called wolves IN
sleeps clothing" "whitewashed sepul-
chers, full of dead mems bones and all I'M
| cleanness!" Gilded denominations, walk.
| ing lazerettos attired in vermillion and
| gold. Perdtion 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 ruffian, knowing Mr. Wesley and dis
| liking him. did not turn out, 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, Il always
do" like the reproof which Chinaman
| in San Francisco gave an American. The
| American pushed him off the sidewalk
until he fell into the mud. The Chinaman
on rising began to brush off the mud and
said TO the American: ''You Christian; me
heather. Goodbye" A stranger entered
a church in one of the cities and was al
lowed to stand long while, although there
was plenty of room. No one offered a seat
The stranger after awhile said to one oi
the brethren, What church is this" The
answer was. "Christ's church, sir" "Is
He in?" said the stranger The officer oi
the church understood what was meant
and gave him seat. We want more cour
tesy in places of business, more courtesy
in our homes
But heart courtesy must precede hanC
and head and foot courtesy. Cultivation
Of it should begin in the fathers house
You often notice that brothers and sisters
are often gruff and snappy and say thing
and do things that they would not have tn,
outside world know about. Rough thing,
are sometimes said in households whicl
ought never to be said at all-teasing ant
recrimination and fault-fnding and harsl
criticisms. which will have their echo
thirty and forty and fifty years afterward
In the sleet driven by the east wind nj
sweet flowers of kindness and geniality
will grow.
Let children hear their parents PICKING
at each other, and those children will b,