The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-12-14
Right Character.


Character is built or grows from
within outward. We may distinguish
conduct from motive, as we distinguish
the human from the divine, but we can
not separate them. A right life is all Of
one texture; it is the same at the sur
face as at the center. Goodness is the
fruit of the spirit; SO perhaps is an ap-
pie or a corn Of wheat. But man lives
and acts in conscious freedom. The
moral alternative-the choice between
good and evils ever before him, like
parting Of the ways. Right character
is simply the result Of habitual choice
of tie perceived best.-Rev. DIR. Charles
G. Ames. Unitarian. Boston.
The SimpliAcation of Life.
There is very simple rule for every
one Of us that reduces the perplexity Of
our lives, "Covet earnestly the best
gifts" Cultivate that ''distributive
virtue that reflects not merely the posi-
lively bad. but that casts aside the
lesser for the greater good Give up
the vain desire Of knowing everything;
ask yourself ut every step: What is
the thing most worth knowing? What
is most worth doing:" Do that and
be not troubled, though many other
possible tasks remain undone Learn
to do without what is.tunessential.
That is the condition of doing joyfully
and efrectually that which Is essential.
The man in his work, in his study, in
his friendship, must bring everything
to this simple test: rs this the best
thing for me at this moment? l am
living in a world where l cannot know
or do everything; l must choose. OF
the two interests which challenge my
attention today 1 must choose the
greater thing. Which one is worth MY
effort!" Step by step that mans life
and thought grow simple, and he
comes to be serene in the midst of all
distractions. - Rev. DR.. Samuel NJ.
Crothers, Unitarian. Cambridge. Mass.
The Bible In Theology.
This book brings us into the same
spirit whereof Isaiah and Jesus and
Paul were partakcrs and lifts us far
above sordid materialism and belittling
selfishneSs. Only in this zone can the
Ology thrive. \ man with no sense of
beauty may construct a system Of
aesthetics. one who never laughs may
produce Il philosophy of the comic. but
one who has never been thrilled by an
ideal. who i'll hours of gloom has never
heard the sound Of silver wings slow
beating through the hush Of night" and
who in moments of trial has never seen
"how lfe's rugged mountain side is
white with many an angel tint" has no
power to bring theology to birth. What
makes religion possible and theology
necessary but the fact that our ideals
come to us clothed with more than NOR
mot of blood nor of the will of the
flesh. but Of God" And as no science
of beauty is satisfactory which does
not make those who master it more
| keenly alive to beauty and no ethical
| system can be valid which does not
| strengthen the moral sense so no sys-
| TEN of theology can be true which does
not grow best in the climate of ideals
| and further their growth. A body Of
| divinity without an inspiring soul ia
worthless and will become an Offense;
hence any book which feeds and fresh
ems the religious life Is of immense val
lie to the student Of theology. Beyond
! the confederation Of the spirit and the
communication of facts and principles
is this service to theology and the Bible
as a book of the spirit.-Professor Will
liam Wallace Fem. Unitarian. Har.
ward Divinity School. Cambridge. Mass