The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-03-03

ter the profession his father adorned
and fight in his fathers armor. There
are men who have made a greater sue
cess than their fathers in the same
field. When we study history we find
that men who were great ministers,
lawyers, doctors, artists, authors and
merchants have had sons who became
even greater ministers, lawyers, doc
tors, artists, authors and merchants.
Hamilcar was a great Carthaginlan
general. He was the parent Of Hanni-
bal, who was a greater general than
his noble sire. There were two great
Sciplos, father and son. Which was
the greater It Is impossible to tell.
Samuel ID. Gross and II. /. PancOast
and Lewis A. Sayrs were the great
American surgeons Of their times. They
all had sons who became just as great
as they were. Lyman Beecher's fame
is no greater than that of his son, Hen
ry Ward Beecher Thomas Moran be-
longs to family Of artists who are
all masters OF the brush. Charles Wes-
ley, the hymnologlst, had a son who
for years was the most eminent organ
ist Of all Europe Walter Damrosch
and Frank DamrOsch are treading In
the footsteps OF their gifted father Or.
Leopold DamrOsch. Because father
is great musical genius that does not
prove that his son or sous may not be-
come as great musical masters as their
sires. Lord Chatham was premier OF
England. His son, William Pitt, was
premier also. But, though genius in
one line of work may pass from father
to son and be inherited. that does not
prove that all sons are fitted by brain
and temperament 10 fight the battle in
their fathers armor or to achieve with
the same sword victories such as their
fathers won.
The son Of great genius may he as
great a man as his father but in a
different sphere. lie cannot wear his
fathers armor. but he can wear armor
Of another kind IN which he may win
victories in a different field Oliver
Wendell Holmes was one OF the most
beloved writers in American history.
His son Is a great man, but he is not
great writer Oliver Wendell Holmes
Jr.. is a member OF the highest judicial
bench Of the world. He Is an honored
associate Justice OF the supreme court
Of the United States. Judge Joseph
Story had one Of the greatest legal
minds this nation ever produced. In
his class room at Harvard many who
afterward became great lawyers sat at
his feet to learn Of this modern CANA
llel. Judge Story had son who be-
came one Of the greatest OF Americas
sculptOrs William Wetmore Story.
Here we find the laws Of heredity
changed. A great lawyer has poet
and sculptor for a son, while in Oliver
Wendell Holmes case We find a poet
who has a great lawyer for son
What is true in reference TO law and
poetry is also true in reference to the
ministry. Great ministers have had
sons who became great ministers, but
that does not imply that all boys born
in a parsonage should follow the pro
fession Of their fathers. John Mitchell
Mason was the greatest pulpit orator
OF New York city in his day. He died
Dec 26, 1920. A contemporary gives
this powerful description Of this king
Of pulpiteers who swayed his audiences
for Christ: Taken altogether no
American preacher has combined more
impressive qualities. His aspect was
on a scale Of grandeur corresponding
10 the majesty of the mind within
Tall. robust, with a head modelled after
neither Grecisn nor Roman standard,
yet symmetrical, combining the dig
nifty Of the one and the grace OF the
other, with an eye that shot fire. es-
pecially wheH under the excitement Of
earnest preaching, yet tender and tear
ful when the pathetic chord was touch
ed, with a forehead broad and high and
with a mouth and a chin expressive Of
frmness and decision, Or. Mason stood
before you, the prince Of American pull
pit orators" But though John Mitchell
Mason was all that, his father, Rev.
John Mason, was just as great John
Mitchell Mason without doubt inherited |
the pulpit genius Of his father. But
rs l read history where | find one
minister's son who became a great |
| also find a dozen ministers |
sons who won their fame in other |
walks OF life than in the ministry. But |
The ministerial talent Is not necessarily |
q transmittable taleRt Agassiz, Hal
lam, Cowper, Coerldge, Tennyson.
Lowell, Emerson, Matthew Arnold,
Thackeray Sir Christopher |
Wren. Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sterne, !
Hazlltt. Peter Stuyvesant. Samuel P
Morse and hundreds OF others Of lesser
fame were all ministers sons who won
heir success in life outside Of the min
stry.
In all probability. had Oliver Wen
dell Holmes tried to make his son q
poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.. would
have made out Of life just as great a
failure as have some men who entered |
.he ministry merely because their IA
hers were ministers. There are many
physicians sons who have signs nailed
10 their front doors whom God never
Intended TO be physicians. These men
sntered the medical profession not be
,ause they were adapted to the work,
put because their fathers were doc
.ors. and they expected their fathers
names and influence to Push them to
success. God meant these doctors sons
% be merchants or soldiers or mechan-
cs or sailors. Young man, care not
whose son you may be, find out what
God intended you TO be- II makes but
title difference what your father wants
7ou to be. What has God fitted you
o be? DO not be a man made lawyer,
loctor. minister. merchant or mechan-
c. BE a God made David with his
-. a..ft Lot - !