The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-28

~ ~AOS
and the suns rays fall more warmly,
the grass and leaves begin to grow.
There are seeds in the ground and
life-dormant and waiting to be
stirred. The sun might shine a mil
lion years, hot as midsummer, and
without those seeds lying there wait
ing, no fair garment of verdure
would ever clothe the bare, brown
body of earth. And vice versa. Just
so, we notice now and again a former
stenographer and private secretary
to presidents becomes a Cabinet off,
Ger. Partly it is from native endow-
ment, and partly from the Weakening
influence of association with great
men. Character is not taught, but
caught; not fully Unborn, nor spring
ing, full armed, like Minerva from
Jove's head, but wakened, reused,
kindled by the contagious touch Of
another of a little longer develop
ment, and maybe, of larger growth.
Yet after all, this is the fine funda-
mental truth of life. Every man IS
of unique value, has a rare CLEAN of
virtue for his own, his point Of view,
his individual work and message,
which no other man a have had.
His business in life is to live that
out, build it up, utter it, make, it eff
fective.
How shall he do it? By getting
out where the Jul can strike down
to those seeds that are waiting in
him; that means: make helpful
friendships, listen to wise teachers,
keep high company with men who
have deeps and heights about them.
Read Paul's prayer written to the
men in Thessalonica: "The very God
of peace sanctify you wholly (set you
apart, distinguish you in every great
way), and I pray God your whole
body, soul and spirit be kept without
blemish even in the presence Of
Christ. Faithful is he who hath
promised, who also will do it." Just
to this point was Emerson speaking
when he said: Follow God, and
where you 60 men shall think they
walk in hallowed cathedrals." Phil
lips Brooks puts it: "The influence of
a man whose heart God hath touched
is like a breeze Of fresh air let into
a heated and sitting room" You are
a lamp Of three wicks-body, soul
(mind) and spirit. Let God light
them (most likely He has alreaoy);
now you turn them up; keep them
trimmed, let them blaze wherever
you are, throwing out your cheer,
your light, your beacon message in
your time. Then, "as one fame kin
dleth another nor groweth less there
BY" so shall your life kindle, waken,
rouse others.
In everyday terms, what does 1t
mean? My body; honor 1t, build 1t
up, keep it undiscovered. BY noble
uses, make it to become a sanctuary.
Build thee more stately mansions. oh my
soul,
While the swift seasons roll;
Leave thy low-vaulted past.
Let each new temple nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven by a dome more
vast.
Till thou at length art free.
Leaving thine outgrown shell
By life's unresting sea.
My mind; mediate, store it with
true thoughts, pure thoughts.
thoughts At to treasure up; let It,
keep company with the noblest men
of the ages, whose wisdom, vision
and profitable experience may be
made my own by an hours reading
every day; let me prepare myself to
recognize, appreciate. respond to and
succeed the truest, most devoted and
helpful spirits of all the days past
and present, and finally keep my
eyes on the stainless peaks where
Christ is.
My spirit; how great a word 1t is!
All generous impulses, all ~chivalrous
motives, all noble aspirations, all
love of beauty and truth and good
ness; every hatred of weakness and
wrong, every fine portrait Of mem
DRY and ideal! Oh. match this spirit
with all the best about you; open 1t
to Him who knows what Is in man,
and who alone has grace to bestow
and loving power of mastery to de-
velop your u~nawakened best. And
always remember how He reckons in
the warnings, the unuttered and I'M
utterable aspirations there:
All instincts immature, all purposes I'M
sure,
That weighed not as his work, yet swelled
the mans amount,
Thoughts hardly to be packed into a single
act;
Fancies that broke through language and
escaped,
All I could never be, all men ignored in
me,
This I was worth to him,
Whose wheel the pitcher shaped.