The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-20
Bringing Ont tho Best III Us.

Whatsoever things are trds what
soever things are honest, whatsoever
taings are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoeyerSt things are love-
ly, whatsoever things are OF good re-5
port, If there be any virtue and III
there be any praise, think on these
things.-Philippians, iy.,8.
These words are an appeal to the
best in human nature. In every
man there is an angel and a demon
tendencies toward right, inclfnations
toward the wrong. There Is no man
so thoroughly bad that some good
may not be found in him. There is
no man so truly good that he is with
out imperfections. Every once n q
while we say Of a man there is no
good in him whatsoever. But thIst
judgment is rather an expression OF
our attitude toward him than a real
estimate of his character. A Christ
mas card was in circulation last year
which read, There is so much good
in the worst of us, and so much bad
in the best of us, that 1t does netsbe-
hoove any Of us to talk about the
rest of u.s."
We frequently talk about the f1xisy5
of character, but with almost every
passing hour our consciousness Is I'M
dergoing change. The mechanism ct
thought, feeling, purpose, is one OF,
stupendous variability. One hour We
are under the influence of one set OF
emotions; the next hour these emo
tions are succeeded by an entirely5
different group of sensations.
There is an ~unrealized self in every
man. Now and then we catch CLEANS
of our better life. They come to us
In stray, sacred moments as prospects,
caught a few times from some lofty
mountain altitude-the vision of that
other being, that better self buried
down deep within US, for aelargers
truer, nobler, diviner life.
ISTo young men came to this city
from a Western town. One of them
had felt the narrow limitations OF his
boyhood. He thought, well, as a man
passes through this world but once
and he will be a. long time dead, he;
might as well have his fling and see
what there is in life. So he, Stunned
the good people. He had see enough:
of them at home. He visited the
haunts of sin. Well, he has had his.
fling. His face and his eyes tellsthe
tale.
The other young man came With
the determination not only to make
the best of his opportunities but also,
as Jean Paul Richter said, ito make
as much out of himself as 1t is posi-.
BILE to make out Of the stuff" He;
put: himself in touch with the best
associations; yes, he went to the
church, and was encouraged In hts
purpose. The passing years have
witnessed not only to his material
success but also to his growth In
manhood. He paid attention to what
was best. The difference between
these two young mel consisted sim.
ply in the different voices to which
they responded. One responded tc
the highest. the other to the lowest
One endeaFored to bring out the best.
the other stiled and smothered the
best.
My appeal to every, young man
who reads these words Is: Over
come the lethargy and tyranny which
holds you down to your lower self.
Bring out the angel that is within
you. Every honest effort toward the
things which are true and honest
and just and pure and lovely and OF
good report is so much gained tow
ard the imprisoned ideal within
Rev. William C. Stinson. D. D..
Bloomingdale Reformed Church.
West End avenue and 106th street,
New York City, in the Sunday Her
aid.