The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-19

1 is a fortress that defends a person from the falsity of the world; or knowing her weak places she is able to protect them 1 by fronting temptations at her stronger l points As the general who knows the powers and limitations of his army meets l the opposing forces on the battlefield anu by wisely placing his men overcomes | the foe, so the woman that knows her l powers and limitations meets the enemy on the battlefield of life day by day, and wins victories. Knowledge of self gives one deeper insight into the character of others As far as you know yourself, so far do you know others This knowledge of human nature makes 1t possible for one to withstand the wiles of evil com panlonship that would lead one astray. But self knowledge is more than a de- fence; it is a stimulus to effort that en- riches life. It leads a person to make use of all life about her. Knowing her limitations there is a reaching out after the higher, which the ignorant feel not It causes response to the noble, the true, the great elements found in the character of those with whom one is brought in con tact. It leads person to drink deep from the wells of thought at which majestic souls of all ages have tarried for refresh ing draughts. It brings a person in close communion with Gods out-ofdoors; for 1 in the quiet meditative hour in some l pleasant spot nature imparts her secrets to those who understand and appreciate | her greatest handiwork
 What then is the result of this reach
 
 yond, of this drinking deep Of the wells of immortal thought, of this closeness with nature? It is the first step towards characteristic only monument to true wisdom
 Although self knowledge is the first step the gift of Minerva to man was threefold; self knowledge, self reverence, self con trol; why self reverence? In the first | place, man is made in the image of his Creator. The body the mind and the soul In their quick adaptation to surround ings in their possibilities, are the most wonderful works of the Great Master Mind. Has the body been associated with the earth until it has become earthly? l Wisdom prompts us to answer, "Nol" The l influence, the soul are immortal; they live l on through eternity; and of the temple l of the soul-the body-we can say with the poet of old, Tt is fearfully and won- | drously made" However, the body is not l to be worshipped God; it is to be reverenced as one of His highest works. 1 Self reverence brings self respect. The body is appreciated for it's own sake. Its true relation to the immortal spark of 1 fc da oJa comes the fuller meaning of Brownings words, Soul helps flesh no more than flesh helps soul.'' The temptation to mis- use the body for ambition or pleasure, | in the self reverencing life, loses it's force. l This virtue leads not only to self-re- l spect, but to self-relance. Nature never | gives her funds outright. but lends them l for a season, and only on condition that | they be used do they become ones prop erty. Without self-reliance a person would act on every suggestion given her, and would consequently be at the mercy of those with whom she was last asso- ciated. On the other hand, possessing
 self-reliance she is led to realize her in- dividuality, to react to those elements in
 the lives of others that best develop her selfhood. As some one has said, There | Is very little difference in men, but it is that little difference that counts" Each person is a thought of God, and each,
 therefore, has selfhood to develop. However, misunderstood us not in our
 use of self-reverence It does not lead to
 self-conceit, but 1t leads a person to rightly value her individuality, as well hat nf kN hA ta1 with herself until she has made the most
 of her powers. It gives poise, ability to
 be still under the strain of effort, and
 rightly weigh the problems of life before acting.
 But to possess self-reverence, to know ones powers and limitations, are only | the first two steps in the truest of all wisdom. The highest is yet to be devel-
 oped-self-
 He that ruleth his own spirit is great
 CT than he that taketh a city, For what
 would 1t profit a man if he knew his
 powers and limitations If he had not the
 ability to control them? Over the weak
 places in character, wisdom stimulates
 one to exercise control. How many oth-
 erwise noble natures have no force be-
 cause of the lack of this chief factor of
 the true wlsdom
 Self-contro begins in the little things | of life. It leads one to see the import
 ance of control day by day Through this
 factor the mind is steered, not left to l drift with the tide of circumstance. With
 out it, enriching and inspiring thoughts
 might fill the ante-chamber of the mind, hut the possessor would not he ahIe to
 transmute them into the coin of charac- ter. Life is wrecked morally for any
 one who is content with fine thoughts and fine feelings. Wisdom leads the pos
 sessor to think them so as to do" The | undesirable evils of the tongue and tenn per come not to the front in the con-
 trolled life, but in their stead comes the | power that enables one to shake off the
 bonds of slavery that sin has placed
 upon her life.
 The result, then, of these three factors | of the truest wisdom of all-selfknowl- | edge, self-reverence, self-control-is the power to Hook high, aim high, be | high"
 We have given our ideal of true wis., | dom. Why, you say, should our ideal
 so far exceed our grasp? Our reach must exceed our grasp; or what is heav- en for?" We, as a class, have come 10