Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
Sunday Morning Talk.
Exploring Ourselves.

To what extent do We know ourselves?
OF course We are posted on our height.
our girth, our age, our stocks. bonds and
houses. If We happen to own any. We are
aware OF the color of our eyes and the
state of our digestion, but how have We
penetrated to the secret places of the
heart and the mind? When did We last
take the measure of our governing mo-
uves. our controlling ambitions'
Yet we cannot live long in the world
without undergoing the estimate of our
fellow-men. and il is a curious fact that
some men are better known ana under
stood by others than by themselves
quite likely your wife can give you point
crs on yourself She knows that you will
"a all to pieces should certain set OF
circumstances surround YOU. Again. you
may not know that YOU cherish a pretty
high opinion OF yourself-yes. that you are
just tritie conceited. But your friend
knows il and he has borne with this little
foble of yours for many years simply be-
cause with all your faults I've loves you
still" There's hardly parent a
teacher any one to whose guidance
young lives arc intrusted who does not
know them in certain particulars better
than they know themselves.
IN view then Of the mpossibilty of con-
cealiug wholly. from others our little
Weaknesses, would II not be we'll now and
then to take IA day off and explore Mum
hcr One? We are at "A disadvantage when
others know us better than VIC know
ourselves. BESIDES. want to realize
the fascination of self exploration. Think
az the great tracts of personality lying
ready for investigation. The one
note that psychology is sounding TODAY
g. Look within. mine down to the sub
cellar Of consciousness.
lie who honestly begins tho pursuit
of self will find two great fields, not
altogether distinct. often almost mex
tric&bly mingled. and yet altogether I'M
like The first Is the field of the baser
self Sometimes man wakes up with
a start to the fact that he can be awfuily
mean and hateful and selfish. that Ger
tain terrible bats of the night fit about
in the dark caverns of the mind and the
ina Sination. and that they often adhere
TO his consciousness with a persistence
and malgnity that makes il easy to
believe in personal devil or personal
devils. 1t is we'll for man now and
thea to look steadily into this abyss. He
may call whatever he sees there by what
ever name that suits his fancy-the re-
dunn of Adams sin. the survivals of
the animal nature from which he was
evolved. The name makes no special
difference. The fact that within us are
powerful impulses to evil is the fact that
we need to grasp.
But let us.never stay long in this part
Of the hitherto undiscovered country
Let MS hasten from its miasma TO the
high, wind-swept levels where we find
NOBLE selves. Here let us range
to and fro. finding delight and reassur-
ance in those undying warnings after
God and goodness which differentiate
from the brute. in the fountains of
faith and hope and love. whose streams
will gush forth If we Only give them half
a chance. in those latent capacities for
service and sacrifice. which every man
Is sure Ia find in himself if he looks
deep enough.
Africa was known the Dark CONT
mont before Livingstone and Stanley did
their great work of exploration there.
Now. though savage men and beasts still
ere TO be found. railroads and commerce
are beginning to invade every section.
and il is swinging into the light of mod
crn civilization Every man is dark
continent to himself until he faces reso-
luteiy all the facts and forces of his per-
sonalty. Dare 10 be an explorer of your
seh THE PARSON.