Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-06-30
OUR PUBLIC MEN.
The. Kind Needed in the Pulpit, in the
Press and in Public Offices.

VI 'NSS o'a w OffCCSs
< Rev. James A. Challener preache,
\ a special sermon Sunday evening il
\ the Christian church on the abov,
1 subject. The text was from Exodu,
< iS:2l-"MoreoveT thou shalt provide
] out of all the people able men, sucf
as fear God; men of truth, hating
4 covetousness."
Preparatory to a discussion of the
! subject attention was called to exist
l ing conditions and to the generally
( accepted conviction that great
! crisis in the history of this nation
is approaching. We are in the midst
of a mighty struggle in which tire
mendous forces are graphing in con
fiict Grave dangers threaten. but
they are not dangerous of CONNER
cial disaster, for never in all his
tory was this or any other country
Sc prosperous. AS an illustration, the
conditions prevailing in Rome before
the dissolution of the empire were
briefly described, when 100000 to
100000 were spent on single ban
quets, when public offices were
| openly bought and corruption was
rife in all parts of the body polite.
Our country is surprising even Rome
! in the accumulations of colossal
wealth and in prodigal expenditures.
The perils that threaten us are of
moral nature. The bod polite is un-
sound-like a sick man suffering the
pangs of a dangerous disease on
luxurious couch in gilded and SPLEEN
didly furnished apartments.
Prophet leaders are needed-not |
prophets, in a biblical sense, as men |
forming distinct class with special !
endowments and a well defined mis- /,
sion-but teachers and leaders in the
every day realm. God sends his
teachers to every age and to every
people. The mission of such proph-
cts is not limited by fixed metes
and bounds, but in the elements of
life and character they are the worthy
successors of the prophets of old.
The supreme need of the times is
leaders-men with the spirit and pow
er of the ancient prophet-in the pu
pit,in the press and in public Offices
strong moral leaders, who will hold
high the standard of righteousness
for the rallying of the hosts. Men
stumble and fall, because there is
no loud, clear bugle blast calling ,
them to duty. Leadership is the ,
grand, permanent necessity of human {
ity.' /
The qualifications and credentials of I
a leader are his own personality and I
his message. Men do not mistake {
the rafting of cart-wheels for the G
roll of the thunder nor the jangling a
bells for the music of the spheres. a
A true leader does not need to wear v
a crown or hold scepter. His mes fl
sage is an all sufficient symbol of au- |,
thority. He needs not the holy oil v
poured on his head; his amounting is c
1f the heart and of the spirit, and his f,
character is a certificate of royalty. AS II
Thomas Carlyle says: Souls actual II
y sent down from the skies with a "
Message for u.s. v
He who leads people out of bond. e.
lge must be an inspired man. A Gal W
10 who cared for none of these W
hings," man who can look unmoved 81
IN the degradation of his State and dI
ounty, who shrugs his shoulders and e;
avs, 1T is none of my business" is OF
~ inspired. But he whqn TrIIfesH '6aIs'
butte to Cleveland. Hunter insisted
greens 81 lII- CL
ensely the shame of his country that w
D him it is a personal affection and pc
Tho looks upon those who dishonor al
er laws and institutions as his per- al
onal enemies: to whom it is not
nough to speak of the evils of the &c
ay in elegant phrases, but whose. m
words, born of righteous indignation in
re thunderbolts in denunciation OF pl
nfamy in high places and who breaks b
With sledge hammer blows the idols 81
If the market place. All reformers W
ire men of profound feeling.
The reformer must recognize actu- u
II existing evils. The idealist, the r.
lreamer who dwells in cloudland, has a
10 more influence than the denizen S
If Mars. while the slum-worker keeps a
MS eye fixed on a star, which is to S
him an angel of light. u
Here, especially, is the realm oil II
he editor What a pulpit he occu- u
,ies! in his audience of thousands c
lot a nodder. What a bible to choose II
exits from no priestcraft can shut the n
,pen volume of the world. With pen g
Tipped in the sunshine or in destroy d
ng flame. inspired by the spirit OF the n
present! writing the annals of God! o
Has the editor no other sphere than 3