The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-04-22


count of mans adjustment to his |
ideal and to the rights and privileges
of society.
This school is maintained by the |
church and the state and directed by |
this cultured and splendid faculty for
the proper adjustment of this stu
dent body to the forces of this ma
ton and world so that each individ-
ual may contribute his not in the
mighty chorus of the psalm Of life.
a note that shall be perfect in tone
as well as harmonious in pitch to all
others. He would be traitor to the
sentiment of this occasion who did
not at least attempt to furnish some
light or stimulus that will aid those
who are about to go out of school life
into life's school in order that they
may be somewhat the better prepared
for the duties of life and for the re-
adjustment that must certainly take
place. The making of man was the
climax of Gods creation and every
thing that exists has consciously or
unconsciously partaken OF the pur-
pose of the divine government in this
world, namely the building of man.
Our very existence, therefore, de-
mands. that we be our best selves,
and those who are about to enter
upon life's battles should know that
that which awaits them will tax their
utmost strength and they will most
successfully meet the conflicts of life
who have best prepared themselves.
Days that are yet to be born win be
fraught with new privileges as we'll
as new responsibilities. Society is
to be reformed; the oppressed made
free; governments made purer;
standard of moral life lifted; the dark
sky of ignorance dispelled and the
kingdom of grace advanced. For all
this and more there must be genuine
manhood and wOmanhood, which
must take of heredity, environ
ments and the opportunities that are
afforded. Art, music, flowers, beauti-
full landscape, science and religion,
exist for the gloriication and eleva-
ton of mankind. The plant is but
the crystalization of soil, water and
air through an evolutionary process.
Man must, therefore, partake Of life
that is about him in all of its phases
and thus evolve full blown crea-
ture in tastes and culture after the
similitude of God. The building of a
man is the task of the centuries. BY
so much that enters into the build
ing by so much will he be.
Here is our problem-Given a soul
rare capabilities, God endowed,
how can that soul best conserve hap
piness and we'll being for himself and
helpfulness to society. 1t is to be
hoped that if the triangle of life does
not give a solution satisfactory to all
it will, nevertheless, be a means oil
helpfulness to many struggling soul
ascending the heights of life.
Let us take first, as the base, our
triangle-Self-knowledge.
At this point the words of Whit
tier in that searching poem, MY
Soul and l." are very appropriate:
Stand still, my Soul, in the silent
dark
l would question Thee
Alone in the shadow drear and stark
With God and me-"
He who would have success in life
must know himself better than he
knows anyone else or anything else
! Let him take himself to the dissecting
room and bar the door until he stands
alone in his own presence, and there
probe to the very seat of life and an
swer these questions: Who am /?
Who am | by capability, by weak
ness, by inspiration? Whence am
/? This involves the question OF
heredity, environments and all nat
ural limitations. Whittier go |?
Whittier go in aspirations as the re-
suit of who / am and whence | come?
What am I good for? This is, what
can | do by the reason of having been
so born and so lifted and so moved by
aspiration? What can best do? The
individual must become thoroughly
acquainted with himself. Know the
history that is behind him. The
depth or height of neredity from
which he has been digged. Thorough
ly familiar with his environments,
conscious of the forces and of all the
currents of life that are about him
He shall take his bearing, find a
known point, and that point in him
self, and from the known proceed to
the unknown. He shall know his
likes and dislikes, his passions and
desires. Know the deepest warnings
Of his nature in clouds and in sun
shine. Know himself under all cir.
cumstances, whether amid the
throngs that applaud or in lonliness
that discourages; know himself in
time of battles as well as in peace
know his points of strength as well
as his points of weakness; know what
he can do and what he cannot do
Should we attempt to discuss the fail