The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-08-19
9aturday Digit
ToIkc By Rev. F. E. DAWSON
N/uuAS Rutland, VT
Observation-Disclosures
THE KING, AND oFFlce.sEEKERs.
international Bible Lesson for Aug.
21, '1o-(Matt. 20: 17.34).

that even among the apostles of Jesus
Christ there was an unseemly squab-
Bile at one time over the question of
eligibility for the highest positions.
Deluded with the common notion that
the Messiah was about to establish
an earthly kingdom they disputed with
each other as TO who should be great
est in the kingdom. No doubt each
one presented his claims with earn
estness and conviction for the record
says that they reasoned and disputed
over the subject along the way.
But the Master of the new kingdom
gave them rebuke that they never
forgot and that changed their views
completely as to what true greatness
Is. he took a little child, and set
him in the midst, and said in effect:
This is a sample OF my kingdom. and
he who comes the nearest TO being
like this little child, in love, in trust
fulness, in humility, in teachableness,
in faith. in purity. in contentment. in
obedience, and In other childlike
characteristics will be the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. That was an
important lesson for all men, in all
lands and in all ages.
Popular Ideas Upset.
But how that revolutionizes popu-
lar ideas. Our idea of greatness Is
that men are born great and come to
their place by divine right Their
blood is different from other blood,
they belong to superior grade. Hence
1t is our duty to allow them to occupy
the seats Of the mighty. And then
there are others who imagine that
possession of money makes them
great. There is nothing more sick
ening than to see those who have sud-
denly acquired wealth aping the ways
of the nobility and lording II over the
common herd with arrogant demeanor.
A family name does not always stand
for greatness. Royal blood is often
weak and watery. not to say poison
GUS. True greatness never swaggers.
1t does not tread upon the mudsills
with iron shod shoes. 1t does not
draw aside its garments with a "hol-
Ter than thou" air. 1t does not recline
upon a throne Indifferent to the sor-
rows Of its fellow men.
True greatness is humble, unas-
suming, free from self-conceit and
self-consciousness. When a man is
great and knows it, that moment he
becomes contemplate. The greatest
men that have ever lived have been
characterized by childlike qualities.
No greater man ever lived than Moses,
yet he is known as the meekest man.
The mightiest preacher of the ages
was Paul yet he was as approachable
and tender-hearted as a child. Jesus
Christ Himself stands at the head of
all the Wise Men Of the ages, yet he
was so free from that aloofness, popu-
larly supposed to be part of great
ness, that whenever he paused by the
wayside the children swarmed about
Him and climbed into His lap with
the utmost familiarity. Children are
fine judges of character. They know
instinctively whom to trust.
Office No Evidence of Greatness.
Evidently We shall have to revise
our ideas of getting up in the world.
We have thought that 1t was by look
ing out for Number One We have
supposed that it was by making every
body and everything come our way,
and assist in boosting us. We have
imagined that greatness was only an
other word for thrones, scepters, es-
tates, money, office, castles, gold lace,
diplomas, stars and garters. Oh, no!
There are little men in office and big
men out; small men wearing epaulets
and large men who never wore q uni
form more brilliant than a black
smiths apron; mean men greeted
with the huZZas of thronging thous-
sands and noble men who never had
a hand clap, pusillanimous men, who
are clothed In purple and fine linen
and fare sumptuously every day, and
obscure men the latchet Of whose
shoes many so-called noblemen are
not worthy to stoop down and unite.
Not that greatness may not be found
in high places and in places of loftiest
dignity. but there is nothing in the
office itself to confer greatness on
any man. II he Is great he is so be-
CduSe VI Wudl u6 Is anu not DeCduB6
what he has. VIM. E Gladstone was
Just as great before he became Prime
Minister Of England as he was after
ward, and Cardinal Woolsey was a
disgrace to his Office long before he
put on the robes of power.
Greatness is a quality of soul. and
true greatness manifests itself In a
life of sacrifice for others. Call the
roll OF the worlds heroes and hero
ines and It VIII be found that they are
the philanthropists. the discoyerers.
the inventors. the martyrs. the pio-
neers Of the worlds progress and Inn
provement. They have not counted
thar lives dear unto themselves that
they might bear the worlds burdens.
and share the worlds sorrows.
Alexander Pope, in his Essay on
Man says:
Honor and shame from no condition
rise
Act well your part. there all the hon
OF lies.
VINO noble ends by noble means OBJ