Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-09-21
Secret of True
National Greatness
by Rev. JAMES r. MARTIN
rsssss II HYs- rsrt rrsshysessss
ChsfeA D<assr. Cob.

" haNtNhtt US w tfHttA
upon the state Of things. Calm iudG
ment would lead us 10 see many de
feets and cruditles in this passing ere
Our history as n nation. our wondrous
tales OF fsbulous wealth and unique
physical Advancement. parallels and re
sembies an individual who. hastening
To get wealth and power and 10 be
master Of applying science TO indus
try. has left vulnerable points In his
own education: Ia like the man who.
gathering generously. IL spending
equally prodigally. We have grown
big 80 faat that We have become awe
stricken at our own sire
We might wen slt at British feet
and learn, We are confused OF face at
the thought Of poverty ana squaior.
when our German friends are ap-
pnoaehing the problems so wisely. We
nre shameless because Of our cdphc--
and arrogance In our daily conta,
with men. but the little brown man
az tho east II thoughtful here and
might teach MS maners. What shall
we say OF child labor: factory lie In
general; mining horrors: congestion
In city life: ravages OF disease1 We
surely cannot count ourselves as per.
feet. nor 20 have even attained unto
our high calling.
We need right now. Tess OF pyrotoch-
MICS. whether as fireworks or vain Idle
bubbling from some so-called patriot
tho measure OF whose patriotism IL do
termincd by the length OF time and ra.
pidity OF accumulation In feeding at
tho public crib.
To my mind we need most TO re-
fleet soberly and deliberately as indi.
viduals every day the country over.
The first thinking should be not OF
what other men ought TO do. or OF
what investigating committees may
discover. and so on. but OF what each
one as citizen Of ordinary capacity
and Intelligence can accomplish as he
forms that part Of the national enti'
coSfned within tho limits Of hom,
neighborhood. town or city In
he lives and rot2se..sE,g 49,
dedication e'f-a
country af
needs. me
dreams ~
stand forevs
That such de-.
proat and glory. each
duty incumbent upon him. Ia.
make the most possible OF himseI
project himself far into the maA
the body polite. That brings me
the theme OF tbs morning. The seer,
lies right here. To have a great ma
tion. let each individual make himself
wise. strong and selfsupportinx. We
are not SAYING too much when we re-
fleet that the test OF every Institution
is the womotion OF greatness In the
individual
The holy word OF God stands for the
glory OF the individual. saying. Let
every man hear his own BURDEN
ehrist's estimate OF the individual
gives intensity to our thought While
the world Is busy trampling men under
foot. Christ Is busy lifting them up
Christ did not consider external condl
tons. lie went straight to mans soul
and stampeded II. made In Gods
image"
Midway between seifishness and dis
aster stands Christs philosophy. Let
every man bear his own burden.-
which asks each man TO love his fell
lows and his God and thus become q
great individual. gathering wisdom
and goodness as he goes forth. In In
dividuai excellence we have the Key
of all problems. the solution OF All
vexed questions. the clew Of every
maze.
The secret OF the Increasing wags
comes not 80 much by shortened hours
or laws OF regulation "a by the exeel-
lence OF the individual I'm doubling the
quality and quantity of his work. When
we viii. we can double our wages, as
a nation. Too many Of US are buying
tools of'heavy labor when We should
be developing intellect. Rely on self.
90 early. stay late. give your. nights u
study. climb. make yourself indispc
sable. save the waste Your fond
hope Is then not beyond your gr
The difference In men is not mad
unequal laws. but by dinerenC
measuring ones own value
Which In better. 20 bring
down to a common level. or II
the lowest to the level OF thf
est. wisest and greatest7 -,
to our scheme. the secret Of natfdA
greatness lies In personal culture. per-
sonal happiness. chhracte: and worth.
The survival OF the httest Is ours here.
The boundary between strength ana
weakness lies there. The strong man
willis to be stronger and blcomes %.
The weak man is content to stay q
he 10, and so loses his estate.
Give yourselves 10 preparation for
the last grand struggle Ten years OF
hitting for one year OF sublime Hvine
N none too great Such is time saved, !,
| We need Pauls in our life 20 that
the faith may be spread. We want,
an ideal nation-ideal In equal rightn
| for all; Justice. that none shall suffer-.
a square deal. with, handicaps for mona,
10 the advantage OF another. The pur-
pose OF God in history IL to exalt man.
hood to its place OF glory. where an
1 shall be sons OF God" Behold nov
are we the sons of Cod But are -
living as sons or as servants? Lot a.
make ourselves worthy Of our hirh|
calling by living as God would hav,
us live. for OF truth righteousness
exaiteth a nation. but ain d ! ri
| proach"