The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-28

Ifier OF the elements by which the
modern spirit, II 1t would live Alright.
las chiefly to live.
From the best traditions OF our
'wn Immediate past we rightly In
ierit the old southerners' sense Of
Individual liberty, their graces OF
the graciousncss OF their
manners, their fine hospitality and
good fellowship.
Present Inheritance.
Those are among the things that
20 TO make up our priceless heritage
,ut OF the past, but perhaps even
best Of all Is our inheritance In the
present. We In the south today have
he good fortune to live In one Of
hose growing. formative epochs such
Is come at long Intervals in the his
Iory OF mankind. when the ordinary
processes OF national development
ire superseded by more rapid meth
DDS and when civilization goes for
ward at a bound. We, are living in
an epoch rich In promise and full OF
hope.
How shall we use this splendid
heritage OF ours? by cherishing and
holding on with wise conservatism
10 these best things that have come
down to us from the past, and In the
spirit OF true progress by embodying
In our life and character the chief
lessons taught us in the history Of
our race, and in the successes and
even failures OF our forefathers.
The southern states as we know
hem today are the product OF an i'm
corrupted and broken past Origi-
nally progressive and prosperous, the
deadly disease OF slavery was early
fastened on the body polite. Then
tame the tragedy OF civil war: after
that the historic crime of reconstruc-
ton. followed by the tedious years OF
recovery, and. now by a revival OF
prosperity and hope. From the ma
ture OF things our growth has not al
ways been normal, and has not al
Ways been wholesome. Without
praise or blame for the past or the
present. the living or the dead. let
rs. free from reaction and free from
look our conditions
IN the face, determined to
cherish what Is good in our ciyiIiza-
lion. hold fast to n. improve II In
M possible ways, and hand II on thus
beftered to those who come after US.
Ideal OF Life.
The great lessons OF our past have
never been perfectly learned by any
breach Of the English race at any one
line: but there would seem 10 be no
good reason why our individual and
collective ideal OF life should not in-
.iude them all. This ideal. II II Is
10 stand for the character and the
achievements OF our race at It's best,
must include an adequate conception
,f the dignity and essential greatness
,f mans life. which wherever held
With sufficiently burning conviction.
viii produce a mighty race OF men.
rhe Hebrews and the PurItans, to
both OF whom We owe so much,
knew this. and the result was a
stability and Righteousness that have
been the salt Of the earth. This ideal
must include a feeling for the en-
irancing beauty and glory Of the
physical world I'm which we live. q
feeling vhichs whenever highly
enough developed. makes poets and
artists and lovers OF excellent and
beautiful things. The Greeks In
heir prime. 20 whom We owe our
culture ideals. and the great men OF
our own race. have known this: and
The result has been a literature and
IN art that have enobIcd and giori-
fed mankind forever. This Ideal
must include that reverence. which,
born out OF sense Of infinitude and
! realization OF the inscrutable mys-
Iery Of our earthly life. Is the
mother Of all religion. The mystics
81 the middle ages aud the deyouter
souls OF all times have known this:
and the result has been fame OF
that has lighted every
nation In christcndom. on toe way
that leads 10 the cardinal virtues OF
faith and hope and charity. upon
which depend the peace. security and
strength Of individuals and peoples
This ideal must lncladc the poise and
'ineness OF temper that form an es-
sentIat part Of the spiritual eonsti-
luton of every gentle man and
woman. This has been known here
IN the past: and we must strive 20
keep and transmit undlmlnIshed the
Old grace. generosity. and magnaulm-
~ OF our elders and must continue
the cultivation OF mind and taste
and the refinement OF manners that
make living with each other sweet
and wholesome.
Four Grcai Lessons.
u Is OF the utmost Importance for
rs to learn these four great lessons
u our history. The nrst Of them
would make us feel that life Is worth
while: that arc must give ourselves
soul aud body 10 the getting Of those
things which have TO do With man.
y life: that Is aIweys pays 10 strng-
gle 20 be the noblcst We can be. The
second would make Us more in love
with all that Ia good and beautiful.
would make Us sacredly dedicate
our lives TO the fner things OF the
minds and Of the spirit. The third
would make us modest, patient,
would cause Us 20 bow our
heads IN silence before the awful