Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-09-21
Secret Of True
National Greatness
By Rev. JAMES p. MARTIN
PASTOR Of Hyde Park Presbyterian
Church. Denver. Colo.

Inc enduring story OF America IL
not vet fulfilled. The anniversary a.
national birthday leads us to reflect
upon the state of things. Calm iudg-
nuent Would lead US to see many de-
Iects and crudities in this passing era.
our history as a nation, ourSwondrous
taies q fabulous wealth and UNIQUE
pnyslcal advancement, parallels n re-
semDles an individual who. Fastening
20 get wealth and power and to be
master OF applying science to indus
try, has left vulnerable points In his
own education; Is like the man who.
gathering generously, is spending
equally prodigally. We have grown
Dig SO fast that we have become ave-
stricken at our own size.
We might well sit at British feet
n learn. We are confused CT a at
the thought of poverty and squalor.
Wnen our German friends are an
preaching the problems so wisely. We
are shameless because Of our conceit
and arrogance in our daily contact
with men,, but "the little brown man"
OF the east is thoughtful here and
might teach us maners. What shall
we say OF child labor; factory life In
general; mining horrors; congestion
IN city life; ravages of disease? We
surely cannot count ourselves as per-
feet, nor to have even attained unto
our high calling.
We need right now, less of pyrotech-
MICS, whether as fireworks or vain idle
Dubbl1ng from some so-called patriot
the measure of whose patriotism, is de-
termined by the length of time and ra-
pld1ty of accumulation In feeding at
the public crib.
To my mind we need most to re-
nect. 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 a citizen of ordinary capacity
and Intelligence can accomplish as he
forms that part of the national entity
confined within the limits of home or
neighborhood. town or city in which
he lives and votes. The true, sincere
dedication of a patriots own self to
country after serious concern for its
needs, may accomplish our Utopfan
dreams and effect results that shall
stand forever.
That such dedication may be OF.
profit and glory, each one has a stern
duty incumbent upon him. He must
make the most possible of himself and
project himself far into the mass Of
the body polite. That brings me to
the theme of the morning. The secret
lies right here. To have a great ma
ton, let each individual make himself
wise. strong and self-supporting. We
are not saying too much when we re-
fleet that the test of every institution
Is the promotion 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,
Christ'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 no consider external condi-
lions. He went straight to mans soul
and stampeded 1t, made In Gods
image" +,
Midway between selishness and dis
aster stands Christ's philosophy, LET
every man bear his own BURDEN
which asks each man to love his fell
lows and his God and thus become. a
great individual, gathering wisdom
and goodness as he goes forth. In in
dividua1 excellence we have the key
of all problems, the solution OF all
vexed questions, the clew Of every.
maze.
The secret of the increasing wage
comes not SO much by shortened hours
or laws Of regulation as by the excel
lence of the individual in doubling the
quality and quantity of his work. When
we will, 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.
Go early, stay late, give your nights to-
study, climb, make yourself indispen-
sable, save the waste. Your fondest
hope is then not beyond your grasp.
The difference In men is not made by
unequal laws, but by difference in
measuring ones WI value.
Which Is better, to bring all men
down to a common level, or to lift up
the lowest to the level of the strong
est, wisest and greatest? To return
to our scheme, the secret of national
greatness lies In personal culture, per-
sonal happiness, character. and worth.
The survival OF the fittest is ours here.
The boundary between strength and
weakness lies there. The strong man
wills to be stronger and becomes so.
The weak man is content tt stay as
he is, and SO loses his estate.
Give yourselves to preparation for
the last grand struggle. Ten years Of
fitting for one year of sublime living
is none too great. Such is time saved,
We need Pauls In our life SO that
the faith may be spread. We want
an ideal nation-ideal In equal rights
for all; justice, that lone shall suffer:
a square deal, with handicaps for none
to the advantage of another. The pur.,