Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-16
WHO'S WHO AND WHY?
 WHAs SHOP TALK TOPIC.
Rsy. K. J. Wyekoff Heard at Crescent
 Firearms Company,

There was a large attendance of the employees Of the Crescent Firearms company on Monday at the noon hour shop talk given by Rev. H. J. Wyckoff or the Second Congregational church, this talk being the sixth in the series st the shop given under the auspices of The Y. M. C. A. General Secretary stsrkey was present, and Mrs. l.. O. Potter gave two solos which were greatly appreciated, singing If Thou Art True and My Name in Mothers Prayer an Alexander favorite.
 Rev. NIT. WyclIof spoke upon the subject Who's Who and Why? People rant 10 know about other folks and their doings. he said. and the interest is in proportion to the prominence of tho subject discussed.
 This interest IS usually based, pri- marilv, on what is said about these people, that is, on gossip or reputa- tion. But # the interest continues and leads to a closer concern with their life. it is not content with stories Of what such folk arc supposed to be, but seeks 10 discover what they really are. Co wit, their character. We may never see a copy Of the annual,
 
 sand dollar page in the boastful week y, nor glance at the society column ir the daily: but there is at least one individual in whom we ought to have E-hicient interest to press past what ever reputation he has won and @at down to a view of the character he has acquired. this individual is the most important answer to Who's Who. that can be found: namely oneself. The most important person age 70 you is yourself; and If you ask me and why?" I shall be forced to believe that you have never been prop erly written up; and, with your per mission, will ende2vor to show you Who's Who-snd Why?
 As has been said, some people get into prominence by means of & repu- fafion, but the man who can hold first rank in his own estimation will have Co discover a better foundation than reputation for his good opinion of himself; he will need to dig down to the rock of chAra 2ter. What he is suppoged 10 bs nay satisfy the casual Inquiry. Who's Wno?" but when the snapper to the whip cracks out And Why7" he must produce that which he really Is.
 That there is a substantial differ euce between reputation and character 10 easily Illustrated A mans reputa- ton may. and often does, precede him while his character is too much a part Of himself to be sent on ahead. Repu- tation may be gained by a single pub lic act. good or evil; but character is attained through a lifetime of effort that none sees. Reputation is an easily prieked bubble, shattered by a word or deed; charaster is so suhstan- tial that < resists the mightiest efforts rom without Reputation is a mate rial asset, on the strength of which many have. accumulated wealth and honor; but character is a spiritual in- vestment in eternal securities. One may not disregard his reputation among men: for it is Of vital imuor- tance to influence that we should be respected but it is of supreme innpor- tAnce 10 life that we should be right with God, whatever men, think of us One may have a reputation for skill that he has lost; snsd on the other hand. he may be thought to be weak YAen he is really strong; contrast the @Ame of being smsller than ones ssputation with the glory of actually exceeding it, and character standg so f1r above reputation that there is really no comparison at all We may never get our names into the Who's WhoT" book. or paga. or column made of metal typos. but sincs we cannot got our names out of the Book of Life iet us sec that a fair and Suuare an wer Co the more important part of the matter. tho question ''WhyT 1ustffies the prominence that God. who wrote eur names in that Book, has given us