Newark post., 1913-02-26


mIngto8. last Monday eTerE-y- MS
subject The Life and Character
~ CGarles Il. Lo-e- Judge Per
uerlI introduced his subject in the
following manner:
]. has been truly said that the
history Of the state : very largely
the say.rEz and Lo.z-s 0f Ler prom
5leEr citizens 1t may BE- as truly
said that the st-e-g,1 o. the STATE
often depends upon a citizenship
that : not 50 prominent The 1=o-
pie have always been and pe-ha-s
always will be. divided into differ
ent class. There are the c9uPar-
atiEelE few who are much In the
public eye or thought because Of
wealth station. achievement or
other distinction: and there are
also the great numbers whose
names are inErequently mentioned.
but whose lives and services are Of
inesrimable value TO the common
wealth
It IS very difficult 10 estimate the
value OF single life 10 the com
munity in which it was lived II
may have been conspicuous. and it
may also have been infamous II
may have contained elements OF
great strength. and Yet not have
been free from elements Of fatal
weakness. In influence and results
il may have been blessing or q
curse. TO the community and the
state. In other words. it is quite
possible to BE- z great man in pop
ular estimation without being q
good man IN fact. for such great
ness depends much more upon what
4 man does and SAYS rather than
upon what he really Is. The Judge
ment OF the people respecting in
dividual character and achieve
nent depends not 4 little upon the
age and conditions in which the in
dividual lives. Il IS very probable
that a man who gained much dis
tiEct:0l a hundred. or even fifty
years ago. would not b. equally
successful if he lived in the present
age. The standard o. test by which
the world measures greatness and
usefulness IS not alwa.-s tEc same
We ara living in a. i-teIs.,,g
practical and critical age In the
evolution and progress OF the racz
We have reached a time that IS pre-
em;nentlv commercial IN its char
acter. liberal in its thought and eZ.
travagant in its demands. Nothing
Is 50 old or sacred nov as 10 be inl-
mune from attack. Precedent IS re-
garded as Of no binding force be-
cause that which may have been
sufficient for yesterday will not suf-
fee for today Environments are
different. conditions have changed.
The contrast between these later
days and the earlier times it is i'm
possible to describe, but the essen
tial forces then were the same as
now. The most valuable and effec-
tive qualities in the early days
wGre~ as-surage. character and COM
mon sense. and | submit tnat VT WITH 8
all our progress and enlightenment
we have nothing better now.
There are some persons who dc
rot believe that the race has made
great progress along every line OF
human activity in the last half can
tury. No one will deny that re
narkab!e advancement has beer
made in all material things
Achievements in science. business
and finance have indeed been mar
velous in recent years, but IN tn
fine arts and literature many claim
we have retr0graded rather thai
progresses. They challenge US 4
name an artist, poet. novelist o.
historian of later years who can b
favorably compared with some VIII
lived more than fifty years ago. |
is said the people are 80 much en-
crossed in the material and coarse
things of life that the finer feeling
and aesthetic qualities Of men ant
women are not developed now d
they. used TO be. They charge tha
this is not only materialistic, bu
also a very selfish age. While com
ditions might be better than the.
are. | DO not believe they are sucl
as tn vrarrar7t the rhouphf that i
common-that while We builC
everything else strong and true, "
are not 50 successful iii the build
ing of character; that while amaz
ing progress IS made along ever.
other line, We are not advancing a
we should in the making of good
true and worthy men. Thi
thought is very aptly and forceful
H. ox-p-o,-nJ -, .ba Entforr-1pry linn