The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-21
[Continued from page T..
THE BUILDING OF CHARACTER.

The BUILDING OF CHARACTER.
plined for he has energies, impulses
of the animal kind, which, if not re-
strained and brought under the con-
troll of reason, would surge forth in
deeds that would disgrace the fair
name of manhood. Even as the ath-
lete must go through hard and trying
exercises to perfect his physical man
hood by developing the muscles needed
in the conflict, so also the higher
faculties of the soul must be trained,
even more carefully, in order that they
may be fitted to engage in the strug-
gle for eternal life.
The human mind, then, like the
body, must be trained in order to
bring out the best that is in it. Men
must learn, not only how to conduct
himself towards his fellow man, but
also, how to think and act Alright to-
wards his Creator. If he has not the
prudence to improve himself in these
essentials, he must be taught by 9th
ers. The truth of the familiar say
ing, 1--WE are never too old to learn"
is evident. Man is constantly meet
new knowledge. The young are
taught by the old, and the old may
learn from the young. Those in high
places may receive salutary lessons
from the lowly. The illiterate may
be masters to the learned. Even the
little child, who has much to learn,
may be an instructive book to the
| thoughtful The rough knots of hui
man character must be pared down
and smoothened with the oil of re-
finement, in order that the individual
may fit into his allotted place in the
fabric of social life. In other words,
the individual must be subjected to
discipline, whereby mind and heart
are trained and strengthened to fol-
low joyfully the way of Christian life.
What Is Discipline?
What is discipline? It is the curb
ing of ones evil tendencies, the sug-
costing of elevating ideals, the en-
couraging of all that makes man more
MANLY llOAC O1ll0Ilcl1, NOu-
like. To discipline, then, is to eradi-
cate evil habits from the soul, and
foster therein such principles as will
bud forth into manhood, strong and
healthy, both morally and intellectual
| ly. Discipline may be administered
in ways as varied, almost, as human
nature itself. At one time it flows
from the gloved hand of sympathy and
Kindness; at another it takes the
form of a casual suggestion. In some
cases it produces it's best results by
gentle advice; but while the strong
hand of right should always rule with
firmness, it should rarely resort to
the methods whose chief note is sever.
ity.
To discipline, then, is to arouse and
train the dormant faculties of the
soul, to cultivate them and evoke
their latent possibilities, so that they
may blossom forth into a rich and
vigorous activity. To discipline is to
evoke all the good qualities of the
individual, and curb and subdue his
evil inclinations. Hence it follows
that discipline, does not concern
adults, so much as it does the young
Little hope, indeed, can be entertained
of training the burly oak to assume
any other form than that which il
now has. 1t is with the young, whose
innocent and plastic souls are capa
BILE of receiving impressions, that dis
cipline is chiefly concerned, and
therefore, disciplinary methods
worthy of the name, should train the
child to right action, should point ou
clearly the difference between righ
and wrong, and stimulate the individ
ual to do what is right at any cost
Education of the Will.
The will is the great lever will
which disciplinary methods must deal
The resultant of all the habits of thu
will constitutes character, which i!
the power of self-direction. When thu
intellect is trained to recognize the
good and the will to choose it, theI
we have strong character. The enc
of all discipline is character. If /;
boy be trained to have a clear con
ception of duty and stimulated ant
encouraged to perform that duty con
scientiously, then the method b,
which he was trained was the correc
one, at least for him. He possesses
within himself a force which ex
presses itself in right action Oppor
tunities there are aplenty on the roa(
to manhood by which a boy can prov,
of what stuff he is made and, if whe1
the occasion arises, he has not tn,
moral courage to follow his con
science, he confesses himself a COW
ard. He lacks the quality which il
the very groundwork of true man
hood. But if, when put to the test, b,
sees the right (and conscience neve
fails in presenting it, and strikes GU
boldly towards the goal, howeve
strong the influences to the contrar,
may be, then he is in reality not
boy, but man in moral strength an,
character.
The Catholic Church is the grea
guardian of youth. She is kind moth
er to her spiritual children Her cen
turtles of rich and varied experience
have given her the right to speak witt
authority, for no society knows hu
man nature better nor the weakness
of youth and the temptations to which
it is subject. Neither can any inst
: tuition boast of such multitudes o
!, /