Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-24
ByBishOD W.A.Candler

The facilities OF the human mind are
the intellect and the sensibilities and
the will The mind Is a unit. but its
activities manifest themselves in one
or the other. OF these three forms, and
sometimes IN all OF them at once
We emphasize the enlightenment OF
the intellect. and we do we'll in so do
ing; but we give Ear too little care TO
the training of these sensibilities ana
the will, especially the sensibilties-
The sensibilities. or feelings. seem
10 lie closer 10 our physical orSaniza-
tiOn than do any OF the other faculties
OF the mind Hence they respond more
quickly to the STRINGS Of appetite ana
passion. Being thus related 10 our
animal nature they often act with
strength not unlike physical force. and
carry before them both intellect and
will. dethroning and prOstrating rational
volitioR. In this way the most tragic
results are brought TO pass In mo-
nent, and consequences follow or the
most sorrowful and irreparable char
acter.
Thus Esau lost his birthright- HIS
shrevd brother, Jacob. knew all too well
what a slave Esau was TO his feelings.
and he awaited himself OF this weak
ness OF Esau 10 deprive him OF the birth
right. The record is very significant;
And Jacob boiled pottage; and Esau
-au,e in from the field, and he was
faint. and Esau said 20 Jacob. Feed
me- I pray thee with that same red pot
taCe: for am faint And Jacob said.
sell me this day thy birthright- Ana
Fsau said. Behold 1 am al the point
"a die and what shall the birthright do
- me- And Jacob said. Swear 10 me
this day:' and he swear unto him; ana
ne sold his birthright unto Jacob. and
Ja~ob Eave Esau bread and pottaSe
OF Ieutils. and he did eat and drink
and rose up and went his way 50
Esau despised his birthright-
In Esau's declaration that he was
ready TO die we find an exaggeration
of his real condition. which was an
r,tterance Of his sensibilities rather than
an exact statement Of the truth He
had been without food for a very brief
.trne- but he declared he was ready 70
die And so in a hysteria OF hunger
for one mess Of pottage he sold mis-
bIrthright. and we read that when ne
Afterwards desired 20 inherit the bless
fnr he was rejected. for he found no
place for repentance though ne sought
II diligently with tears
Welding TO the control OF his unre-
strained seneibilities. he wrought IN
one moment irreparabie shame and in
iu-y- 10 himself. And Esau Is but one
axau,uls of irnumerable cases OF ike
character. Multiplied thousands In the
mast have committed similar sins ana
bIundars- Every day such tragedies are
reoeated: and yet we do not lay 70
heart the lesson taught by these sao
examples OF hasty shining followed oy
lifetime regrets
And our educational methods are
Srrb that little IS done 20 train the sen
sfhtltrfes Of youth. This is a fatal de-
feet in our educational system: for II
the Sensfbflities are-nOt trained in youth
thew become riotous in later years AND
6Ir old age with unavailing sorrow.
Young people ought TO be trained IN
such a way that reason and judgment
viii occupy the throne. restraining the
feelings and directing the will Other
Me- YheIr intellectual culture. IL thew
attain TO any such culture. viii out
sa-ve their uncontrolled and uncontrot-
liable sensfbiIities and work them harIn-
Example OF such conditions see we
daily We see men and women, OF
Keen intellect and ample culture. who
are the victims OF their own sensi-
bfIftfes They use their Cultivated
POWERS for the graitncation OF theH
feelings alone and their selfish SEN
sibiIfties are the source OF unhappi-
uass both 20 themselves and others
They discharge no duties are dis
agreeable. and they recognize no
tights Of Tiers. II the exercise or
such rights in any wise conflicts
with the qualification OF their own
feelings. They are selfish enough
20 I'LL a whole household
In this way present enjoyment Is de-
Sd and future good despised. for II rs
the Characteristic OF the sensibilities
frat thew have no foresight They re-
spond only to present conditions ana
Immediate surroundings In this they
tend TO make human beings very ike
the lower animals Brutes have no fo-e-
sight They run eagerly for food with
out regard TO perils which may sur
round them This they are often en-
framed and slain. And the sensibili-
ties easily hrutalize human nature in
much the same way. Men and women
who yield constantly TO their feelings
incur all naner OF fearful risks on the
future in order to obtain risks on the
qualification OF their Sensibilities-
Now. the sensibilfties vary in
kind according as they are related
TO the appetites or desires. or al
fectfons- They are exceedingly i'm
puIsfve and brutal when they spring
from the appetites. They are more
selfish and persistent when they
arise from the desires and pursue
such things as the objects Of gain
and ambition Then they burn with
a slow but consuming heat as did
the mad covetOusness Of Judas Is
CARROT They take their nobiest
form when they spring from the az
fectiOns and their nobility is lower
OF higher according to the charac-
ter Of the affection from which they
spring The sensibilities Of ma
ternai love are the purest and most
beautiful But the highest mani
festattou Of the feelings arise from
love % God When the heart is filed
With feelings Of this sort intellect
and sensibiIity and will unite in one
glowing fame IN which human na-
.ure shines with the purest ray
serene In such case there Is a un-
fty OF nature and n foftiness OF
character in which human life IS
seen az It's best
All these things being true. IL follows
that the trueSt education must include
,a4 hIIing OF the heart with love to
God without this the sensibilities
must inevitably become more or less
wanton and dominate the higher facui-
ties % the soul: but when they are
stirred by love 10 God they inspire the
intellect and inviRorats the will in the
rvlost striking and wholesome manner