The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-24

clined TO regard as visionary. and be-
yond the possibility of realization;
Hold fast to the ideals that have
been set before you in the days that
are past. and still believe in til final
realization of the impossible prophe-
cies and the highest ideals of all the
/ dreamers of all ages. If perchance
you should not think as others think.
or believe what others do not believe,
and see what others have not the Wis
ion to see, do not then conclude that
your thoughts. your faith. your Wis
ions are not worth while DO not
allow public opinion to mould you,
hut be powerful in moulding public
opinion. Ii rightly directed there is
nothing under the sun that is able
to withstand its onward march.
Through the influence of public opin-
ion kings are dethroned. and slaves
set free. But its dercees every man
may become his own master and ev-
cry NlllLtI d SONtItlED. 1t 10 lhlo
thing called public opinion that has
written on the pages of history, in let
tiers large so that every one may
! read. the maxim that all men are
born for freedom and equal rights.
Before its face every social political,
and commercial evil must fly. BY its
DEGREES it is allowed that every one
shall have the bessed privilege of
worshipping God according to the
dictates of his own conscience. What
"A power in public and private life.
DO not fear it, Help mould it,
,. There is an inspiration to be
found in the lives of those who have
lived on the heights above the more
sordid things of life, and have been
the master of themselves. We are
ready always to pay tribute to nobil-
ity of character and to deeds that
are worthy The name of Queen
Esther has come down to us as one
who faced the facts of her days, and
won her victory. 1t sometimes takes
a good amount of courage to be noble
in meeting our duty. but we should
remember noblenes begets noble
ness in our fellows. for if we have the
courage to "Be noble the nobility
that lies in other men, sleeping, but
never dead, will rise in majesty to
meet our own" To NEE tn nobility
; of Esthr this otherwise selfish king
was noble in granting her request.
, Takes Character to do the Right
TO be able to meet the hard facts
of life promptly and with courage is
Il virtue much to be desired II
) character to do our duty. when that
$ duty is most arduous. But there can
( be no humiliation greater than the
remorse of those who having had a
t duty thrust upon them ha dnot the
| courage of character necessary to
3 meet it, And thus is il largely true
1 that it lis conscience makes towards
2 of us all" There are many occa
sions, however, when duty calls, and
: we must dare to do the right, let the
consequence be what they will We
: should remember that, hvaing come
, to the kingdom at such time as this
: that God who calls us To our tasks
if we faithfully perform them, will
not leave us aone He calls upon us
to be strong, and of good courage
in the performance of our duties.
turning from them neither To the
right hand nor to the left St. Paul
: calls to us. Quit you like men, be
strong And st. James in truthful
terms declares that the character UNI
decided in its qualities. is like a
wave of the sea, driven with the wind
and tossed" There are many who
were strong, whose life deeds and
sacrifices are written for our good In
the early years of the Christian era
there were multitudes of those who
met the fate of the martyr because
of their fidelity to their convictions,
and thousands of others who were
prosecuted for righteousness sake.
They had the courage of their convic-
tions. and met the scorn of the
world with unfiinching heroism
They had trials of mockings. and
seourging, yea. moreover. of bonds
and Imprisonment they were stoned
they were drawn asunder. were tempt
ed. were slain with the sword; they
wandered about in sheep skins and
goat skins; being destitute. afflicted
tomented; (of whom the world was
not worthy. They wandered in des
erts. and in mountains and caves OF
the earth" These heroes and hero
ines of bygone age faced facts that
were not imaginary. Their suffer