Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-29


ness and confidence, live their lives
from real desire to please God.
some there doubtless are who
take a morose view of this world
ana who consider that virtue con-
slsts of the difficult art of foregoing
treasures and of compelling others
10 DO the same. These Christians
are OF the numerically small group
whose religion is negative: it con-
slsts or "dont's." What a small
iracton of the entire Christian fell
io"Shlp these sour saints actually
are Line them up alongside of the
Iaalant' peaceful, happy disciples.
the Daniels, who have found reli-
gion good for both their bodies and
their souls, and their relative few
ness and unimportance will be dis
covered.
Captain of His Soul
This story is one of the familiar
plts OF the literature of Christen-
dom. Daniel and his three COM
panlons We're educated and noble
hebrew youths. prisoners in per-
sonal attendance upon King
Nebuchadnezzer. AS part of the
royal encourage. they were expected
to look we'll and happy. To that end
they were permitted to eat the
Galnties of the kings table and to
drink OF his wine. That food had
doubtless been offered to idols, and
SO could not be eaten by a godly
Jew. However, these young He
brews were truly wise, and they
knew the secret of the training
taole-simple food for physical fit
ness.
They were not "grouches, and
mad Won the good will of the chief
or the eunuchs, who tolerantly per-
mitted his charges to make the ten
day experiment. All they asked
was a fair trial. Real religion is
ever ready to submit to tests. 1t
asks no special privileges. 1t can
make good" in any honest compe-
tition. Daniel and his three friends
were willing to stake all upon the
practicability of their principles.
They were what we would to-day
call "pragmatic philosophers: their
theory worked. For, as runs the
account, "At the end of ten days
their countenances appeared fairer,
and they We're fatter in fish. than
all the youths that did eat of the
kings dainties." In that incident
is wrapped up the essence of all
dry legislation the world around:
given a fair chance, it works.
Daniels principles of conduct
We're not put into moth balls when
he moved from slow-going, old
fashioned Jerusalem to the giddy
city of Babylon. His religion would
stand expectation and transforma-
ton. His convictions would wash.
For Daniel was of the breed of man
who is captain of his own soul, who
is no mere chameleon, taking the
color of his surroundings, but an
independent, self-directing, self-re-
specting volition. He dared to be
Daniel in world where nearly
everybody else was trying to be ON
ly reflection of Nebuchadnezzar.
Stcadying Men and Drifters
1t used to be the fashion to cite
the four Hebrew young men in
Babylon as examples of the benefits
of total abstinence-although they
really doubtless followed the uni
versal wine-drinking custom OF
their day. Their abstinence was
merely from the rich and idolatry-
tanned provender of the kings ta-
BILE. Daniel was far more than a
doer-without: he was a doer.
His contribution to our time is
opportune and constructive. He
was a purposer in his heart. That
is, he determined what was right
for himself, regardless of the pre-
vailing fashions. So he dared to
live his own life, serenely, sweetly
strongly, in a time that was turbu-
/ lent and vascillating.
There come to my mind in con-
nection with the Daniel story some
words spoken to me nearly two
years ago, in the Winter Palace in
Petrograd. by the little grand
mother of the Russian Revolution"
Madame Breshkovsky, as she looked
me full in the face with her great
quiet eyes: Il always had a strong
purpose. Even as a girl I did what
ever I thought it was right for me
to do" That is the spirit which
makes great men and women: the
resolute subordination of desire and
convenience to an enlightened will
Such folk steady their times. The
world is in a panicky condition to-
day, and sadly tempted to run hith-
er and thither. sheep fashion. We
need more Daniels, to stand. mod
estly yet unswervingly, for what
they know to be the right. Such a
man is less concerned about MAX
ing converts, or even about making
character, than he is about doing
what is right. He lives his own
life and respects his neighbors'
rights; which is everybody's first
duty to civilization. Ultimately. the
only real reformers are the persons
who are simply righteous them
selves.
Meeting the Kings Test
A wise aphorism has it that
Every man is re. ponsible for his
face at fifty" Character does ulti-
mately write its autograph on the
countenance. And whether we plan
it so or not, all of us, consciously
or unconsciously. must come to the
Daniel test of being judged by some
king-the modern king being public
opinion. Well is it for us when we
come up to that judgment If our
clean living, self-control and spirit
ual development win favor for our
faith and for ourselves.
Out of the training table of SIM
plicity in the sumptuous palace of
Babylon Git was little more than a
heap of mud bricks when 1 saw it,
there emerge three principles that
are universally applicable:
/. 1t is best worth while to be
ones own best self, regardless of
current fashions.
2. Abstemiousness is better for
body and spirit than is indulgence.