Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-07
THOUGHTS AND DEEDS
CHARACTER BUILDERS
L. Earl Sullcnger Delivers
able Sermon on "Charac-
Ter Building.

During the absence o, Rev j 3
Hunley. III. pulpit Of tho Hanover
Christian Church is being filled by T..
Earl Sullcnger. secretary Of the y
NJ g. 4. OF IN. Medical College Of Vir-
ginia- Mr.. SuilcnSer preached ycst.r-
day on Character building" and
took hts text from First Peter H. g.
la part he said:
We are taught TO think OF our soul
IA spiritual sanctuary. which We
arc building to God through the
years. Like SOlomon's temple Of old
which was built in silence. without
:soise Of tools or machinery. so the
Temple or our lives rises silently. TAX
INK on such Proportions and features
as our thoughts and deeds from day
tn day. may determine. In the build
Ing q! this unseen temple or charac-
ter. We must take into consideration
IN various aspects and plans This
temple cannot be built within n day.
but require slow, persistent effort
and perseverance,. Some noted psy-
chOlogist has said that our character
Is built by tho LITTLE parts OF those
with whom We come In contact and
they In turn receive from US in Ike
manner.
Influence and Human Contact.
This shows conclusiv-ly that human
contact has an Influential part In tho
building OF character. The influence
OF one life on that OF another can not
be estimated. Though We may not be
conscious OF the fact. yet some one Is
following In your footsteps and In
mine today. and every day OF our
lives. Are we satisfied with the kind
or unconscious leadership that We are
eScrtiHs? The responsibility that
rests upon Us. goes hand In hand with
great opportunity for the building
o: true Christian character
Many OF the so-cai!cd consccrated
Christians arc leading untold mum
3erS OF our young people astray. They
may not be conscious OF their Int,u-
cacc. They may feel that what they
do does not hurt them. vet il is
leading others in the wrong road In
my experience with young people in
I. NJ. g. y. and Christian Endeayor
work, ] have come In contact with so
many who have been led astray In
Just that way During the days OF
Chr!sts ministry, th. church nyas
polluted with hypocrites: so We SIN
hav: a few today In most OF the
churches. They are doing an untold
injury 10 tho great cause OF Christ,
In the building OF THE temple.
character, We ind ;ha, not only hu-
mcnt has much to do A teacher
once had trouble in getting her little
pupils To keep their hands and faces
clean. She got large white lily
and placed il In their midst 4
marked change soon took place. One
little girl was asked why she had
begun to be 80 careful about hav-
Ing her face and hands so clean. She
said she wanted TO look like that
lily.
Value OF Environmcnt.
The archaeologists have found that
the ancient artists had an art OF
painting on stone walls and the i'm
ago would go through and make a
lasting Impression. This is Il lost
art but the same principle holds
true In character building. The i'm
pressions made are lasting. We take
Tor example the home life. II is
the foundation Of character building
IL may he the vine clad cottage on
Eonder hill, or the mansion IL The
CITY. Yet the same principle re-
mains true. The world may pro-
grcss. but human nature remains the
same yesterday. today and tomorrow
'od Is speaking to us through the
ripping brooks. the grassy fields and
'he other forms of nature Nature
study becomes spiritual and sublime
when We realize it's God-givcn won