isa-normaladvance-1914-00006

Description:	6THE NORMAL ADVANCEthink I know several of them, but I speak of this one because I have tested him for a quarter of a century—for whom I have this regard, and in whom I have this confidence. He is a hum¬ ble man of few pretentious, not wealthy or powerful, as the world records our wealth and power he is not even a member of a church  he is something better than a mere member of a church he is a true Christian gentleman. I would trust him with anything that I have be¬ cause I know that he would not willingly do me or any other man an injustice. And if he should unwittingly do any person an injustice, as any of us may easily do, I know he would make every effort to rectify his mistake.What I am saying to you this morning, be¬ lieve me, my young friends, is not mere senti¬ ment or moral twaddle. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and lov¬ ing favor rather than silver and gold. After all, the main business of each of us, the one thing which is worth while in all this world, is to build such a character, to live such a life, as I have been describing. Wealth, temporal power, fame, honor, all things else fade into in¬ significance, save only as they contribute to this great aim. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? This that I have been telling you about this morning is your own soul, not some miserable little intangible thing that in the future life you have been hoping mayhap in some way to squeeze in through the pearly gates into heaven.On the 31st of March in the City of Rome, a man said to be the wealthiest and most power¬ ful man in the world died. He had taken toll from both rich and poor alike. He had his mansions or palaces in all the most favored spots of the world. He had millions of dollars invested in fine art, all securely locked away from the vulgar gaze. He lived in luxury, gor¬ mandized on the dainties of the table, and prided himself upon his taste for the finest wines. Men fawned upon him because they feared his power, or hoped to profit by his favor. He satin the councils of Kings and even the Pope, it is said, sought to curry favor with him. Noth¬ ing was permitted to stand in the way of the ambition of this man. With an iron will and a mailed hand, such as not even a Bismarck ever possessed, he fought his way to his goal—wealth and power. He gloried in it. Financial wrecks and blighted hopes were left in his wake mag¬ nates and potentates alike, were brought to bended knee as suppliants before him. Before his death he was looked upon by many as a national menace and when his death was an¬ nounced men with clenched fists and gnashing teeth, said: We are glad of it, and it is doubt¬ ful if outside of his immediate relatives and friends, who profited by his death, there was a single person in the world who shed a tear. He had neither a good name nor the loving favor of any one.What a life to live! From the contempla¬ tion of it we are glad to turn to the court house tower, to the mountains, to the characters of Lincoln and Jesus. These are comforting and reassuring. They restore our shattered faith in humanity. They rest us and give us confi¬ dence in ourselves. After all what is best for all of us? How should you like to live in a community of Morgans? Or would you rather dwell with Emerson and St. Francis of Assici? What is worth while?To be strong and robust physically, to be cheerful and optimistic, believing in the forces that make for righteousness rather than in the powers of evil to stand a man, four-square to every wind that blows to look the whole world in the face, because you owe not any man to take the buffets of the world with true courage and without whining and to strike a few hard blows now and then in defense of the right  to maintain always a kindly demeanor toward friends and a generous self-restraint toward enemies to enjoy victory without being puffed up and to suffer defeat without being embit¬ tered to pass through all the trying experiences of life with calm dignity, with a serene spirit, and with imperturbed soul to live in peace
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/32442
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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