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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