THINGS THOUGHTFUL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20044, 6 September 1920, Page 9

THINGS THOUGHTFUL.

Integrity of character is the only basis of lasting happiness.—Mr Justice :\T Cardie. THE FUTURE LIFE. The great question for every man is not: is there a future life? What sort ot hto will it be? lint: Is there anything in my life that is worth a future, anything which an Infinite God Who has the business of a universe- on band, the making of men, the defeat "f sin and selfishness, the established of a universal spiritual kingdom . righteousness and peace and truth m reasonably bo expected to continue ) all eternity? Wo should often have reason to be •shamed of our most brilliant actions f the world could sen the motives from •■‘lnch they spring.—La Rochefoucauld. THE DARKNESS, Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ..iuth hour.—(Matt, xxvii., 40.) .ho Sun refused to shed its glorious light Where God’s own Son hung dying on the .tree, Gut turned away its head, changed day *■o night, s Ashamed to see such stiff’ring just for me. 1 i'orhitjjs the Sun had merely turned aside To light its Maker’s path through Death’s Dark Vale; I’erhnps its tears of sorrow made it • hide Its light, aiid quCiich its' flame from hill and dale —Giovanni. A SPOILT LIFE. There is no compensation for the woman who feels that the duel relation of her life has been no more than a mistake. She has lost her crown. Ihe . deepest secret of human blessedness ims half-whispered itself to her, and then lor ever passed . her by.— George- Eiiol. WAR THE PURIFIER.. Hie groat question of "the, democracies of to-day is how to reconcile both in separate societies and in the larger imuijy of nations the ’claims of free solf-devolopment .with the restraints and obligations which are needed for the safeguard of common interests and the attainment of common ideals. This war, with all its tragedies of suffering and of sacrifice, is purifying and ing the atmosphere. We can neither go back to the past nor rest in the present, but out of the 'esson and tho experience of both we can build up a worthier fabric for the future of humanity.—Mr Asquith. Men who rdsign rather than part with liberty do only a prudent action, but those who lay it down for friends and country do a' heoric' one.—Steele. THE COURSE OF EVIL. Wo are not worst at once; the course of evil. Regius so slowly, and from such slight source, An infant’s hand might stem its breach • with clay. But let the stream get deeper, and philosophy— Ay, and religion; loo—shall strive in vain To turn the headlong torrent. —Sir Walter Scott. Remember that you are not the measure of all men. Your weakness ought not to limit your brother’s liberty, nor your liberty to become a stumbling block to your weaker brother.—Mandoll Creighton. . WISE KINDNESS. Not every act done with a generous or kindly motive is a wise act. It is not enough, therefore, to judge a deed merely by the doer’s “ heart.” If he docs not take pains to bo wise in his doings, ho is inconsiderate, and, at the loot, unkind. Ho has not given his fellows all that was duo to them, for they are entitled to his thinking as well as to his feeling. There is, indeed, often a superficiality in what we call good-heartedness. It acts in response to a volatile feeling, and sometimes works harm It is he that “ coiisidcreth the poor” that is promised a. blessing. Sympathy and pity may enter into this “ consideration,” out they 7 are not the whole of it. ■ We have an obligation to be sensible toward as well as sensitive for another. It is as kind to be wise as it is wise to bo kind. To pass through life innocently and buppily, to bo wisely and contentedly poor, io boar the trials wo all must oear quietly and well, to,do what little imnd wc can. without the awful responsibility of misapplied wealth, is a far happier fate than being grand, elevated •Iml overladen with golden riches.—J. Ham I'mwell. ALL’S WELL. Tho day is ended. Ere I sink to sleep, ■' T '' eary spirit seeks repose m J inno. Father! forgivo my trespasses, and keep ihis little life of mine. Vith loving kindness curtain Thou mv bed, And cool in rest my burning pilgrimfeet; i by pardon be the pillow for my head; bo shall my sleep be sweet. , Vt peace with all the world, dear. Lord', and Thee, No fears my soul's unwavering faith can shake, • “ Vll’s well, whichever side the grave for ■me The morning lirdit may break. —Harriot M. Kimball. SING. Wo do not sinrr enough, either in our homes or in the house of God. Tiro

tongue that is singing will not he scolding, dr slandering, or complaining, or uttering nonsense. And in the house of God it is sheer robbery to seal the mouths of Christ's redeemed followers, and to relegate the sacred joy of praise to the voice of half a dozen hired formersA • man’s good name is his best monument. WISE IN TIME. “Nine-tenths of our wisdom lies in being wise in time,” says a great statesman. As far as results are concerned the wisdom that comes too late is often little better than follv. “If onlv I had thought of it when tho chance offered, 1 might.” is the preh’de to many of our useless regrets. No one can go beyond his own be«t judgment at the time when ho is called upon to decide any question. But in these days when “ preparedness ” is such a common term, it is well to remember that there is also such a thing as mental preparedness. One’s best judgment at any sudden demand depends upon Urn value of tho resources that brain and character havebeen storing beforehand. Clear thinking is greatly a matter of self-training. "Wisdom is an acquirement, and the habit of swifthasking God’s counsel in hours of perplexity is an unfailing sourcei of enlightenment.