Editors’ Table: Science and Evolution

:

Editors' Table

Science and Evolution

Attention is called to a series of special articles that will ap-

pear in the Era on subjects relating to science and evolution, by

Dr. Robert C. Webb, the first of which, under the title, "Science

Falsely so Called," is printed in this number. Students and others

interested in up-to-date thought on these vital subjects will find

much pleasure and profit in the brilliant arguments of Dr. Webb,

who has already been favorably introduced to our readers in a

number of papers which have heretofore appeared in the Era, on

"Joseph Smith, Jr., as a Translator," "Truth-Seeking," "The Gali-

leo of Sociology," etc.

Parables

A parable is understood to be a comparison or a similitude.

It is defined in the dictionary specifically as a "short, fictitious nar-

from which a moral is

rative of a possible event in life or nature,

drawn." Dr. Talmage is favoring our readers with a series of

parables based not on fiction, but on true experience, for he be-

lieves that actual occurrences may as justly serve for the basis of

parables as fiction. Both the narrative and the moral in these

parables grip the reader with their aptness. The fifth of the

series appears in this number.

"Treasures in Heaven"

Is the title of a new volume, just printed, continuing the old

Faith-promoting series which many of our middle-aged readers

will remember as having been originated and published some

thirty or thirty-five years ago, by Elder George C. Lambert.

This new volume contains, among others, the wonderful story of

Niels, "A Modern Stoic." Work actuated by faith, under very

adverse circumstances, is the keynote of the story which will be

read with delight by all who have had to undergo toil and hard-

ship in life, as well as by the young people who have life before

them, and who from this true and remarkable story will receive

faithand encouragement to make the best of their surroundings.

Other volumes are to follow as the demand may warrant. They

are designed to promote faith and to incite good works in those

who read them. He announces as among his prospective titles

082 IMPROVEMENT ERA

"Choice Memories," "Eternal Riches," "Gems of Reminiscence,"

"Nuggets of Truth," "Restored Gifts," "Called of God," "Heroes

of Humble life," "Why Try?" "Essence of Experience," "Cher-

ished Recollections," "Triple Extract," "Lest WeForget," "Broth-

er's Keeper," "Inspired Counsel," "Heavenly Help," "Blessings

Recalled." In the present volume, aside from the story referred

to, are four others

—"A Woman with a Purpose," "An Excep-

tion," "My Mother," and "Examples of Righteous Zeal." The

volume consists of about 100 pages of type and style similar to

the old edition issued some thirty-five years ago ;

price 25c.

Author's address, 141 West, 1st South, Salt Lake City.

Character

Since the development of character will be considered in the

Junior Y. M. M. I. A. classes during the next season, the follow-

ing sermonet written by Robert J. Burdette, is worthy the careful

consideration of class leaders. We have the permission of the

publishers of the National Magazine, Boston, to reproduce it in

the Era :

Someone has said, "Character is what a man is in the dark."

What he is without an audience. His reputation may be grand-

stand play a safe, senseless slide to second with the ball a quarter

;

—

of a mile away a cloud of dust and thunders of cheers from peo-

ple who don't know the game. His character may be the sacri-

fice hit that brings him hisses from the same class of people— and

advances the team.

What you wish you were, that's your ideal. What people

think you are, that's your reputation. What you know you are,

that's your character. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, you may

fool some other people all of the time, but you can't fool yourself

one little bit of the time.

Reputation is a variable estimate, depending not upon what

people know about you, but upon their guesses, made from what

they see of you. "We have lived together for fifty years," said the

Left Hand, "and I never saw him do one charitable action." That's

reputation. But all that time the generous Right Hand was the

almoner of God, working in loving and secret fellowship with

Him. That's character.

You will not drink wine, not even for politeness' sake, and

at the table of an esteemed friend, and "our Best Society" says you

are a fanatical, bigoted prohibitionist. You refuse to encourage a

vile story with a smile. Some people say you are a cold-blooded

hypocrite. You will not permit yourself to laugh at a funny story,

well told, in which all the "laugh" is in its profanity. And folk

EDITORS' TABLE 983

say you are self-righteous. And you carry your Bible in your

hand when you walk to church. And they say "a canting Phari-

see." Yet all the while your character is that of a sober, pure-

—

minded, reverent, God-fearing man a Christian. Four reputa-

tions —all bad, and one character which outweighs and outlasts the

four, going into eternity with you.

—

Character you won't find the word in your Bible. But there

—

you learn what it is. The Bible isn't a dictionary it's a Teacher.

The primary meaning of the word "character" is an instrument for

marking or graving commonly, a mark engraved upon a plate of

;

stone or metal a figure cut deeply into a plate of bronze by a

;

chisel of steel. Now do you begin to understand what character is?

Something which your daily life cuts deep and deeper into

your soul day by day, and marks you, I pray, for one of God's

men or women, even a special one among his millions. "To him

that overcometh I will give a white stone, and in the stone (not

'on' it, you will observe) a new name written, which no man

knoweth save he that receiveth it." Isn't that glorious? Won-

drously glorious ? That new name, graven by the finger of God,

in exclusive confidence with yourself, deep in the white pebble of

—

your life that's your character. Not Simon, as men called you.

But Peter by the dear Lord's re-christening. What God knows

you are, and what you know you are. Do you begin to understand

what your character is ?

Even the angels may never fully comprehend your true char-

acter. John quotes Christ as saying that it is a secret between

God and yourself. Maybe God himself doesn't quite know your

new name yet. He is learning it from your daily life. Are you

setting him a fair copy for that new name? Every day you pray

the Heavenly Father to watch over you and keep you from evil in

your actions. Do you pray just as earnestly that he will watch

just as carefully to see what you are thinking, hear what you are

whispering, that he will look down into your deepest soul to note

what are your secret inclinations ? By these things you are shap-

ing your character. God doesn't make it you do.

;

Character is not builded up, like a house that can be torn

'

down if it be found defective. It is being engraved, day by day,

deep, deep, deep into your very soul— the immortal part of you.

You can't rub it out. Should you try to cut it out, it will leave a

hole that will have to be patched, a wound that may heal, but will

heal with a scar. Character stands. And you can't write your

character in the ragged years of the fag-end of a misspent life.

Christ can forgive the sins of a penitent thief on his death-

bed. But he can't give him the character of an honest man. He

was a thief all his life. And in death he is just a forgiven thief.

A pardoned convict. The record stands. It can't be changed to

show that the convict was never in the penitentiary.