Newspaper Page Text
Page Seventy-six
THE MAROON TIGER
Man’s Greatest Gift To Man
J. N. Hughley, ’29
Take a backward glance over the trend of the
ages, the dramatic history of man’s dark and bit
ter struggle toward the light, and note how civili
zation has advanced under the influence of great
contributions from every phase of aictivity into
which man has been hurled for subsistance, com
fort and progress. From the records of the days
in which man first enjoyed the light of life, may
be found the social order of the tribe, the gov
ernment conceived by a primitive mind. In re
cent times that gift has gradually envovled—by
virtue of a constant addition of accomplishments
of human enterprise in government—into the in
tricate modern state with its democratic struc
ture. It was human experimentation and success
that transformed the world of industry from its
foundation on crude instruments of stone to the
gigantic structures of machinery, whose variety
of functions and intricacies of formation are al
most inconceivable. The very surface of the earth
has been so revolutionized by science and inven
tion that a man of the first century could hardly
recognize his old home were he suddenly sent
back to pay it a visit.
The development of the thought-life of men
has made them almost gods in their superiority
over the primitive mind. The conception of the
universe, its meaning and purpose; the thought
about God, the idea of human relationships; and
almost any conceivable realm of thought or phil
osophy, has been so revolutionized as to have
reached the loftiest planes, the noblest concep
tions. Yet all these things are but the result of
human sacrifice and attainment, which have giv
en us these blessings as a rich heritage of the
ages.
Despite the vast significance—and importance
suggested by the foregoing accomplishments men
tioned, these have not been man’s greatest gift,
nor have they supplied humanity’s greatest need.
The greatest gift, which transcends, in signifi
cance and influence, everything else, is human
personality. Despite the progress of science and
thought, society is still gripped with her age-old
arch-enemy—vice, crime and disease still haunt
the prosperity of the world, and antagonize the
goodness and virtue of every human soul. Only
the investment of personality, bringing in its rich
returns when wisely used, has offered a way of re-
lief.To the degree which civilization produce*
great personalities, just so far—and only so far- -
does it make real progress. A great character,
and only a character, can vitalize everyth 'g with
which it comes into contact. Furthermoie, the
great human soul is Creation’s most precious
product, and the only abiding thing, when all else
will surrender itself up to dissolution.
Try to picture a world with its gruesome pace
of history, replete with situations inviting hope
lessness and despair. Remove from such a world
the noble souls of Moses, Wycliff and Luther, j
whose lives have been a shining light thrown j
across the dark path of civilization. In such a j
world let there be no Augustine, no Calvin, no
Wesley. Blot out the mighty personalities of
Paul, the missionary, and Aristotle, the philoso
pher. Who would wish to live ten days in such a
world ?
One writer has declared that the finest fruit
earth holds up to its Maker is a man. It is the
same idea that Jesus endeavored to impress upon
his generation: that man is the creature of su
preme value in the universe, and all else is sub
ordinate in significance to him. Who would dare
challenge the assertion that when one has seen
a human personality, with its mind of infinite
capacity, its power for thinking and developing,
and its propensity toward that which is noble and
best, that he has seen the most glorious piece of
work that God has created ? It is no wonder then
that God looks upon the human race as His mas
terpiece.
After considering all these thing, we must con
clude that the greatest contribution that a young
man or woman can. make to the world is charact
er. Society is overflowing with ideas as well as
material prosperity. What it needs is the soul
of the youth,—the soul developed to the highest
of which it is capable, rich with noble thoughts
and passionate for divine truth. The cry of the
human heart today is for love, light and peace.
Without these things mankind must perish. Yet,
they can be wrought only by .the magnetic power
and overwhelming influence of human personality.
I JAMES L. HOLLOWAY
JEWELER
I
j
Sells Watches, Jewelry, Diamonds, Sil
verware, Cut Glass, Engraving and all j
j Kinds of Repair work. Special Rates to |
j Students.
i
I 55 AUBURN AVENUE
(
i I
—... —«—❖
.5."—
Notary Public
T. W. HOLMES
Attomey-at-Law
241-3 HERNDON BLDG. Atlanta