PROPER ATMS TO MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2071, 12 July 1890, Page 3

PROPER ATMS TO MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING.

' The following is a short synopsis of the paper on the above subject, read before the , Geraldine Literary and Debating Society by Mrß. T.Fergusaon- ' . .' v . Thb writer commenced by saying . that the : subject, of his paper had occurred : to him while listening to an * address * given by the- Eev. T. A. Hamilton, ef Ternuka, at the opening - b£ the present session of the society. TTr divided his subject into two heads, namely; personal powers, and that which referred, to their efficiency; non-personal powers, that which referred to' the use of those powers for our own good and the good of others. They must look carefully to the training of their personal powers, bodily, mental, , and'; spiritual. The bodily came first as,the.most visible personal property, which required the greatest care; i iTheir aim here should be to preserve the body in good health and thorough fitness for its work. The ■ writer here enumerated some of the means to be used, and excesses to be avoided, in keeping the body sound and healthy. I be mind was another ... possession of this that they must carefolly train by means of thoroughly good books, wholesome amusements, and elevating companionships to be of greatest possible use to themselves the world at large. As a means such ends societies similar to the one of which his audience were mem- ; bets were of very great value. Last, but most important, came the soul, or spiritual possession. Speaking on this he would simply quote a sentence from an eminent and well-known ■ author, “ That a soul saved and trained by God’s grace is God’s best and

choicest instrument for His work in this, world.’’, , These, to, the writer’s mind, were the r aims that demanded the greatest care if life aa to.bo made worth living for. Befernng to the aims he had designated “nonpersonal,” that is, the using of their powers for the benefit of others, they could not but realise that to make life worth living they must not live solely for self. They must help others to be of use to themselves and their fellows. With this end in view; each person should seek to better his position in life, as such aspirations, added to honest patient endeavor tq achieve the result, would be certain to influence those around them, and infuse into them an ambition to rise also. I heir chief concern at the same time should be to do thoroughly and well the work that fell to their lot, and to fill to the very best of their powers the position in which they were placed. Speaking of amusements and pleasures he urged "hat they should be such as yroold not injure their personal powers. Jsaany games of skill and chance which were in themselves eminently calculated to afford wholesome amusement and recreation had obtained an evil repute owing to their demoralising surroundings. These should be rescued from such surroundings, and utilised for healthy and legitimate recreation Lastly each one should do his and her best to help the young men and women to reach a higher phase of life and action, s© that a more ennobling and- purer atmosphere should pervade human society, and that of these young colonies in particular. Mr Fergusson’s paper having been duly criticised he was accorded a hearty vote of thahka for the same.