Character.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3138, 10 March 1879, Page 3

Character.

The following short essay was read at a late meeting of Thames Young Men's Christian Association:—

The subject of character, sostyled, is rather vague, inasmuch as there are Tarious phases' of character. We have mental characteristics, and physical characters, as also of morals and manners. However, I conceive that peculiarities of mind is the groove in which I must dwell. The first thought that presents itself to my mind is—the nature of one's mental faculties is almost certain to manifest itself in outward appearance, manners, &c. For instance, a vain mind will display its vanity by an undue attention to dress, and a parade of all that goes to show little save the possession of conceit and affectedness ; a miserly mind discovers itself in its miserable grasping to accumulate wealth, without other object than to horde it up. As to how our characters are formed, that the circumitances with which our lives are surrounded have great influence I do not for • moment doubt. We are creatures of merit not merely by reason of organic formation of mind favorable to the existence and development of superior qualities, but also by virtue of the benefacial effect of education; by which I mean, not only literary accomplishments but all that the diversified means of trij^ng which our intelligence is capable of receiving, to the end of ah estabishment of correct moral principles. Noble and elevated characteristics of mind are not the outcome of nature's gift, but the effect rather of such influences as mould suitable material, and so evolve the production of such superior qualities of intellect. So also, it might be argued, tre we capable of the lowest and most unworthy acts, and vile passions, which •re not necessarily the results of an information of mind, but the want of proper moral education. Here its occurs to me that the subject under discussion naturally leads one. to that of phrenology. If it be true, as this science says, that certain formation of head gives certain mental attributes, and each of these power proportionate to their size and quality, there remain several inexplicable points which I have never seen settled. 1. How can it be accounted for that a person who may, for a very considerable portion of his life, have lived in defiance, as it were, of the laws of God and man, and guilty of such conduct as to make him unfit to be called human,—that such person should be thoroughly converted to reverence and obedience to God, and goodwill towards man? And further (which is important to notice), without that predisposition to wrong-doing which must have actuated him before, if in position of those faculties opposed to good and proper conduct. 2. Has it not been known that men of good education, and supposed superior capacity of mind, have committed heinous offences, and fallen beyond reclamation ? I have heard it stated that the now notorious Ned Kelly (bushranger), is a superior sort of ruffian, that is, that he has intellectual capacity above ordinary thieves or murderers, which I am quite prepared to believe; and I argue tbat if this same person had had a very different bringing up, if the circumstances attending his youth had been otherwise, if his father had been a respectable man instead a convict, his mother a saint instead of a sinner—he might have been a preacher of the gospel -instead of a bushranger! Perhaps I have made a divergence/but I believe I have supported the assertion that training" and association have a very great influence in forming our characters, though it is allowed good qualities or abilty is not secured irrespective of capacity, yet neither are supposed welldeveloped organs a guarantee of soundness or strength of intellect. It is interesting to consider how different minds vary in detail of character. ' Thousands of minds give thousands of thoughts, and no two minds, it is said, think exactly alike; but it is a grand idea that, notwithstanding the countless varieties of thought, diversified imaginations, and conflicting temperaments, so large a proportion of mankind are moved and governed by the same principles and truths which are inculcated in the instructions for our guidance in right-doing by our great Creator. , ! : .

E.D.