Autogravure and Man's dual nature, practical science of character building through analogy, concrete and objective methods

Front matter

Demonstrating now to Develop Character, and

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Index

I. GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

II. THE WORLD NEEDS CHARACTER AS A

PANACEA FOR ITS MANY ILLS.

III. AUTOGRAVURE THE INK OF FATE.

IV. MAN A TRINITY.

V. THE BRAIN.

VI. THE BRAIN. (QUESTIONS.)

VII. ANALOGY BETWEEN THE BRAIN AND THE

PHONOGRAPH.

VIII. ANALOGY BETWEEN THE BRAIN AND THE PHONOGRAPH. (QUESTIONS.)

IX. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHART OF THE

BRAIN AND THE PHONOGRAPH.

X. PRACTICAL METHOD FOR CREATING A

SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

XI. PRACTICAL METHOD FOR CREATING A

SUCCESSFUL LIFE. (QUESTIONS.)

XII. INSTRUMENTS FOR ENGRAVING THE

BRAIN.

XIII. THE SCIENCE OF BRAIN GROWTH.

XIV. THE SCIENCE OF BRAIN GROWTH. (QUES-

TIONS.)

XV. PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGING

ONE'S NATURE.

XVI. RECAPITULATION.

XVII. RECAPITULATION. (QUESTIONS.)

THIS SYSTEM PERTAINS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING THE MECHAN- ISM OF MAN'S INNER LIFE

WITH REGARD TO HIS SPIRITUAL, MORAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL MAKEUP IN THEIR RELATION TO THE BRAIN AND FORMATION OF CHARACTER.

The REAL CHARACTER OR MOTIVE POWER of

the individual is invisible; therefore, our first effort in these lessons will be to make the motive power of character visible — a living, tangible reality, so that we can handle and teach it.

To do this we must resort to analogy, concrete and objective methods.

The Bible is the most wonderful book of moral precepts that was ever written. It stands unparalleled in its SUBLIME IDEAL of the requisites of TRUE MANHOOD.

While its commands are very plain and easily understood its practice is extremely difficult. Although its precepts are simple when the individual undertakes to apply them in their true sense to his own actions and daily life, they become a weighty and perplexing problem.

As he realizes the enormous task before him he usually affects a compromise with the powers of evil. The consequence is that today we witness CHRISTIAN CIVILI- ZATION despoiling itself — a world on fire with war, vice and crime.

''Every individual should bear in mind that he was sent into the world to act a part in it."

To fulfill this MISSION he was given a sublime combination consisting of his SPIRITUAL, MORAL, MENTAL and PHYSICAL MAKEUP. This exquisite apparatus he calls HIMSELF .

It is incumbent upon him to use this mechanism and devise ways and means to operate it in accordance with the laws of the Creator to perform his allotted work.

Man should not undertake this momentous task in an indifferent, hap-hazard manner. On the contrary he should consider it the MOST VITAL AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF HIS LIFE.

An aeronaut would not think of flying an aeroplane without making a special study of the intricate parts of his machine; their relation, co-operation and corelation with each other so man should make a more profound study of the HUMAN MACHINE, as it is infinitely more complex and infinitely more important.

It seems, however, that this GREAT STUDY of man's four-fold nature has never been undertaken because there has never been a direct plan or text book available outlining it in a plain, simple manner easily understood. Therefore, I have arranged this work on HUMAN SCIENCE to meet the crying need of the ages, initiating man into a comprehension of the makeup of his mysterious WONDERFUL BEING AND HOW TO OPERATE IT.

MY SYSTEM deals with it in a plain, workable manner. It is an invention — an apparatus, as it were — for moulding CHARACTER. It lays bare man's invisible inner nature, — especially concerning that mysterious, intangible INSTRUMENT, the HUMAN SOUL in it relation, co-operation and interchangeableness with the body and its different faculties.

CHARACTER BUILDING Vf

While this method can greatly aid RELIGION, the THEOLOGIAN studies it in vain to find a CREED. The creed is not here, but it can be used as a powerful means to ADVANCE RELIGION.

THE SCIENTIST VIEWS it critically and fails to discover a treatise on science or numerous scientific references included within its pages — yet he must admit that the system does not conflict with science, but makes clear the perplexities and entanglements of the science of META- PHYSICS and the science of PSYCHOLOGY.

The MORALIST may feel somewhat disappointed because there is not more expatiating and sermonizing on morality — ^only just plain, every day facts and a plain, logical process given.

The truth concerning the REAL SELF and its motive forces are laid bare. It places in the hands of the MORAL- IST a great weapon of POWER for shaping HUMAN DESTINY AND TRANSFORMING EVIL INTO GOOD.

Prologue

THIS METHOD IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCA- TIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHERE THE BIBLE HAS BEEN PROHIBITED, AND ALSO FOR ASSOCIATIONS AND THE HOME. I THEREFORE ENDEAVOR TO CONFINE THIS WORK TO STRUCTURAL ETHICS, ELIMINATING EVERY- THING IN THE SLIGHTEST DEGREE SECTARIAN.

That the people of this nation have reached a crisis in moral deterioration the well informed will not deny.

Never in the past were unrest and discomfort so fully visible. Even Religion has not been able to dissipate the nightmare that has settled down upon our civilization.

Through avarice and injustice people have been driven to crime and insanity, and this condition is daily increasing.

ALL AGREE THAT SOME REMEDY SHOULD BE FOUND TO AID RELIGION AND PHILANTHROPY IN THEIR EFFORT TO AMELIORATE THIS IM- MORAL TREND OF SOCIETY.

With all the wonderful natural resources of a country like ours, with its enormous factories, mines, forests, railroads and vast sources of wealth — iron, coal, timber, valuable metals, rich soil, many of our people are still suffering from want.

In this ''great, abundant storehouse" that furnishes more than enough to feed and clothe all in comfort, many are destitute.

The great * 'crying need" of the nation is not for more money, food and clothing than it already has, IT IS FOR MORE VIRTUE, MORE JUSTICE, MORE WISDOM, TEMPERANCE AND MERCY. IF THESE WERE IN THE ASCENDANT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE THAN ENOUGH TO SUPPLY ALL BOUNTIFULLY.

Character in our legislators and in our people everywhere is the needed panacea for all wrongs. "The want of it is the cause that lies back of all immediate causes of distress."

I have therefore arranged a practical method for the promotion of virtue and development of character.

This I now offer to the public, "not as a literary effort," but as a practical system for shaping one's life.

Elegance of diction and refinement of style have been sacrificed for the purpose of making it plain and easily understood.

Although in a measure these lessons are crude and homely, I believe they will supply the long-felt want of a practical, text-book for teaching and inculcating character.

*'If we ever hope to civilize our race and prevent its hopeless ruin by our unscientific methods, we must study man's complex nature more closely than we have ever done before."

An editorial in the Chicago Examiner says :

"IT IS QUALITIES THAT FIT A MAN FOR A LIFE OF USEFULNESS, NOT THE MENTAL POSSES- SION OF FACTS."

"THE SCHOOL THAT BEST HELPS TO FORM CHARACTER, NOT THE ONE THAT IMPARTS THE MOST INFORMATION, IS THE COLLEGE THE FUTURE WILL DEMAND."

"IS THERE A SINGLE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD THAT FOCUSES ON QUALITIES?"

12 CHAEACTER BUILDING

I

GOOD CITIZENSHIP

WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL FORCES OF THIS NATION DOING FOR OUR PEOPLE?

EVERY NATION CLAIMING TO BE PROGRES- SIVE SHOULD BE STEADILY BUILDING UP ITS BEST ASSETS.

THE BEST ASSETS OF A NATION ARE THE INTEGRITY AND WORTH OF ITS CITIZENS.

EACH YEAR ADVANCEMENT SHOULD BE MADE ALONG THIS LINE THROUGH A FAR-SEE- ING POLICY OF EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT THAT EXALTS THE CHARACTER AND PROMOTES THE STABILITY OF THE PEOPLE.

We might imagine each one who has the training of our Boys and Girls asking himself as he contemplates their future, ''What have I accomplished during the past year and what am I now doing to promote the integrity of my pupils?

"Am I arranging affairs for the welfare of the rising generation with as much judgment solicitude and foresight as a successful business man displays in shaping matters pertaining to his financial interests? ' '

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THOSE EMPOWERED WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAINING THE YOUNG AND THUS DETERMINING TO A GREAT EXTENT THE FATE OF A NATION TO REALIZE THEIR HIGH CALLING AND CON- SECRATE THEMSELVES ANEW TO THE WORK OF PROMOTING A NOBLER RACE.

What we need is to strike boldly for the nation's moral resources — if need be, batter down the wall of prejudice and feed the famished millions from the great storehouse of truth and ethical culture.

A perplexing and difficult problem in the schools has been the want of a desirable system that will meet the nation-wide demand for a practical method of character building.

Believing that we can furnish this long-felt want, we ask the privilege of laying before you, who are sincerely interested in the welfare and right education of the people, a course of lessons.

THE BIG QUESTION WE PROPOSE TO ANSWER IS, HOW CAN WE SCIENTIFICALLY ARRIVE AT THE BEST METHODS OF TRAINING FOR CITIZEN- SHIP?

The great educators of today put little dependence on the incidental, haphazard development of their pupils along moral lines.

*Tn a matter so vast and far-reaching as character we should not trust to mere chance or accident."

INSTRUCTORS realize if it were possible to obtain a working system of character building that would materially assist in procuring good results it would prove a great blessing to mankind.

It is needless to enlarge on the value of character.

Think of the advantage and blessing it would be to have text books in your possession that would aid in making model citizens of your pupils.

IN OUR SCHOOLS THERE IS A VAST FIELD NOW OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND TARES BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN CULTIVATED.

"MORAL ACTIVITY LIKE OTHER EXERCISE BRINGS DEVELOPMENT.

THE MORAL MIND LIKE THE BODY CAN BE TRAINED."

ANYONE WHO DEVOTES THIRTY MINUTES A DAY TO MORAL EXERCISE WILL STRENGTHEN HIS "MORAL MUSCLES." Experience will verify this statement.

"AROUSE THE SAME SPIRIT OF ENTHUSIASM IN PROMOTING MORAL DEVELOPMENT that is manifest in a game of ball."

Present the study of character building as a matter worth while, AS A REAL THING, not one to be ignored but one worthy to receive an honored place in the curricula of schools.

II The World Needs Character

AS A PANACEA FOR ITS

MANY ILLS

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CRIME AND CRIMI- NALS COST THE UNITED STATES (S6,000,000,000) SIX BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

The deterioration and misery in the world — its crimes, murders, robberies, horrors of war, insanity, disease, great black plague, blindness, oppression, white slavery and persecution of all kinds come directly, or indirectly, for the most part, from want of character.

If want of character does so much harm, then the acquisition of good character should do proportionately as much good.

Taking this view of the case, as a matter of simple expediency, and economy, character should receive much attention.

IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE RICHEST UNTILLED SOIL OF EDUCATION THAT IS NOW NEGLECTED AND OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS, WHEREAS, IF CULTIVATED, IT WOULD YIELD AN ABUNDANT HARVEST OF PRECIOUS FRUIT.

Plato says 'Vhat is honored is cultivated, and that which is dishonored is neglected."

THE WORLD TODAY IS GROANING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF FALSE IDEAS, FALSE SYSTEMS, FALSE IDEALS AND FALSE STANDARDS.

People would become better if the systems and ideals were better, but they are harnessed to them and move just as the lines are pulled.

Too much importance cannot be attached to the brain. We might compare it to a ''library having many shelves^' on which we may place volumes that are elevating and ennobling; or on the other hand, we may place volumes that are pernicious and debauching.

Within the brain is stored the deeds of our lives. It is the "palace of the soul" where the Recording Angel keeps account of ''the deeds done in the body."

We suffer the consequence or reap the reward as the case may be. The brain is the archive of the soul.

WHAT WE THINK, DO OR SAY MAKES US WHAT WE ARE, AND HENCE, "VIRTUE IS ITS OWN REWARD."

OUR PAY IS A BRAIN PACKED WITH SUCCESS QUALITIES OR PACKED WITH FAILURE QUALI- TIES.

THESE WILL MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN LIFE AND BRING CORRESPONDING RESULTS.

CHARACTER

Character is the great motive power, which we might consider the d3^amo-electric within the brain of the individual that controls his thoughts, feelings and actions, and distinguishes him from every one else.

CHARACTER is regarded as a matter of the greatest importance, but being invisible it is generally conceded that "it should be caught rather than taught."

Character can not be perceived with the senses. We can neither hear, see, taste, smell or feel it; hence, all we know about character is its effect.

CHAEACTER BUILDING 17

However it would seem that the Great Creator did not intend that "a matter so vast and far-reaching should be left to mere chance or accident."

HENCE, I HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN THIS COURSE OF LESSONS TO LIFT CHARACTER OUT OF THE CHAOS OF THE INVISIBLE INTO THE REALM OF THE VISIBLE, AND MAKE IT STAND FORTH AS A LIVING OBJECTIVE REALITY SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE, DEMONSTRATE, EX- PLAIN AND TEACH IT, AND THEREBY CREATE IN THE MINDS OF PUPILS AN ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE TO ACQUIRE A NOBLE CHARACTER.

To do this we must resort to analogy, concrete or objective methods.

Did you ever realize how enormous is the invisible force that we call character? We know how great is the power of dynamite that is used to destroy buildings, bridges, warships, etc.; but how insignificant and limited in its scope of operations it is when compared with the dynamic force which results from the brain of man, for instance, Napoleon. Napoleon terrorized all Europe, c,aused the destruction of cities and villages and the slaughter of many thousand lives, with all the horrors attending warfare, and is said to have changed the map of Europe — all originating within the compass of one small man's brain, which was the cause of these calamities.

Consider the djniamic force in the brains of Murat and Robespierre, who were the chief promoters of the bloody Reign of Terror in France. It was the misguided force in their brains that instigated the brutal tragedies of that period.

Contemplate the magnificent work done for the freedom and preservation of this country by our own immortal Washington — all emanating from one small brain.

Imagine the marvelous feat of Joan of Arc, a shepherd girl, leading a defeated army on to victory.

When we consider that all these wonderful deeds are but the result of brain force manifesting itself in the physical world, we may well consider brain force a dynamo of no small power. In fact it does everything that is done by humanity — the inventions, structures, architecture, science, wars, splendid works of art, etc., etc. EACH WAS CONCEIVED BY THE SELF OR EGO IN THE BRAIN OF SOME INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM IT OWES ITS EXISTENCE; AN ENGINE OF SUCH WONDERFUL POWER FOR GOOD AND SUCH OVERWHELMING POWER OF DESTRUCTION SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO RUN RIOT IN A HAPHAZARD MANNER, BUT SHOULD BE MOST CAREFULLY TRAINED, DIS- CIPLINED, DEVELOPED AND GOVERNED.

WE MUST CONTROL THIS MARVELOUS FORCE AS WE DO THE LIGHTNING— CAGE AND CHAIN IT AS WE DO THE WILD BEASTS OF THE FOREST.

IT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING BELONG- ING TO MAN AND MAY PROVE THE MOST DIS- ASTROUS; hence, in these lessons I propose to deal with this organ directly and analyze, educate, develop, reconstruct and make it as far as possible what we wish it to be.

Character in each particular person is as his brain force is and his brain force is as his character is, for ''AS A MAN THINKETH SO IS HE."