Text: N. P. Willis (?), Literary, Weekly Mirror (New York), December 21, 1844, vol. 1, no. 11, p. 164, col. 2

[page 164, column 2:]

LITERATURE.

GOODNESS, AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF TRUE GREATNESS. A Baccalaureate Address, by Rev. CHAS. WHITE, D. D. — That goodness is a much better thing than greatness, in this world of ours, is undeniable; and this fact furnishes one of the strong proofs of an over-ruling Providence. It is an admirably chosen theme for a Baccalaureate, and our author has set it forth with great power, and, in many passages of the Discourse before us, with great beauty. This commendation is especially due to the earlier portions of the address, some of the paragraphs of which could hardly be improved. The greatness of God, the author tells us with as much beauty as force, is the greatness of goodness. And, under the second head of the discourse — “All men, when thoughtful and calm, admit that goodness is pre-requisite to greatness. Even ambitious conquerors havehushed the rebukes of their own nature by secretly resolving, that their course of violence should be a brief one, and should be followed, as night by day, with worthy, useful, munificent things whirls they would do. Their approbation of themselves, their reputation and glory before the world they have intended to rest on the promulgation of superior codes of laws, liberal provisions for the education of the young, the encouragement of science and art, the founding and fostering of institutions of charity, the setting up of national defences, the augmenting of national wealth and fame. It is the inward desire and purpose of every man to obscure and forget (qu. hide ?) his bad deeds, and build on his good ones all the greatness he would have the world behold — all he would himself remember.” These are truly “apples of gold in pictures of silver,” and there are many such, which we should be glad to impart to our readers. We hope the discourse itself will be widely read, confident as we are that the greatness of goodness will be all the better appreciated.

* Perhaps our religious readers will remember some lines of our own (in our volume of Sacred Poems.) ad dressed to this eminent clergyman, now President of Wabash College, on his leasing his charge in the village of Owego for his present appointment. President White is a man to whom, in onr five years’ residence at Glen many, (in his parish,; we became much devoted in friendship and respect, and we were much gratified by receiving a copy of his Address.