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Editorial
June 21, 1855
Watchman And Observer
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial critiques impatience for notoriety among young writers, speakers, and ministers, who seek public fame and attention, seeing it as a sign of mental poverty and moral weakness, while advocating true ambition for greatness.
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Impatience for Notoriety.—The following
remarks by a writer in the New York Evangelist
strike at the vanity discovered in the restless
desire for notoriety, too often seen in the pulpit.
Chr. Obs.
"One reason why there are so few really great
men now-a-days, is the impatience for notoriety
of young writers and speakers. They wish to
rush into fame at once, and to be able to com-
mand the highest places in their profession.
Even Ministers of the gospel show an itching to
appear on public platforms, and to have their
names shine in the newspapers. To one who
has seen much of the world, and is able to com-
pare men with each other, nothing so surely in-
dicates poverty and emptiness of mind as this
buzzing to attract attention. A clergyman may
indeed aspire to eminence. He may desire to
be a truly great, as well as a good man, and so
far, his ambition will but stimulate his mind,
and make him the more useful. But for the sake
of decency, let him drop his boyish fondness
for appearing in a public exhibition.
Anything that appears like fantastic dress,
either in man or woman, is a sure indication not
only of the weakness of the head, but also of
the depravity of the heart."
remarks by a writer in the New York Evangelist
strike at the vanity discovered in the restless
desire for notoriety, too often seen in the pulpit.
Chr. Obs.
"One reason why there are so few really great
men now-a-days, is the impatience for notoriety
of young writers and speakers. They wish to
rush into fame at once, and to be able to com-
mand the highest places in their profession.
Even Ministers of the gospel show an itching to
appear on public platforms, and to have their
names shine in the newspapers. To one who
has seen much of the world, and is able to com-
pare men with each other, nothing so surely in-
dicates poverty and emptiness of mind as this
buzzing to attract attention. A clergyman may
indeed aspire to eminence. He may desire to
be a truly great, as well as a good man, and so
far, his ambition will but stimulate his mind,
and make him the more useful. But for the sake
of decency, let him drop his boyish fondness
for appearing in a public exhibition.
Anything that appears like fantastic dress,
either in man or woman, is a sure indication not
only of the weakness of the head, but also of
the depravity of the heart."
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Notoriety
Clergy Vanity
Public Attention
Moral Ambition
Fantastic Dress
What entities or persons were involved?
New York Evangelist
Ministers Of The Gospel
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Impatience For Notoriety In Clergy And Young Professionals
Stance / Tone
Moral Exhortation Against Vanity And Public Exhibitionism
Key Figures
New York Evangelist
Ministers Of The Gospel
Key Arguments
Impatience For Notoriety Prevents Development Of Great Men
Young Writers And Speakers Rush Into Fame
Ministers Seek Public Platforms And Newspaper Mentions
Seeking Attention Indicates Mental Poverty And Emptiness
True Ambition Should Stimulate Usefulness, Not Boyish Exhibition
Fantastic Dress Signals Weakness Of Head And Depravity Of Heart