A BISHOP’S CONCEPT OF ENTHUSIASM
An OUP dictionary defines enthusiasm as a strong feeling of
excitement and interest in something and a desire to become involved in it. The
word is, however, also used to convey eagerness, keenness, passion, zeal, zest,
whole-heartedness, devotedness, commitment, earnestness and even fanaticism.
It is undeniable that nothing great can be achieved in any field
of life without a good deal of enthusiasm. English statesman and author
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) thinks that
every production of genius must be the
production of enthusiasm. American author and editor Christian Nestell Bovee
(1820-1904) speaking in the same vein
says great designs are not accomplished without
enthusiasm of some sort. It is the inspiration of everything great. Without it
no man is to be feared, and with it none to be despised.
What follows is a short sermon by Gilbert White9
1859-1933) a poet and Anglican Bishop of Carpentaria ).
He served two Australian dioceses for 25 years. He is best known for his two
immortal books ‘FIFTY-SIX SHORT SERMONS and FIFTY-TWO SHORT SRMONS: For the Use of Lay Readers, published in
London in 1922 and 1926 respectively.
What follows is an extract from his sermon on “Enthusiasm”:
The word means
literally, “in God,” that is, God-possessed. Practically it means a man so
ruled and possessed by a great idea that difficulties are taken little count
of, disappointment survived and hope ever renewed. It means that when a man is
so possessed he finds pleasure in all that pertains to the mater in hand, he
bends all to it, he is never tired of dwelling upon it, and laying it before
others, and seeking out those who delight in it as he does himself.
It is this enthusiasm that we need, to counteract and
cast out that indifference which is so
fatal to any faith. Enthusiasm does not
mean noise and shouting or necessarily any outward demonstration. It is quality of the man, not an outward
demeanour; a fire burning steadily in the heart, not crackling of thorns before the eyes of men.
There is often a dread of enthusiasm, an inclination to adopt
Talleyrand’s motto, “Above all, no zeal,’ a tendency to be or ashamed of being
in earnest about anything, a tendency to dabble in many but to give the whole
mind to nothing. There is nothing to be proud of in this. It is as sure a sign
of national decay of vitality as languor and listlessness are of bodily
disease. It has been prevalent during the worst times, when, as in the final
days of the Roman Empire, there were many Gallios who cared for none of these
things.
Most enthusiasms are good whether they be for Art or Science
of Invention or National Reform.
Enthusiasm at least does this, it raises a man out of
himself, out of the petty round of selfish interests into a higher and more
unselfish atmosphere; and of all enthusiasms that for Truth and Righteousness
is the highest and noblest. It alone can fully satisfy every aspiration, and
fulfil the highest interest of the human heart.
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22nd
DECEMBER 2020 G.
R. Kanwal
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