SHORT STUDIES IN ETHICS _AN ELEMENTARY TEXT-BOOK FOR SCHOOLS_ BY REV. J. O. MILLER, M.A., _Principal of Bishop Ridley College_ TORONTO: THE BRYANT PRESS 1895 Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture, by REV. J. O. MILLER, M.A., St. Catharines, Canada. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DUTY 7 II. OBEDIENCE 15 III. TRUTHFULNESS 19 IV. COURAGE 24 V. PURITY 30 VI. UNSELFISHNESS 35 VII. HONESTY 40 VIII. FAITHFULNESS 45 IX. PROFANITY 50 X. JUSTICE 54 XI. BENEVOLENCE 59 XII. AMBITION 63 XIII. PATRIOTISM 68 XIV. BODILY EXERCISE 72 XV. HABIT 77 XVI. INDUSTRY 82 XVII. SELF-CONTROL 88 XVIII. SELF-RELIANCE 91 XIX. FRIENDSHIP 95 XX. GENTLEMANLINESS 100 XXI. COURTESY 105 XXII. REPENTANCE 110 XXIII. CHARACTER 115 XXIV. CONSCIENCE 120 PREFACE This little book has grown out of periodical addresses to my own pupils. An experience of over ten years has convinced me of the necessity of teaching systematically the fundamental principles of Morality. The scarcity of books suitable as elementary texts is a sufficient proof that the subject is neglected in our schools. It cannot be right that children should be left to master so wide a subject from incidental instruction and from example. I should be sorry if any one thought, from glancing at the topics I have treated, that I seemed content to put lessons in practical Morality in place of instruction in the Scriptures and definite religious teaching. Nothing can take the place of the Scriptures. But I feel convinced that these two aspects of Truth must go hand in hand. The young mind requires the truth to be presented to it from all sides, and nothing appeals to it so strongly as a modern example. My own idea as to the use of such a book as this is that it should supplement Bible instruction. The lessons are short enough to be taught in half an hour. If one topic is taken up each week, and thoroughly explained, and enlarged on by fresh examples from current life and history, the whole book can be easily mastered in the school year, and leave ample time for review and examination. If it should prove helpful to other teachers, my labour will be amply rewarded. _Bishop Ridley College, St. Catharines, Feb. 28th, 1895._ [Greek: Megas gar ho agôn, megas, ouch hosos dokei, to chrêston ê kakon genesthai.] --_Plato._ No. I. DUTY +Duty is something which is due, and which, therefore, ought to be paid or performed. It is something owed by everybody, to God, to self, or to others.+