Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-03-19
The Power of Love.

4 The dungeon and the scourge were former
| ly considered The only ctirciual way of re.
| s,roinIng manlacs, but experience has proved
| that love IL the best controlling power
| When Pinel the humane French physician,
| proposed 10 tTy tins experiment IN The Bed
| lam a, Blcctrc, many supposed that hIs lite
| would fail a sacrifice. But he walked fenr-
lessly into dungeons where ravlng man'acs
had been chained some ten years, some tor.
| ~ years and with gentle words he convlnc
ed them that they were free To go out INTO
the sunshine aud open air, # they would al
low hun To remove their chains and put on
straight wnlsrcoats. At first they dad not
believe 1t, because they had been so often de-
ceved.-When they found L true, nothing
could equal their gratitude end Joy. They
obcycd their delverer with the utmost doc l.
iiy, aud finally become very valuable Assist
ants III the management of The establishment.
/ Dorolhca l.. DIX, our American Mis-. Fry,
the God appointed missionary To pt-ons aud
almS-houses, told me that experience had
more than confirmed her iath IN the power
of kindness, over the insane aud vcIons.
\ AmoEg the hundreds of crazy people, with
whom her sacred mission has brought her IN.
In compromising. she had not found one IN
dIyIdual, however fierce and tn bulah,, that
could no, be Gained by Scripture aud prayer
uttered IN low and gentle tones. The pow.
er OF religious sentiments over these shaltcr-
ed souls seems perfectly miraculous. Tn"
worship Of n quiet, loving heart, affects them
like a voice from heaven. Tearing and rend
ing, yelling and stamping, singing aud groan
Ing, gradually subsidies into silence. and they
fall on their knecs,or gaze upward with clasp
ed hands, as # they saw through the opening
darkness golden CLEAN from their Fathers
throne of grace.
H On one occasion, this missionary Of mercy
was very earnestly cautioned not to approach
n ravIng mnnrac. Hr yelled tugh'ny day
and night, rent hi garments, puckcd out his
hair, and was so violent, that It was suppu-
i, d he would murder any who vcn,urcd with
~ his reach. Miss DIX seated herself nt
little distance. aud without appearing TO no.
tce hun, began To read with serene counte.
nance and gentle voice, certain passages Of
Scripture. filled with the spirit Of tenderness.
HIS shouts gradually subsId, d, unlll at last
h. became perfectly slIll When she paused
he sald meekly, Read me some more 1t does
me good hnd when, after a prolonged
season OF wurstip, sh" sald. 81 must 90 away
now, he' eagerly replied, Mo you cannot
90; God sent you IN me, and Won must not
60" BY KIND wnrds, aud promise 10 come
again, she finally obrlInrd PERMISSION to de-
part. "Gvr mc your hand" sad he; she
gave It, and smiled upon hlm. The wild ex.
preston oi his haggnrd counlrnaucc soften.
ed To tearluncss, Hs hc SaId--"fou treat me
rlght. God sent You"
On au"'hrf occasion. she had been leading
some twenty or ,hrry manacs III to worship,
aud seeing them all lnlc, as lambs gathered
INTO the Shrpherd's told, she prepared 10 go
tnrlh to other duties. In leaving the room
-llc passed an insane Young man, wlih whom
she had had several interviews. With n
friendly smIIc, she SAID. Henry. are you well .
to-day ?" "ilush hush ~ replied he, sink
Ing his VOICE la n Whisper. and gazing earn
"slly on the spare arouud her "liu.h there
are angels with you! They have gwen you
ihcr voices"
Bat lct not the Journalist suppose that h. .
can work such miracles ns these, IN the pro- Il
irsscd namc ~ jesus Yam = tho scrIprur"
or che prayer rcprstrd ny note. They must
be the meek uItcranc" nfa heart ovcrt;owIrg .i
with love. i"r To such only "thc angels lend !
ihclr voice"