The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13


ure Of our being in that higher state is decided by
our actual life here
Oar most efficient actions, our highest thoughts
or most glowing flights Of fancy, seem to us at
times as poor expressions of the power within
us--merely suggestive Of our Utmost spiritual
life At such times, we enter into the world with
in, and are ushered into the presence Of cur true
spiritual being, 30 near as earthly dust can APP
proach that representative of the Infinite in man
But it is only glimpses Of the shrine that are
granted-we hear only the whisperiDgs Of the
oracle, the divine afllatus is not yet vonchsafed TO
us. We 90 out filled with these half-visions and
their revealings, and preach our Gospel to the
earth-born. IL is well. So far as we receive them
in humility and impart them faithfully, giving
them such tangible forms as We are able, whether
it be in words or aotions-by embodying the
Beautiful and the Godlke in form and color, or by
| the divner expression of music, so far do they
| become revelations of the Godke--so far do we
become ministers Of the Gospel but in our high
| est efforts, our most successful actions we are
conscious of imperfection. We cannot realize our
aspirations All the attributes Of our finite ex-
istence cannot give expression to the spiritual be-
ing which we recognise within us Our whole
actual lite is but suggestive OF that deeper life
which we believe our own, but OF which we are
yet conscious only Of the embryo existence. At
every progressive step, we penetrate deeper into
the mysteries of our being, but there is still
vail cast over the shrine whose secrets we would
explore This power within, of which our outer
life and actions are the material representative
representative imperfect yet truly suggestive
is the Ideal which the love of our warmest friends
sees in us-which lies behind our actions and pro-
claims itself with fuller language than word or
deed can utter This is the embryo ofab higher stage
of being--unflsdge yet Huttering and anxious
for holder fight undeveloped, because bound in
by material chains, yet glowing with aspirations
which reveal it's transcendent destiny and pro-
claim to us life beyond mortality.
In reviewing our life, we are impressed with
the resemblance of isolated cases Of personal ex-
perience to the whole life we have lived. They are
the texts to the continuous manifestation Of being
within us, as it is progressively developed Our
present internal being is ever moulding itself in
accordance with that which we arc to become.
Every successive stage of existence is modified by
that out Of which IL Immediately arises and at the
time, while in its conceptive state IL imparts
an influence to our already developed phase OF
character indicative of the qualities II is in
PRODUCING with us.
The developed soul Is a manifestation Of our
primitive being quickened into life by the sun Of
earthly existence. As this life has grown out of
another, within which IL lay in embryo until the
period arrived when it should cast of that one
which Was matured and exhausted and gradually
unfold itself into human existence-as the germ
Of higher life now throbs within the folds OF this
presen; one, filing 1t with desires and aspirations
beyond mortaity-eveu thus progresses the soul
through This life in the gradual development OF its
various attributes. We are conscious of q vague
idea which becomes q definite thought, and then
heartfelt desire to attain certain power.
Then, after 1t may be, years Of patient endurance
or Of active toll, we realize the fulness Of that
power That is hopeful saying Of the Germans,
that what we wish In youth, we have to fulness
in old agep believe that strong, heartfelt de-
sire always verges into power, where there Is CON-
sistepcy aud realty TO maintain IT, fully be-
lieve it, for our true aspirations are the PRESENT..
ments Of power. Thus, as the varied seasons OF
life pass along, we realize the successive changes
of bud and blossom leaf and fruit matured, in the
development Of our being, and this ever repeated
in endless variety with the various attributes OF
that being and throughout its successive stages Of
existence
Therefore is progression an absolute necessity
Of our beipg--not merely to mental or spiritual
growth but to health and even to existence itself
We can settle down in no attribute that has be-
come developed, nor in any mode OF thought or
belief arising from IT, and in that become station
ary--for every attribute developed by organiza-
ton within the limits Of this life must become
matured as it accomplishes lis mission-and then,
having impaired to the primitive being it's fall
influence, it must lose its vitality and vanish
away.
Each one has to build his own monument-to
hew out his own statuo-ss the labor OF life In
the toll and struggle Of life, he has done well who
has perfected this--who leaves behind the inll
impress Of bis being so that the world retains his
memory II matters not in what department thou
art called TO labor-in deeds or words or In silent
life--in all thou doest, thy actual being Is fully
present, transfusing itself into Thy creation 40
that, ere thou hast passed away, thy perfect sem
bance stands erected M q monument OF what thou
hast been. Each bold stroke marks the outline OF
the growing form, and every minor touch leaves
no less certsinly its impress. There Is no evad- |
ing the reality Then, let no false blow mar the
harmony Of proportion, or the beautiful finish OF
the work thou art rearing up, but nerve each
stroke with Truth and, when thy work Is done,
thou shalt behold In 1t the impress OF thy future
destiny
The memory of the past Is pleasant to US or