The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-07
Changes.

1t is a world of change Stars appeqr and
disappear flowers bloom and fade; genera
tions are born and die. s'The fashion of this
| needs no eloquent sermon to illustrate, for
Nature, with manifold voices, is preaching it
from thousand pulpits-from the starry ca
nopy, from the tiny blade of grass, from the
rolling river, from the cradle and the grave.
But all these changes are in obedience to the
great laws by which Nature is governed
laws which are themselves fixed and immuta-
BILE. The fiuctuating tide of the restless
deep, and the steady movements of the plan
cts in their orbits, obey the same supreme
intelligence.
To the ever watchfm, omnipresent eye the
sparrow that falls to the ground is as visible
a. the hugest globe of light which shoots
from its celestial sphere To changes such
as these; in obedience to uniform laws, die
tated by Divine wisdom, man should bow
with respect, resignation, and even with hope.
The flower that has faded, will bloom again;
| the tree, disrobed by the winter blasts, will
resume its bright livery in the spring the
grave will witness more glorious resurrec-
| ton. And so, in every yicissitude of time,
| though we feel ourselves but fragile barks
upon changing tide, we can hold fast by
the anchor of faith and keep the light Of hope
burning brightly in the pinnacle, and. look
| for a. haven where the only change will be
from lower to higher degree of happiness
and intelligence.
But there are certain changes to which we
find it impossible to reconcile ourselves
changes, that at first amaze then disgust US
and at last weaken the very foundations OF
our confidence in human nature. These are
the changes which we so often witness in pol
itics and religion, and which seem to be gov
erned by no law but caprice and selishness.
We are aware that this is an age of progress,
and we are far from denying that men may
often change both their political and religi
Gus views from conscientious motives and for
good reasons A man often adopts his
faith and party from his father, with
out ever enquiring into the grounds upon
which he embraced them. And if, upon sub
sequent investigation, he is satisfied that the
| opinions he inherited from his parents are not
| founded in truth it is his duty to relinquish
them. But it is not changes such as these to
| which we allude. A genuine convert, man
who has changed from conscience and rea-
son is always penitential, modest, humble,
and full of charity for his former companions
in error. But these are by no means the
characteristics of most of the ehangelings of
modern times These flying Dutchmen, who
box the compass of politics and religion, are
the most violent and audacious rovers of the
deep No sooner do they cast OFT their old
opinions, than, instead ofsecluding themselves
for time; and gradually changing from the
caterpillar condition into their new state of
existence, than they rush into the very front
rank of their new allies. vault with the activi-
ty of harlecuins into the seat Of some veteran
captain and at the head of the column,
charge, without winking. without one blush,
nay, with an audacious hurrah, into the very
face and eyes Of their former friends. Now,
when we see man do this, we say nothing,
for it is not our province to meddle with poll
tics orreligion; but, as Capt. Cutie observes,
we make note of it and we feel much
more respect for the carcase Of dead dog,
poisoning the air with the effluvia Of its last