The hydraulic press., 1860-05-12
GOOD AND EVIL.


pectable audience in this place, on the sub :
ject of Good and Evil. A slender, graceful,
haxen haired woman, plainly clad in black
. silk, she seated herself behind a small table
at the front of the stage in the theater; fixed
her large glittering eyes on space for few
moments, closed them at last, swayed her
head slightly as if in sleep, then arese slowly
and proceeded to speak as never man or
woman spake before in this mountain vii
lage. Her words flowed right on, steadily
and muslcally; sometimes uttered with the
| fine, soft intonations of pathos and often
with the earnest strength of elevated thought
The audience listened as to the Vaccinations
Of blind sybil, or as if they believed a
spirit was really breathing in their ears awe
some words from the worll beyond.
The lecture began with concise state
ment of Christian theology as the basis of
popular notions concerning right and wrong,
i charae terizing it as false and unnatural and
presenting an ignoble idea of Divinity. The
! spirit supposed to be speaking through the
medium then gave has notions of good and
evil, commencing with an account of the
origin and growth of our planet, eshich
seemed based upon the atomic philosophy the
doctrine of eternity the and Inherent vitality
| of matter and the theory of progressive de-
velopment. The idea was advanced and
elaborated that all creation is but the benev-
oent thought OF an omnipotent, omnpres-
ent, oniniscient God, and is steadily ad-
yancfng to condition Of ultimate perfection,
or undisturbed harmony. Every form of
mineral, vegetable and animal life is strug-
Cling foranG attaining ii higher development,
or unfoldment, and whatever prevents such
development is what we call evil. The CO.
hesive power that prevents the solid rock
from decomposing and assuming the higher
form of soil, to which it aspires or is des-
tined, is evil just as much as the gross pas
sions which deter humanity from virtue
An influence that deprives plant of needed
light is quite as malign, abstractly speaking,
as one that bTights the soul of man.
1t is the conflict of opposites which produces
harmonious results. But good and evil are
only relative terms: neither exists positive y
| and determinately. The good of to- day may
be the evil of tomorrow. Under the opera
tion of the eternal law progressive change.
/ that condition which was favorable to devel-
opment yesterday may retard it to-day. As
in the physical, SO in the moral world. Ev-
cry error is then but an approximate to
truth /; every wrong hastens the ultimate
triumph of right. The best human belief is
but error, blindly, though honestly perhaps,
cropping for the truth. 1t is only what is
false in all systems that separates them: re-
move that and they will harmonise, for "the
actual true is the sum of all these" just as
the perfect planet is formed by the congre-
cation of separate atoms.
From such opinions as these, though
broadly stated and clearly illustrated by SCI
entifc facts, the~lecturcr deduced beauti-
full lesson of charity towards man and faith
in God, urging self-culture as the highest
duty of reasonable creatures and as the only
avenue to that heaven which exists in and
for every human soul. Development is the
law and tue reward of humanity, and each
step we make in it opens way for progress
to every creature below US. Although at
variance with the dogmas of traditional and
| cfio fbac tbo
nenty religious, and breathed much Of the
devotional and affectionate spirit of woman.
| If some parts Of it were more fanciful and
speculative than philosophical and demon
strable, they were yet transfused with such
an earnestaess and benevolence as made
them harmonise with the general design
All of the audience who listened attentlvely
and intellgently could not but have been
| inspired with exalted sensations, and must
have gone home feeling better and happier
/ Whatever We may think of the truth or error
of the particular doctrines advanced-and
which were novel to those only who had
seldom done their own thinking-we believe
such lectures, if frequently repeated in this
community, either from the pulpit or else
! WHeTe, WOulu increase the gencfal StOck OIL
vi tue; for that cannot be Immoral in its ten
dency which stimulates the intellect, and
teaches faith, hope and charity.
We have not attempted to give synopsis
of Miss Munsons lecture, but rather brief
statement of the impression it made. Its
effect was increased by the aid of most cor
rect language, sweet and graceful elocution,
logical arrangement, verbal felicity and un-
exceptional personal demeanor. There were
about her none of the repulsive features of
the strong minded woman of popular preju-
dice. Her auditors saw simply an intelec-
tual lady talking calmly yet earnestly on
high themes to a circle of friends. She will
speak here again in few weeks, and our
readers who did not hear her last Tuesday
will then have an opportunity to test the ac-
curacy of these comments.
i a considerable emigration of gold seekers