North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-03-07
FLOR tho North Branch Democrat."l
Selfho0d,

but many will here first lesrn
Of state of human perfection far beyond
mere manhood, or womanhood; state
and degree of fullness of life far above the
general attainment of humanity. Do you
think one tenth of the great mass of edu-
Gated, thinking people, are in the state OF
mental perfection that were best denomi-
mated Selfhood? IF you do think this, you
are verv misled by their apparent capaci-
ties of self government.
You will like this position, SO boldly
taken, defined and defended, before you
sanction it by saying it isa true one that
can be defended. This can be done by
others more elaborately; by myself new
and plainly. Wherein does selfhood CON
sist In independent and orderly action
of oil of each human minds forces ofman-
Hesitation. The man or woman who can
withdraw the entire force of mind from all
extraueous influences, and think ard act.
independently of selfish motives, $50 called,
but in reality impulses Of propensity and
others opinions, has reached selfhood.-I
Are YOU conscious of deriliction of tho't,
when you attempt the anglasis of any sub
ject, to others ideas, and peoples opinions
Of you.
Then YOU have not attained that indie
pendent and untrammeled use Of your soul
that when you have reached and enjoyed
you will alone comprehend as self-govern
ment. This selfhood is not a mere fnical
idea. 1t is blessed state of mental
perfection realized by many souls enchain-
ed by humanity. Deeply conscious of my
imperfect attainment in this sphere of soul
power, l yet force you''to notice this truth
of human life, and defend my position by
the words of our most divine teacher.
Christ :-"Be ye also perfect, even as your
Father in heaven is perfect" Be satisfied
with no ilIustrious range Of thought, rea-
son. or Imagination before you can COM
mand the entire forces of your moral, in
tellectual, and physical being making all
subservient to yonr soul.
Fancy not, that you are destitute of the
particular faculties of mind that may ona-
Bile YOU to reach this state of human per-
fection: Get no one think a Methodist ia
preaching perfect holiness II am adverse
to the sect.) phrenologist will tell you
that large Conscicntiousness, Coucentra-
tiveness and Firmness, with fair or large
Self.esteem, make this self-government
more easily perfected; but phre noogy is
misunderstood when any one presumes up
on its teaching that the mind of man shall
depend in its manifestations upon any in
dividual souls peculiar conformation of
skull. Mind, or more properly, soul, gov
erns the .kulI, and human organs of mind.
in their growth; and the skull governs
nothing but the true phrcnologist's opinion
OF an individual. General society is but little
adapted to this growth of soul and mind
its feverish excitement, and conventional
notions, deteriorate the activity of genius,
all know. Few persons of thought, gen
los or power shone in, or affected to like
society, or the general assepblage of moths
that congregate around the taper, Git can
not be called lighD called society, scorch
ing and destroying the genius of thousands
gifted with minds above mediocrity
The popularity of genius greatly con-
sists in his originality and personality ; and
any man who owns this ia ethically held
to have a richer possession than the uni
verse of materially can give practically,
however, it has proven one of the cheapest
articles human nature produces. For good
society is phantom which lures many a
man oftalents, and virtue, into non
sensical sacrifice of personality and SELF for
the conversation and sympathy of mental
pignes and fats. They have the frippery
and small talk, and smaller ideas, common
to these, and are not troubled with the in
dividuality they have sold, but so far from
it, deride those who are $50 SINGULAR as 10
have retained their originality of soul, and
independence of action. And he who re-
solves to not barter his individuality for
the sympathy and support Of this unthink-
ing mass of humankind. may nerve his
ieart-they cannot touch his soul % bear
contumely, persecution and malice from
those who can not appreciate his higher
range of capacity of mind who will call
him fanatic dreamer, and accuse him of
being Imaginative; for those who can not
compl ehend any important original truth,
invariably call it sn Imagination. bring
this before you, since if you cultivate your
personality ofsoul, you will soon expert
ence new ideas, feelings, and views of
whatever may have been before yonr
thoughts, previous to this change, when
"old things shall pass away, and all things
become new" But your newness and fnl-
ness of life shall compensate you for all the
popularity you may have lost
"Should the palm tree bend its crown to chde the
briar ut its feetl
Should the nightingale account it worth her pains
to vindic ite her music
No, many an injustice many a sneer and slur,
10 passed ASIDE with noble by lovers Of true
thought;
For the great mini we'll may be sad to note such
littlensSs in brethren,
The while it is eonforted and happy in the frnest
assurance Of desert"
Tupper.
So you may pity those who have sacri-
feed their personality, or soul, for this life,
for the mess of pottage, which their ease