Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-10-21
A Thpory.-.fts Lesson.


However the great fire which well
nigh laid the city of Chicago in ashes
may be accounted for, it certainly
affords an occasion for profitable re
tiection, if, indeed. it does not i'm
press us with some salutary lessons
We are, probably, as little pre-
pared to solve the problcmatic origin
of calamitous visitations as we arc
qualified to make an instructive APP
p,ication of the lessons. The tables
of the horoscope have too often yer
flied their mythical character to look
into the consolidated heavens fol-
these portentous proSnostics, and
the barometric mechanism does not
yet exist to indicate the subtle com
hination Of forces, if any, that pre-
Jude storms of fire.
There are those, however, who
charge these visitat!ons to the wick
cdness of the nation-that the AL
mighty uses these manifestations OF
power tc express His absolute intol'
crane of iniquity.
For ourselves, while we would not
willingly, nor presumptuously, do
violence to, or dispute the faith OF
the humblest christian, we yet pre-.
fer to think that these accidents are
in general, traccablc to human neg.
lcct, wilfulncss or wantonness.-
We are aware that just at this point
we enter disputed ground, but as in
the treatment of this subject we en-
,ircly disclaim a controversial spirit
VIC hope not to be understood as
Intentionally wandering beyond our
province.
That there is a line marking dis.
tinctlon between the apparently eor,
tuitous and the evidently Providen-
tial is admissible, and in the defini.
ton of this distinction is just where
the great dispute between churches
originates. Not only looking at the
subject from different stand-points,
but the contemplation of visible
effects whose causes are unknown,
has been a fruitful source of theolog-
ical differences. Many notions are
predicated upon faith and a few,
probably, upon reasonable conjcc.
ture. The cloven beams Of the au.
rora climb the northern skies and in
their phantasmagorical displays. they
clothe the heavens in beauty and ex.
cite the admiration of wondering
multitudes, but it emits no rays which
satisfies scientific inquiry.
So it is, in many respects, with
reference to the manifestations referred
to-amplc room for faith, not much
about which to dispute.
But enough is known of the causes
aud effects of forces in the realm OF
nature to make people more circu.n.
spect than they often are. And
when il is considered that an error,
once committed, is capable of indefi.
mite expansion, the reason for vigi,
lance is infinitely enhanced.
But if we do carelessly, wilfully,
or wantonly, neglect known duty, is
it any wonder if we suffer ? The
wonder is that a perfectly natura!
result should be reckoned a mysteri,
oas dispensation of Providence.
The day of miracles is past. and,
until the day
For which all other days were made"
we believe the day of Judgments
has passed with it.
1t behooves us, however, to make
ourselves as irresponsible as possible
for the occurrence of disasters. But
If, despite our efforts to avoid them,
they do come unbidden, it is sweetel
to remember that lie also "loveth
whom He chasteneth."
SHORT LINE TO EURopE.-Thc open.
ing Of the new rail connection with
lIaliCay ShicL IL to tni.o ,,laon G..