Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-06-15
MYSTERIES.
An Essay Delivered by Miss Amy M. Foster
at the Graduating Exercises OF the Lancaster
High scn0ol June 9th, 1879.

High scnool June 9th, 1879.
This is world of mystery. Misty and shadl
owy is the line beyond which no human skill
or wisdom has ever passed. Why was /, why
were you called from non-existence into a
world of danger and pain, of sin and of death
Countless is the number of wretched human
beings who have asked this question, and we
who are happier, though still the slaves of evil,
may well reflect upon it.
When the earth was prepared for mankind,
two persons awoke to the consciousness OF ex-
istence They were so pure that free commu-
Mon with God was open to them. Being made
in the likeness of the Creator, they knew no
danger, felt no pain; exempt from guilt they
had no fear of death. Thus free and holy,
they could obey the law imposed upon them
and continue in their happy condition. BY
yielding to the first temptation, they fell from
their high and exalted position, and found
themselves and the world completely changed.
Since then the restless mind of man ever seeks
for reasons by which he may account for the
wonders presented to his senses.
Superstition is the chief characteristic of ig-
norance. Among the ancients credulity and
superstition prevailed, as the o<tgrowth of
rude unrefned minds. With them, the study
of nature in which they always sought for signs
and omens, was of vast Importance. The de-
luson of ghosts sprang from their belief that
each body possessed three principles, to be set
free on its dissolution: the names, which went
to the abode of Pluto, the Spiritus to the skies,
and the Umbra or Shade still wandered upon
the earth, warning people of the dangers be-
fore them. The place of eternal happiness or
misery after death, gave rise to wild specula-
tons. They adopted theory after theory, and
the rejected explanations are handed down TO
posterity as myths, the significance Of which
has been forgotten. The tales of the Wander
ing Jew, the Legend of the Cross, the San
graeal, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, and
the Mountain of Venus arose from the mystic
rious beliefs of the people of the Middle Ages.
The forms and beliefs of to-day will in ages
to come be classed among the myths. New
and better theories will follow them. which, as
time draws toward its close, will gain in
strength and truth until that perfect consuma.
ton, the dawn of eternity. Beautiful, so won-
derfully beautiful is everything in nature, that
in the midst of superstition it is no wonder
that legends of fairies, ghosts and spirits
should prevail. 1t is not easy to shake the
throne of fancy, nor to destroy the fascinating
power of romance. They will wear their wand
of enchantment over the human mind. The
wonders of creation will still affect US accord
ing to the quality of intellect or genius, ac-
cording to the constitution or cultivation of
the mind The poet will still build his air.
castles, the Indians believe in the Great Spirit
and the Happy Hunting Grounds, and the ig-
norant be startled by ''the shadow of shade"
Through ignorance the human mind strives to
rend the veil of the future, but mind that is
enlightened leaves superstition to the heather
and savage, and is assured that vain desire
to pry into tuturity, is an error of humanity
and proof of its weakness.
There is grandeur in much, and mystery
in all that is unknown. That which Is famil-
liar fails to excite our surprise, while novelty
and magnitude astonish u.s. We gaze upon an
eclipse or the ever varying course of a comet
with wonder and delight, but We look upon
the sun which sheds DER the world such
beautiful light, with cold Indifference, and
vet we cannot understand the cOmpo sitlon or
origin of the sun no more than we can compre,
bend the mysteries of the comet or the won
ders of an eclipse. In the blossoming OF
single flower the mystery is as great as in the
explosion OF meteor. There is something in
a single drop of rain, or a snowflake, which
the human mind has never been able to faith
ON. Every ripple and stone, every leaf and
raw of light, is filed with mystery and yields
study which both elevates and delights the
mind.
The history of the whole world is involved
in mystery. It's pages perplex US with the in
fanny, crime and cruelty therein recorded
Although we are unable to explain these things
the facts remain the same. Notwithstanding
our natural desire to lift the veil OF secresy all
such problems are left to be solved in the I'M
known future. Life would lose all its charms
were the world robbed of its mysteries, were
the mind able to penetrate and exemplity all.
A revealed future with all its sorrows and tri-
ais. pain and griefs, would make life burden
too heavy to be borne. The mystic veil which
envelops tho future displays the power and
wisdom of God.
The man that solves one of the great probs
lens of nature gains the admiration and won~
der of his fellow beings When Columbus
explained the form of the earth, and Franklin,
by drawing electricity from the thunder clouds
caused the bells to ring, they were thought to
have possessed supernatural knowledge; and
we do not wonder at it. The known is far out
balanced by the unknown. Wisdom shows
man how little he really knows; for the most
thoroughly educated person clearly preceives
that there is vet vast field before him that
is UNEMPLOYED. The solution of our every day
mysteries has taken the life work OF the worlds
greatest thinkers. Calico by the invention OF
the telescope furnished the means by which
the revolution of the earth around the sun was
explained, and gained for himself name which
will continue to brighten a page IN the worlds
history until time shall be no more. Yet even
Calico died wondering why the earth always
remained in the same relative position. New
ton solved this problem, but he asked score
of other questions quite as difficult to answer.
The spiritual and physical natures OF man are
so closely connected that the Wisest mind has
l. all 40
tween them.
Science has unfolded many of the hidden
things of matter and mind, but the mysteries
recorded on the pages of the Bibie-the bud
ding of Aaron's rod-the hand writing on the
wall-and above all, the redemption by the
Cross on Calvary, are of too holy nature to
be tested by philosophical speculation. They
rest on the conviction of conscience and heart;
foundation far more stable, proof far more
sublime than anything that man will ever be
able to build or demonstrate. Mysterious IS
the tie that binds our affections. We do not
see the need of separation from our loved ones
nor the uses of affiietions and suffering
The thoughts and actions OF those around Us
and even of ourselves, are frequently uncom-
pretended. The pure, the good and the beau
tiful are full of pleasant mystery, while the ag-
gravations, trials and temptations which en-
shroud US are ever full Of unpleasant mystery.
These can be comprehsnded only by him who
trusts entirely in the word of God. Faith is
the mighty cord that holds our destiny. Wow
en- by experience and strengthened by use, it
reaches from earth to heaven, holds us firmly
in the narrow path and leads US safely to the
city which hath foundations.
ssFaith only can interpret life,
And the heart that aches and b2eeds
With the stigma of pain,
Alone bears the likeness Of Christ,
And can comprehsnd its dark enigma ,
When the valley of darkness is passed and
the waters of the deep, mystic river are crossed
all that has so perplexed US here will be ex-
planned, and there will be supreme JOY in solv-
ing the mysteries of the New Jerusalem
throughout blest and happy eternity.