The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-07-10

more than the alchemist aims at when he seeks
10 tranSmute base metal into gold; for we can
make wrong the seed Of right and righteousness
we can traDsmute error into wisdom; we eau
make sorrows bloom into thousand forms like
fragrant flowers These great truths should not
only give US eOntentment with our positions but
hope for the future The great question that we
are presses itself upon us as we grow old or fash
es upon us when ur lives are cut short by aoc.
dent or disease. Within these walls but few days
pass without that question being forced upon the
minds OF some who have reached the end Of life's
urney Surely, 1t should give hope and eonso
ation to all to feel that they can, IN the solitude
OF the cell or In the gloom Of the prison, by
thouRht, oy seltexaminatiOn, make out Of the
past with It's crimes ils errors and It's sOrTOws the
very means by which they can lift themselves
! u higher and happier conditions This work
OF transmitting evil into good is duty to be done
oy all conditions OF men, and II can be wrought
out as well IN the prisoners cell In the highes
and most honorable positions. All human reli
gi0n holds out hope TO men who feel regret for ev
cry evil act. wish 10 call your minds 10 that
amazing trnth that there is Being who rules the
world with such benevolence that He enables
weak aud erring morals, il they will to turn tht ir
very sorrows and errors into sources of happiness
we nave manV theories In these days, in which
men try to tell us how the world acting upon
certain nxed laws has evolved itself; that 1t
goes on by process that regards nothing bat
certain rules Of advancement, regardless Of all
other considerations, save their own irresistible
self.compe ling principles But here we hava a
uuth, not only given us in holy writ, but proved
by our own experience, that mental regret will
convert material wrong into blessing, or II
the offender will It will make the same hun.
dred iold more hurtful than If he II jlices in
wrong doing or hardens his heart against regret.
Ma'erialiSm. evOlutiOnp pantheism, or any OF the
theorie' which deny the government OF an intel
ligent God, are cOnfuted by this truth, that we
cau by conforming TO His laws, which demand
repentance, convert evil into good, or by viOlat-
ing Them, make evil ten.fold more deadly and
destructive. We can by our minds aud senti.
ments change the Influence of material events
and vary the action of laws which govern the
world. II mau, W tn all his weakness can do
this, II can only be by the aid of higher power
Wiich shapes, directs and regulates.
Il know that what have kaid II but an imper.
feet statement Uf the great truths, compared with
the teachings Of the pulpit, which you hear tach
sunday. As smy purpose is merely TO speak 10 You
what have learned In the walks of life could
give you from this narrow field but partial views
OF great truths. They may be of no value to you
yet trust you will accept them at least as proof
OF my sympathies with your condition and sor.
rows: for II any ambition fingers in the breast OF
him who speaBs to you now, 1t is that he may be
the friend and adviser of the erring and wrong.
doer. He has been taught by determination
and the study OF others that we oil beloug 10 that
class, and that we owe 10 one another any aid we
can give to our fellows when they fall by the
WAyside."