Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-12-09

of matter. The bulk of it is a white
fibrous substance, arranged in lobe
and marked upon the surface by M
merous eonyolutions. Covering th
surface of these folds extending dow
to the bottom of even the deepest o
the sulci, is a thin LAYER of a non e
brous substance of gray or grayisl
color. This gray matter is also gath
cred in small amounts 10 severa
places within the white portion of til,
brain. Diseases may attack thi.
white substance and even make ex
tensive ravages in its texture without
producing the phenomena which, col
lectively, we term insanity. But lie,
the infiammation extend until the
disease touches even to a slight de.
gree, any portion of the gray envel
ope of the brain, and at once symp-
toms of the impairment OF mental
energy develop. These may, accord
ing to the extent and seat of the in
jury, vary from an attack of mere
ecoentricity through all the various
grades up to raving madness and
may manifest themselves in either
the spiritual, or animal functions OF
the brain.
We are now prepared, | think, 10
understand better these cases OF re-
ligious lunacy. Apersoa with brain
not over-strong, or one whose brain,
originally strong, has become weak
ened by excessive study or other
causes, is placed under circumstances
where religious influences are brought
to bear upon the mind continuously
for a period of time; the region of
the spiritual faculties in the brain in
consequence receives an abnormal
amount of blood the balance of nu-
triton in corresponding portions of
the brain is destroyed. These facul-
ties are developed Unfortunately while
compromising organs are weakened.
As consequence the spiritual facul-
ties, having to some extent lost their
restraining power, manifest their
functions in an exaggerated degree;
or IN other words, there is lunacy
which manifests its symptoms mainly
or only when religious topics are
brought to the mind, while at the
same time on other subjects the in
dividnal may be perfectly RATIONAL
Various causes may produce various
forms of the disease, but of these we
have no necessity to speak at present.
IL is manifest, then, that while
continuous religious excitement NAV
develop religious dementia, this ex.
PLANTATION of the case carries with it
some hints of practical value. No
one is able to look over crowd of
people and determine which have
and which have not vigorous brains.
and minds which cannot be unbal
anced. 1t therefore becomes an i'm.
perative duty of oui leaders of
thought not to subject the minds of
their audiences to uery long contin-
udI strain in one particular channel
of action, and especially to abstain
from intensifying the evil tendencies
of such strain by dramatic scenes
or methods. The responsibility for
many cases of religious maniaey lies
with the leaders of our so called re.
ligious movements. True religion is
tranquillzer, mot spiritual excitant
1t has tendency to balance and
strengthen the mind, not to demon
alize and destroy the functions of
the brain Converts born of great
excitement are too often superficial,
and utterly unified to run with pa
thence the race that is set before
them" The methods of the Holy
Spirit are quiet, deep, etfectual. The
blessed Comforter never leaves the
subjects of His work raving lunatics.
Bear with me in my criticisms
upon one other point. There are a
great many fanatics in the world (the
Church has its share;) men and
women who, misunderstanding the
work and means of grace, imagine
that unless they are the subjects of
religious emotion, they are no Chris
tians, or else are backsliders. They
teach, and perhaps feel, that unless
the mind, heart aud tody are unit
eddy aud without intermission oocu.
pied with spiritual affairs, they have
fallen from grace. They almost deem
it sin to attend to the duties of
their business calling in life; and be-
cause at such times their minds are
necessarily diverted to secular OBJ
jects, they are almost driven to de,
spair. They forget that this change
of the object Of attention is necessary
to the preservation of a sound mind.
Dear brother, sister, however or
wherever you are, who thus feels,
remember that you have not as yet
celestial minds and immortal bodies;
that however willing the spirit may
be, the bods is weak. Enjoy your
religion. H,ving determined the
foundation upon which you base
your hopes of eternal life, discharge
faithfully your temporal duties, bear
ing in mind that as yet you are Of
the "earth, earthly" Leave the rest
with Jesus.