The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-01-18
BY U. L. WESTON & 90.

by repentance OF their sins.
But let us look further into this
subject for it deeply concerns us
Though we are unable to recall
the errors d the past, we may sc
deal with them that they will pro-
mote our virtue, our wisdom and
happiness. Upon this point | an
not theori2ing. Whoever thinks
will learn that human experience
proves this. Let us take the case
OF our errors. We should find il
we could rub them all,angt4latsgs
should destroy tie wisdom they
have given us, if we have taken
care to make our errors teach us
wisdom. Who could spare their
sorrows? How much that is kind
and sympathetic in our natures,
which leads us to minister to the
griefs OF others, and thus to gain
consolation for ourselves, grown
out Of what are felt as keen calam-
tiles when they befall us.
Following out the line of nv
thoughts, when I assumed that T
had the power and was compelled
to drown in Lethean waters GER
tain acts, [ found [ could not
spare errors which call forth re-
grets, mistakes which teach US wis
dom, or the sorrows which soften
character and make us sensible of
the sympathies which give beauty
to the intercourse of life. AS I
had to obliterate twenty events, [
found / could best spare the sue
cesses or triumphs which had on
ly served to impart courage in the
battle Of life and had but little in
tluence in forming a character. It
is true that, wherever and what
ever we are, we can 50 deal with
the past that we can make it give
UP to US virtue and wisdom. We
can, by our regrets, do more than
the alchemist aims at when he
seeks to transmute base metals IN
to gold, for we can make wrong
the seed Of right and righteous
ness; we can transmute error into
vision; We can make sorrows
Bloom into a thousand forms like
fragrant flowers. These great truths
hould MT only give us content
n-n with oar positions, but hope
lue Tie tatQre. The great ques-
.e.l. what We are, presses itself
ao.A ae as we grow Oh, or flashes
4p9n liz when our lives are cut
short by accident OF 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
journey. Surely, it should give
hope and consolation to all to feel
that they can, in the solitude OF
the cell, or in the gloom of the
prison, by thought, by self-exami-
nation, make the past, with its
crimes, its errors and its sorrows,
the very means by which they can
lift themselves into higher and
happier conditions. This work of
transmitting evil into COED is a
duty to be d0lie by all conditions
of men, and it can be wrought ont
IS well in the prison cell as in the
highest and most honorable posi-
zion; for when you do this you
work by the side Of the Almighty.
All human experience accords
with the higher teachings of relig-
ion, that holds out hope to men
who feel regret for every evil act.
| wish to call your minds to that
amazing truth that there is Be
ing who rules the world with such
DeneVolence that ne enables weak
and erring mortals, Il they will, to
turn their very sorrows and errors
into sources Of happiness.
We have many theories III these
days in which men try to tell us
how the world, acting upon certain
fixed laws, has made itself; that il
goes on by a progress that regards
nothing but certain rules Of adj.
yancements, regardless Of all 9th
or considerations save their owl
irresistible self-oompelling princi
pies But here we have a truth
not only given us in Holy Writ
but proved by our experience
that mental regret viii converts
material wrong into a blessing, OF
If the offender wills, it will max,