Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-08-22
MORAL BUILDING.
Pioneer Press.

Stbttos M - baihNthS. - NV w
here in young, promising State,
where all things are ready (even the
Pioneer Press to enlightcn,) 90 to
work. God has created materials
and forces, and has set the forces to
building oft Of the materials. The
power By which forces build, is call
cd life. The material, forces and
life are evolved out Of the infinitude
Of Gods existence. Mr.. Emerson
said that an angel had thrown out
air, water, sun and earth for mans
convenience. These viii yield at
the touchof trained hands and brain,
That We are building soeiallyis man
fest. See our schools and churches.
venture TO say that we have some
social privileges that are not agreea-
bly, enjoyed III many Of the old free
States. But these reflections do not
bear upon our subject. Force and
life are as subtle rs the essence of
matter. Spring comes, and count
less forces, guided by countless pha-
SEES Of life, awake from the sleep Of
winter, and structures as numerous
as the sands Of the sca-shore rise
from lawn, garden, and forest. The
germ OF a rose seed, inspired with
life, builds bush of numerous
branches, and covers IL with leaves.
In flowers OF beauty and fragrance
note the tinging Of each leaf and
blossom. The more careful you ex-
anime, the more beautiful 1t appears.
What materials compose this beauty
and fragrance? What is that life,
which reaches forward with unerr-
ing fingers and gathers from light,
air, water and earth, those materials
and adjusts them 50 perfectly? Pro-
found mystery wraps them from our
vision--except the results.
Let us turn our thoughts from an
unconscious vegetable to the build
ing Of an intelligent, sensitive, immor-
tai being. God has evolved out Of
himself spiritual forces, inspired them
with life, and set them to building
structures in his own likeness out Of
materials ample, as bis own nature.
He has created US living spirits whose
normal activity is eternal growth into
his own image Consciousness, will,
affection, memory, reason, and power
to suffer, this latter is well developed
with us. If it were otherwise, we
would have become extinct, rather
than retaining place among other
nations. Let the watch-word be
'seternal vigilance" The building OF
good conscience toward God and
man is important We are charged
with the awful responsibility of direct
ing the forces Of our lives in building
process. We have self-determining
power, our character is growing under
our own fashioning hand. If the life
forces of rose are commissioned to
build, and adorn with such beauty
and sweetness, q structure which.
to-day is, and tomorrow decays,
what kind Of a structure ought we
to rear for our State, for our children,
for our God? If the unconscious
vegetable life selects ETHEREAL aliment
out OF heaps Of rubbish, with which
to grow and build, on what should
we feed, that we may grow into the
likeness Of God? An inspired writer
names the different elements out Of
which spiritual manhood is to be con-
structed, when he says, whatsoever
things are true and pure, and lovely
or beautiful, and Of good report, if
there be any virtue, think on these
things" G. w. HoLLINGER.
FEAST on FAMINE.
Nobody doubts that there is great
n; aara,,on bo4-no.. - F<.c< o..<1 ~ q. -,