Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1886-03-05
religion as a cause of insanity.

1
Religion, strange to say, is some
times set down as acause of insanity
and we have the expires sion, reIlg
Ious insanity, as current idea L
some it means that person is insan,
on the subject of religion, to other
hat in sanity was caused by religion
What people talk about when they
become insane has rarely anything t.
do with the real cause of the dis
ease. In all ages of the world. th,
system of faith and doctrine of th4
times respecting mans spiritual being
has been the co mfort and the solace
of the loftiest minds in the contem-
plation of the ills of this life, as well
as those of the unlearned.
Religion can in no sense be charg-
ed with producing insanity. Sup
pose person attends a religious
meeting day after day and night af
ter night, and finally becomes in
sane? 1t is true that insanity, in
some instances, though rarely, fol-
lows after such attendance and the
consequent excitement and mental
strain. AS l have said at another
point, so do rheumatism. colds and
pneumonia.
In such instances it Is the expos
ure and neglect of food, loss of
sleep, excessive physical activity
without rest, which break down the
general health and induce various
diseases, insanity included. l know
that the history of the world shows
that sometimes a whole neighbor-
hood gets into a state of excitement,
and the madness seems to be univer-
sal. This is not insanity, but fana-
tical and hysterical excitement; it IS
no more true madness than the eX-
citement gradually wrought up on
political questions, until at length we
have the fury, rage, and brutality of
mob, and the fearful tragedies of
4NIAiiiSuH Lnd IchOluIiOHdIy fIOIeDCc.
Mere feelings and emotions, or
the madness of passion. are not dis
ease, nor of themselves the produ-
GERS of disease.
Some years ago a woman was
brought to the asylum in state of
profound melancholy, her mind
dwelling wholly on spiritual subjects.
She had resorted to fasting and pray
er in delusive expectation that her
only child, who had died, might be
brought to life. She had before this
given herself up to grief and indif-
ference to duty had got away from
her home and spent whole night
kneeling on the grave of this child.
Was it strange that her health should
at last give way, and that she
should sink into mental derange-
ment
Many years ago a young minister
preached two sermons every Sunday,
superintended Sabbath school, held
two or three meetings week in his
church, wrote for the religious press,
visited as pastor the members of
large congregation, limited his food,
and trenched by study upon the
hours of sleep. He finally failed in
health. and passed into acute mania,
raving only on the subject of religion
lost his own identity d declared him.
self Zerubbabel; that he was appoint
ed by God to preach" to the spirits in
prison, that he had descended into
hell, and there had preached the
gospel of salvation and redemption.
This was not religious insanity, but
insanity from exhaustion, religion
having nothing to do with it except
to give tone and character to his de-
lusions. He recovered and spent
long and useful life as a conservative
minister of the gospel.
A distinguished lawyer, whose la
bors and prIvations broke him down
i'll health, passed into profound mel
anoholy, declared that he had ruined
his family, and that his soul was
lost. Would you charge this to re-
liglon, to law, or exhaustion?
The only comment to be made up
on such cases Is, that they should
not occur. They are all plainly
within the scope of preventive meas
ures. No sucn neglect and abuse of
simple laws of health are justified,
certainly not at this day. There are
men and women all around US. in
in this city, and perhaps in this au
dience, who have stood at the farth-'
est verge of mental unbalance; de-
pressed in spirits, every thing about
them clouded, suicidal thought COM
ing and going, but who, being assur-
ed that impaired health was at the
bottom of their misery, were willing
to submit themselves to enforced
eating, quiet, and rest, and necessa-
ay medication in hope of restoration,
and who could testify that when
health was regained their delusive
ideas vanished ''as dream when
one awaketh. DIR. John P. Gray.