The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-03-14

32. 0Stillwater, Minn. Wednesday,
Self-InspectfOn---SOm Friendly Criti-
ciSm.

Self-Inspection---Som Friendly Criti-
cism.
Editor Mirror:
Since the advent of the electric lights. fol-
lowed by so per cent. reduction in our sup
ply of candles, most of us are necessarily
deprived of the opportunities of reading in
our cells much of our spare time, and con-
sequently have nothing to do other than to
muse with our own thoughts. l have put
in great deal of my time in this manner,
and the idea suggested itself to give express
sion to many thoughts that have left deep
impression upon my mind. Perhaps some
of my brethren inside our colony will object
to so much mOraliZing. but [ trust that
many who read this will try the same ex-
pertinent as have, and am confident that if
they faithfully put themselves to the test of
an honest 'self-nspection." they will con-
demn their past life in unmeasured terms.
In the first place we must have a sincere
heart in our undertaking. and on looking at
naked heart who does not see exhibited
before him enough of sin and corruption to
produce the deepest humiliation and most
complete self abaSement If on the start
of this Self-inSpectiOn, penitence for the
past, and holy resolve for the future char
acteriZeS the tone of our minds before God,
we will surely be profted by it. At the
commencement of this testing process we
will probably see only the more prominent
sins of the past years of our life; but go
deeper yet. and search the great spiritual
and immaterial temple-Our souls. There
we will find hidden. as in ambush, terrible
force of unrecOgnized enemies that con-
Stantly war against its best interests. If
we find this the condition of ourselves indi-
vidually, we are constrained to say that
such must also be the heart of man univer-
sally. Brought thus to see our actual con-
ditiOn, who does not invOuntarily shudder
at the awful spectacle when we see our
least delinQuencieS stand ont in bold relief?
l again assert that if man situated as we
are behind these walls. compelled to endure
much solitude, earnestly wishes to redeem
the past and enter on new career. he can be
brought to an actual realization of his sim
full nature by ''self-inspectiOn." l have
not Overdrawn the picture. Now let us con-
trast our actual condition with what is eX-
pected by God of true christian man.
This is solemn thought; we must exercise
caution and fidelity in order that we neither
deceive ourselves, or miSlead others. We
must cultivate and exercise those virtues
which are expected to be found in one who
processes christianity, namely, purity, truth,
benevolence, charity. The human heart.
however, makes very slow progress in the
knowledge of these virtues. Our aspira-
tions are very faint after the source of all
good. mans intention may be ever so
strong. but the groveling things of this
world tend 10 weigh down his opinions
He may struggle in himself to the fullest
extent and he will never rise beyond the
things of the present time and sense.
There is but one source from which we can
obtain strength to bring our good resolutions
to fruitful maturity. (Scoff at it if you
will; l don't care whether you wear striped
garb or citizens clothes. you will ALL come
to the point in your lite when you will call
upon that holy name.) Let us not be dis
couraged by these difficulties; let the dis
closures of self-inspectiOn urge us forward
and bring us to state of humility before
God, make us more vgilant over our spirit
ual enemies and more circumspect in our
outward department by exercising a spirit
of charity toward others. Charity is the
connecting link which unites man to man.
and earth to heaven. 1t has been said that
self knowledge is the most difficult of all
knowledge This may be true, but claim
that knowledge of our faults is the first
step to improvement, and nothing is sOlike-
ly to effect that as self-inspectOn. The
motives which originate and mingle with our
best actions are 80 imperfect that it is use
less to analyze them even if it were possible
to do so; but when we possess the essential
elements of christianity, then we will find