Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1889-11-16
j Ssay on chance.
Original Composition by Brent }
WRITTEN FOR THE PLANET ]

From the day OF our great forepar-
ents failure To reach the unattainable
heights of perfection, down to the pres
ent, mankind in general have believed
in chance. Solomon the wise, said
there is time Tor chancel for every
thing under the SUM- When favorable
opportunities present themselves un-
sought, we say tbs good chance when
engaged in all enterprise of doubtful
characters. we termed it poor chance
II circumstances implies success, tbs
then called fair chance. When defeat
and confusion, TO be our best laid plans,
cause US 70 accept terms disadvantage
Gus and bitter. we say twas our last
chance. We find then in life. a desire
TO obtain the first chance, wish for.
q fair chance; efforts to get. a square
chance, mind to make the most of, a
half a chance, and prayers for another
chance. By the way what is chance?
Is IT theory or a condition? Let us see
Chance, as L understand the term. IN
plies central point or pivot. of time or
circumstance. on which depends the re-
suit OF subsequent actions or condition,
this pivot necessarily must be previous
ly unknown. until alterations in the
plan prove the existence of a chance
IN other words chance is another name
Tor luck;with these differences, luck is
Indicative of predeS 'iadttOn. Chance
suggests the possibility of free G0W. The
mOmentOus question arises, can there
be such thing as chance? Spiritualists
infoIm us that the mind, will power, IS
spirit has such an influence over mate
rial things, as time, space or conditions
OF existence that soul can summon a
soul to do its bidding be it clothed in
flesh or robed in spirituality, be it q
next door neighbor or distant millions
of miles in the unknown world Seyond.
They claim that said summons will BE-
faithfully obeyed il the will powe of
the summOning spirit be strong enough.
Those who believe in the effectiveness
of prayer-in the faith cure for disease
i'm moral philosophy-and,in the curren
tales of4coniurauon and super natu-
raj interference with the plans of men,
are profused in detail of circumstances
confirming their theory.
On the other hand mGteriGl'St assert
with equal vehemence, that matter has
the supremacy over the spirit in so
much that the body can, and does, drag
the spirit down TO IFS own level, * the
animal faculties predominates, or are ia
excess Of ;he intellectual Who is in
the right? let u see; life l. tacC--a
well established fact. Facts are found
ed on principles, principles are conclus
ions drawn by observation, proven by
experience, aud commanded by sound
judgement, here are two principles; one
claims that man himself has the ele-
ments of happiness and essence of eXis-
tence. TO be orFnot to be, to do or not
to do, the po#er 10 suit their inclina-
tions intluented by his surroundings
is this truce The second claims that in
man lies ,fhe will to be, but he is not
man would, but cannot he lives, he
knows not why. he dies, and where is
he?-is this true? Are those state
ments facts? Hence the question, can
there be such thing as chance? The
bard of Avon wrote. There is divinity
that shapes our ends, rough hew them
as we may" again. "All the worlds
stage whereon each individual acts his
part then retires behind the scenes"
III the immortal William was right
about the divinity and our ends, we are
no longer what we make ourselves, for
unconsciously but surely We would be
moulded to the preconceived notions OF
this divinity. Hence no free aciU nor
chance. If TO the contrary the worlds
a stage, individuals, actors etc, then
pre- destination has fun swing and
chance is relegated to those swell heads
who attempt to act double or triple
characters in as many parts.
BRENT