Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1890-02-02
THE wAYs OF PRoylD1acE,

Some people seem to entertain very
peculiar no.ioas o. the power, wisdom
and goodne4s OF the Supreme Ruler
OF tho Univesse in his dealings with
mankind. They tell as that this
severe Winter and consequent great
lossof stock is sent upon this people
rs a mark OF His displeasure, and
that He is thus meeting out punish
ment for our sins We do not think
o for the a that We entertain
a higher opinion OF the Great Creator
than to think that He would attempt
to take revenge upon the people for
their misdeeds by freezing and starr-
ing to death whole herds Ct innocent
cattle which are in no wise responsible
for the acts OF their ownors-
Suppose that you had under your
direct control a community OF people;
q colony which you had planted and
given the means to thrive in business;
people who Under the conditions
were in duty bound to respect your
wishes, in short to obey your COM
mands. Suppose that a majority Of
this people should become car..ess OF
your interests and rebellious to your
commands; would you, il you had
the power, show your displeasure by
killing their stock, not ser sparing
the herds Of those few who endeavored
to obey your behests? Certainly not;
and are you more merciful than Godi
Is it reasonable to suppose that the
Ininite Creator would, in n spirit Of
revenge, do that which one Of his
fallible creatures would not do had
he tho power? While every person
has a right to his own opinion, We
cunnot agree with those who throw
the responsibility Of every calamity
on the shoulders OF Divine Provi-
dencc.
A cyclone sweeps through a popu-
lous district leaving death and de-
struction in its track, alike in its
effects on the just and the unjust; We
cannot call this IAN act of God" but
the result of natural causes in atmos-
pheric and climatic conditions.
Some careless person through some
inadvertence, unintentional Of course,
permits n fire to start in the midst OF
n populous city AMI a terrible and
destructive confiagration is the result.
We do not for a moment believe that
this is the work OF Providence. or
that the Creator should be accused of
Furnishing the people in this name
for their sins.
A member OF come Order, in tho
usual course OF nature, or by some
accident, or from neglect to conform
70 the known laws Of hygiene, meets
his death; and forthwith the men,
bers OF the I: aterniIy assemble and
adopt a series OF resolutions preceded
by q "Whereas; it has pleased the
Great Ruler to remove our worthy
brother" etc. This is contrary to our
idens Of propriety, for we do not be-
lieve it "pleases' God to remove any
one from the face of the earth. and
such a preamble, in its true meaning,
seems inconsistent with the facts.
Death is the common lot OF all, and
sooner or later we must all succumb
to the inevitable. Storms are the
natural result OF certain conditions
.-l.ol. A. ,-- -.
not been able to control, and which
are butimperfectly understood. Sick.
ness is the result OF a violation Of the
laws OF nature which, in many cas&,
we cannot forcsee and hence arc un-
able to avoid. Accidents are often
the resulto OF carelessness, and frequent
ly unavoidable on account of its be-
ing beyond u power to forsee them.