The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26
Conscience an InfalIible Standard for
Moral Thought and Action.

Conscience an Infallible Standard for
Moral Thought and Action.
1t is universally admitted that every Sec
ton of the human race. that every ndivd-
ual member of that race has what is called
conscience" and that its possession is the
distinguishing trait or point of difference
between mankind and what is termed the
lower order or grade of the animal creation,
who are guided by instinct
Notwithstanding this unanimity of Opin-
ion as to the possession of conscience,
there are comparatively few-even in the
most highly civilized and educated classes
of the communicative are agreed upon
or have given serious consideration to the
question Of its origin, its office, and its in
f1uence and operation on the moral and
social condition of the human race.
AS regards the relations of conscience to
matters of religious faith we have nothing
whatever to do at this time and pace-it
would be both impertinent and prevalent.
What we have first to do is to determine
what conscience is and from whence it came.
Man, I'D his make up, comprises three
distinct elements or organisms. which,
though materially differing in construction,
are capable of acting in harmonious CO.
OperatiOn; and, without such harmony of
action and purpose, his perfect develop
ment as the lord of all created things would
be an absolute mpossibiIty. These. three
elements or organisms are his physical
functions; his intellectual faculties; and the
moral forces. which furnish the motive and
direct the action of the two preceding.
We are told in the pages of Holy Writ
that, after God had created man, and
formed him out of the dust of the ground,
that ''He Dreathed into his nOstrlS the
breath of life, and he became living SOUL"
Gen ii, z. This is not said of any other
section of the creation, though we know
that animal life existed in variety of other
forms, on the land. in the water and in the
air-therefOre we claim that the ''living
soul" there described is synonymous with
conscience and is an emanatiOn from and
indeed part of the Divine Creator himself.
We shall be able to gather. from our own
daily and hourly experiences. the intimate
and constant connection between our phys
ical functions, our mental faculties, or will
power, and our soul or conscience. From
the hour in which we first drew breath un-
til that final moment in which we bid adieu
to the scenes of this world, our life is one
continuous conflict between our will power
and our knowledge of right and wrong
our conscience. In childhood. in youth,
and in manhood, this war between desire
or will and cOnScience-between the mental
faculties and moral forces, is perpetually
being waged-and it will continue until
this phase of existence is closed.
What is conscience and what its office?
1t is an innate and spontaneous recognition
by that dvinely appointed faculty i'm
planted within each of us. of certain funda-
mental and immutable laws by which the
human family is regulated and kept in
harmonious working order. Though these
laws are fundamentally the same the world
over-yet there are slight social differences.
caused by the educational and social sur
rOundings of the individuals. For instance.
the MOhammedan, the Buddhist. the fol
lower of Confucius. the believer in Brahma,
the devoter of Juggernaut. the worshipper
of the sun, the Jew, the Gentle and the
ChriStian-all confess allegiance to the laws
cOndemning immortality. dishonesty, MUIR
der. violence. and breach of the social vir-
tues, rs a concrete dOgma-the only point
of difference being matters of detail, which
in no way affect the principles involved.
These laws are indelibly engraved on the
heart of each individual, whether he be
located in Egypt or in England. in China or
in ChristendOm, or the tOrrid plains of
Arabia or in the Arctic regiOns-in each
and all of these localities. these laws are
held sacred. and universally acknowledged
as the standard of moral thought and ac-
tion-any breach of them being included in
the general category of crime, and incur
ring some prescribed penalty or punish
ment. Thus. in the transactions of our
daily life, whenever our desires are at va
rance with these irrevOcable laws when
ever we are tempted to infringe the rights
or privileges of our fellows. whenever we
do violence to those principles which i'm
peril our own we'll being. either from q
! mental, moral, or physical point of view,