Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-04-08
Time and Eternity.

Both thine" and eternity" are abstract
terms, the latter but little more indefinite
than the former.
Time" therefore, is not an arbitrary ex-
preston in ITSELF but its cycles, typical of
eternity, and seglnents of cycles, suggestive of
itself, may be, but it is to be doubted.
The Courier then inquiries
Can that which is typical be part of the
thing typited?
Certainly. Why not9 E. R. Johns
ton, for instance is type of the hui
man race-outside of his exaggerated
style of logistics, noble type; there
fore part as well as type of human
nobility.
Suppose we know "T' as thing that can
be measured, but we do not know its length !;
and 'E' as that which cannot be measured
Is it possible to think of an unmeasured por-
ton of the undesirable?
The question does not comport with
the superstition.
Time is measurable only in the
current sense-backward or forward,
but not to point indicating a begin
ming of days or end of years. Hence,
it is possible to think of anything as
feasible of accomplishment that is
being accomplished.
Or, suppose we know the length of IT.
Can "length" make it part of lengthlesS-
hess?
The supposition is unfair, because
we do not and cannot know the length
of ''time." which ct" represents.
A" n the Courier questions this:
Inueed we do not know that the thing
called time ever had a beginning, nor do we
certainly know it will ever end. With faith
IN Revelation we may accept both the history
which concerns its commencement and the
prophecy of its collapse. but with equal con-
lidence in the indestructibilty of matter we
may not. Time" and eternity" therefore,
may be, concretely, equivalent terms.
How can the two be both abstract and
"Concrete?' These are opposite; nay more
they are contradictory abstract and concrete).
Suppose they are "concretely equivalent
terms" Can equivalents be the one portion
of the other?
The caretmreader, doubtless, noticed
that the JOURNAL applied the adjec-
tive, "abstract," to time and "eter-
nifty" as ''terms" in themselves also,
that the adverb, ''concretely," was not
only not so applied, bat cannot be.
The JOURNAL had already intimated
the probability that "time" and "eter-
nity' are practically one and the same
it was to emphasize this probability
that the adverb, "concretely," was
used to show ho~ the adjective,
equivalent" might define the equalness
of the ''terms."
The rest Of the Curriers' article is a
chain of similar chronological subter-
fuges, whose complications OF soph-
istries, weaknesses and irrelevancieS
are too numerous to mention. Still,
if it were our duty to discuss modes of
expression and refute arguments based
on adverbs abbreviated to adjectives,
we would gladly do so.
But it is not.
1t is more to the purpose to quote
the decisive opinion of Eliezer
Edwards, trustworthy collocator of
Words, Facts and Phrases" and of
established theorems in general:
Most people regard time as something
entirely distinct from eternity. In reality it
is not so. Eternity is "never beginning,
never ending and is going on nor. Time,
therefore, like small segment of great
circle, is, in fact, portion of eternity. Time
is, for each individual, that portion of eter-
nifty which he is permitted to spend upon
earth.
That ought to settle the question.
But if it does not, let the Courier
appeal to the New Testament and show
where the SAVIOR ever referred to the
first man, to Eden, the beginning of
"time," or even to antiquity.
Time" is the evolution of develop
ment from unpeopled ages to ages of
people.
thine" is the terrestrial statement of
a celestial fact.
1t is the dial-plate on the clock of
eternity.
1t is the bell-ringer of the universe.
1t is the page that carries the crown
OF mortal life In the endless cavalcade
of existences.
1t is that spirit which has translated
ornamental occurrences from tokens
of terror into signals of the on-coming
of brighter eras. The comet which
once swept the sky like sword of
Divine wrath is now the flourish of a
pen which signatures the beginning of
a heavenly epoch.
Perhaps eternity" was once long
night. If so, "time" Is its daytime.
Figuratively. eternity" is dark,
sluggish, old, but "time" is bright,
periodic, and young with the youth of
all duration. The morning stars which
sang for joy over the advent of it's
epochal dynasty still indulge the
raptures of birthday ecstacies.
Time and eternity" are one; if
two, then the only unbeginning and
endless synonyms in all human or
spiritual idioms.
Effect and Cause.
The correspondent who wrote up the ac-
count OF the recent fire in this city to the
FrOstburp Ie10er waS aitbar sut4ar;,c, fro,,,