The National tribune., 1894-07-12
EDITORS CHAT.


Thoughts and Opinions Expressed by the
C. ca Member Who Prefers ReeeptiVi'y
to Preoonceived Opinions.
HAVING VIEWS.
The following is an extract from personal
letter written 10y a well-known C. C.:
"Fyeryhoiv seems to have views on subjects
hut me used 10 have views too, but fouho
tbav onlv distressed ME and made me uncom-
Portable. so gave up having set opinions anu
now | am simply waiting for CONVICTIONS
"The views did have could not sustain IN
an argument, although at heart believed was
right"
The best advice to anyone in a like position
is ,o simply wait. 1t is a mistake to form an
oninion on a subject unless you are Thoroughly
imbued with the idea that you are right
We must grow into our beliefs We cannot
deliberately say will believe this or that ana
stick to that opinion, without retarding our
intellectual growth. Conditions change ana
if we are broad and progressive our opinions
will change too.
Emerson saws that Consistency is lack OF
growth" meaning that stubborn clinginS TO
old opinions. in spite of changing conditions
is the acme of narrowness-
This does not mean a weak vaclllating ma
frre changing, never Su3cs bob oA III
nrciudiced. fair, evenly-poised mind, that can
recognize the good and the bad points In
theory.
Beliefs are growth, gradual accretion OF
the mind through long series OF years not
A deliberate formation of an opinion without
thought or deiberation.
THE INGENIOUS OPPONENT.
LISA great mistake to suppose you are bound
to DISCARD = fixed belief because ingenious
opponent may ply you with questions winch
you caHnDt answer.
It's difficult, on the spur Of moment. to give
all the reasons which many have condnceo 10
these opinians These reasons from time to
time have been brought to the cogniZaDce OF
the mind. have wrought their work upon the
convictions. and then have been forgotten.
The resultant beliefs like the successive
strata Of the earth remains as sort OF perma-
nent deposit
II is literally slime upon line, precept upon
precept, here a little. there a little. Other-
wise we should be ever afoat On the sea OF
opinions.
Cultivate habit of tenscity in your opin ions
rs we'll rs IN your course of life. Only be care
ful and honest in the first place IN forming
your opinions, and then be willing to place
ssrne confidence in your own mental results.
Do not give up your creed because some
specialty man presses you with arguments thai
Won cannot answer You coRld answer them
if you had made the subject as much OF hobby
as he or II you had time to review the steps by
which you have come 10 the present stage Of
belief
IL is hard to be broad and charitable and
tolerant with others whose views differ from
ours We cannot all think alike, nor is 1t III
the plan of life that we should.
Ali OF orr great reforms have been effected
through difference of opinion and agitation
To again use the words of Emerson: Reform
Is only the result of private opinion"
Our aa vice TO the C. C. without views is, Grow
and think. listen and read, examine and OBJ
serve, and the opinions viii form themselves
"oxLY NERVOUSNESS"
Herman Garfield, NJ. D., in The Healthy Home
thinks the condition so often described as only
nervousness" is very serious. He says th'
nervous system, in health, is a machine, deli
cate aud complex, transeending the crude
chemical Or physical operations OF the stomach
liver or heart.
Ii is ali that they are but in addition it is tn
median OF thought. and in some sense the origi
nstor as well as Of sensation and motion; tn
automatic controller OF all the organs OF tn
body. the medium of all the senses, and the re
pOsitory OF tue soul itself 1t is machin
within a machine; part of the whole human
mechanism, yet the ruler of it all.
Ee says pneumonia. BrighIs disease, AM
typhoid fever attack parts which c0rrespoD'
only 70 parts of an engine, and may for a tim
interrupt the working Of even the whole ma
chine; but when person is only nervous,
the engine the steam, and men, are all at faul
Not a part bnt the whole machine. is out c
order, and should have prompt aud thoroug
eOnrse Of repairs
" For Is years" he says. "my daily path
dnty has lain among the sick, in hospital, pr
vate practice, aud ssnitarium, 10 witness a
phases and degrees Of human suffering. and
say without hesitation and with perfect conf
dence in my ability to meet all who enter til
lists TO contToyert me, there is no sufferin
mental or physical, that in the slighte
degree equal that usually covered by the cal
phrase, "only nervousness"