San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-06-14
SUNDAY, JUNE IA, 1896
LAW; NOT LAWS ?

at the same time there is too little law
in force for the regulation of indiyid-
ual life and feeling. 1t is not suffi-
GENTLY understood that the fOunda-
ton of all wrong action is wrong con-
ception; that it is the interior man
and woman that needs regulation
and not the exterior; that it is not
rules, but principles that are needed;
that all exterior life is only an ex-
preston of interior idea and feeling
and conclusion, and that it is the cor
rection of these that must work the
correction of the outer word and
work, if that outer is to be corrected
at all. 1t is also to be noted that it
is useless to reverse this order for it
will only confuse and lead to no good
result in the accomplishment of the
reforms sought.
No one steps to the old clock case
and turns the hands, setting them by
some other timepiece, in the expecta-
ton that this is going to regulate the
interior works, that have become de-
ranged. The so-called clockmaker,
who should so attempt to set the in
ner machinery of his customers clock
right would soon find himself without
patronage. But it is this same fool
ishnes that shows itself in every at
tempt to set the ,,fnner man and
woman right by turning the hands of
tn. outer movement this or that way,
to suit the Condition of some other
life movement. There is no clock
that goes either too fast or to slow,
that does not require regulating with
in its works before it's outward move
ments can be corrected, and there is
no life that has in any way gone
wrong that must not be regulated in
the same way, by correction of the
works within.
tent judge as to the condition of that
inner machinery, by the proper
movement of which the movement of
life can alone be properly regulated.
Not only the need of a competent
machinist, but the constant compari-
son of the life movement of the indi-
to the movement that is sought to be
given it, by a change in the inner
works, and in how far it departs from
it, These two things then are at the
foundation of every motion that the
man or woman honestly makes for
the remOdeling or reforming of life;
competent authority within the human
machine to determine its condition,
and as constant comparison of condi-
ton outside with the condition sought
TO be worked within.
1t is LAW then that is the thing
needed, not laws. 1t is some definite
principle governing the whole ma
chinery of the mind and moral ma
tqTe, not string of laws, a cOnglOm-
,..eratiOn of thou shalt and thou shalt
not, that is needed. Wanting this
law all things are wanted Outside
of it there is no authority for any,
thing. The man or the woman truly
DESTROYS of conforming to the highest
conditions of which the machinery OF
their interior selves is capable, finds
no rest for conclusion in this eterna
moving of the second and inmate
hands Of conduct. this one counsellin2
change to the right and that one {
change to the left They are restless
as Noah's dove. and finding no sup
port for the sole of their foot win!
everlastingly their weary way, unit
it may be some kind hand outstretch
es to pull them again into their ark.
But that kind hand never comes
because there is nothing outside o
the individual upon which he or sh
can lay hold. 1t is true that there ar
assumptions of authority on every sid
but these are not authority. Tha
they are not is evidenced in that the
give no rest to the diverse humanity
one persons meat becoming another
poison. Were there any real author
ty in these outer declarations. thes
repeated ''thus said the lord" the
would BE of universal force and az
cepted application, The fact that the
are not thus general is proof positiy
that they do not emanate from SON
central source of authority, but al
only declarations of the little woul
be lawmakers who move ever III
hands of the face of the clock, bu
regulate not its works.
The lack of good govern
ment in the church and