The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-08

The Woman's club of Butte met in
regular session on Wednesday, AS
usual, the. current events department
was very interesting. The Dreyfus
case was the subject under considara-
ton, Mrs. Hall leading with review of
the case; following Mrs. Colyar and
Mrs. Wfseman SPOKE of several feat
ures, particularly the supremacy of the
military power over the civil in France
and the loyalty of the wife of Dryfus.
Next week, current events will be taken
up in general manner. Phe literature
department had charge of the pro-
gramme for the day and as an ilIustra-
ton of the benefits derived from the
public schools introduced a little Ita-
ian girl, .Letra BarSanta Of Browns
Gulch who charmed the audience with
two recitations. The recitations were
different in character, and were rem
dered with equal force and feeling. The
child's efforts were all the more appre-
ciated when it was known that the par
ents are uneducated Italian peasants
unable to speak the English language.
The only paper of the afternoon was
entitled "A Day with Emerson" Miss
Nash handled the subject with great
"
he appeared to her, especially dwelling
upon the religious side of his character
and writings. In part. Miss Nash said ::
His was profoundly religious
soul So devout a NOrshiper was he at
the throne of the Eternal that he was
shocked and disguised at the irreligion
of the churches. His philosophy seized
hold of churchly institutions and shook
them to their foundations, waking up
dull preachers behind their prosy pull
pits and frightening timid people. who
began to cry out in terror "Infidel and
Pantheist' and many feared that Chris
tianity was to be swept away by the
strength of this mighty flood of new
ideas. Had they had half the faith
Emerson had in the indestructibiity of
eternal TRUTH they would not have
feared that anything divine would
ever die.
Mr.. Emerson never entered into any
controversy. When he had a message
to deliver to the world he gave it in the
finest diction, with that persuasive elo-
quence which comes Of a strong desire
to impart a great truth: and it was
said that people listened to him with
delight. though they did not under
stand him and often did not agree with
him. But when he sent his truths home
he paid no attention to the fierce con-
troVersy they aroused. These contro-
verses are still agitating the theologi-
cal world, for the many heresy trials
that we have heard of in the last few
years are largely due to the influence
of Emersonian thought
If you want something that holds
great religious thought read his "Di-
vinity Hall Address" Here is a very
passion of worship and devotion Or
thodox. Well, perhaps not. l do not
know. I do not care. But don't be afraid
of your orthodoxy; it will not be shaken.
at least mine was not, for you are not
in search Of, orthodoxy or unorthodoxy,
or for anything perhaps; you just read
and by and by you are carried off your
feet; you mount to heights where gods
alone may dwell you behold beneath
your feet the shallowness of the
average religious world, its dead
level of cold lifeless proprety
If you have so digested and
assimlated thstE discourse as to
make it a part of your. own
thought. you will never enter a church
had before. You will be filled with a
"divine discomfort" longing for some
thing higher and better than you usual
ly find there, for there has been re-
vealed to you somewhat of the divine
and you never again will be satisfied
with anything less
Among his works the book most wide
ly read is THE Conduct of Life" a fine
group of practical essays that may be
understood and digested by the aver
age healthy mind though the under
standing needs certain education in