Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-03-31
Despondency-Its Causes and Cure
Part 8.
From The Jefersonian, by ]. L. LODGE
d. D., Editor.l


l Will pluck 1t from my bosom, tho nv heart
be at the root Tennyson.
What is the cure for dependency The
statement OF the causes must have suggested,
In part, their antidote, but some hints are
added. When the cause of low spirits Is
tfaceaole To the physical condition, the first
necessity is to attend to the wants of the
oody. The symptoms are easily discerned
oy the Kind observer, while not correctly
diagnosed by the sufferer. We are always
certain when the prescription is Divine.
ARISE and eat" was the first utterance di
rected to the restoration OF Elijah and that
not for animal gratifcation-its common
use-but as necessity TO sustentation Of
lille, the effect of which would be the return
OF the strength first needed. Bring the phys
zeal part back to a state Of health, and thus
fundamentally restore the mental equilib.
rum. Only so may We prepare the
spiritual nature for beneficial exercises, for
It's best service. 1t is well known to all who
continually resort to iT, that nothing in the
universe SO Gains the mind and refreshes
the body as secret devotion. Nothing so
elective In the removal of morbid fancies,
disquleting fears, and even agonzing appre-
tension. Luther's saying was wise one,
that ITO work well is TO pray we'll" But no
man can pray well on an empty stomach.
Nor on an overfull one. While it is earn.
estly believed that dieting is a most PERM.
cious practice, In direct contravention of
the will OF God, and the prolific cause of
aggravated indigestion-that pitiless Toe of
every single form of human happness-an
Intelligent care of the stomach safeguards
the interests of the temporal, and facilitates
progress in the spiritual, life Mems Sdnd IN
c0TpOre sdnO: How many thousands OF times
has ii been quoted Not without reason
for 1t rests squarely on principles of physi-
ology and psychology. Calling up all our
resolution and religion to forgive that abom.
ination OF desolaton, the fresh air tiend, out
door exercise, specially if our feet lead to
the wOods-that temple not made with car.
penters' and bricklayers' hands-where we
converse with nature, Gods other sell, is a
most powerful aid to recovery from the
chains OF dread melancholy.
One OF the best recipes for dependency
is, resolutey face duty, and valiantly per-
form it. If the captive realize helplessness
as did the man with the wItheret arm, all
the more reason that he shall stretch forth
his hand No word in any tongue puts such
power into man. Contradcting Drum
mond, love is not the greatest thing in the
world. Duty is. 1t gives man the lion
heart ribs him in steel, and fills his fist with
lightning The clarion call he hears he in-
terprets its meaning and force: he conceiVes
the part he must bear, the trials he must
dare: he swears, If heavens fall and worlds
dissolve, what he ought he will Before such
storm spirits cravens and towards and all
creatures and things that hinder the strong
fly like chat before the wind. With one
hand upon the throat of death, In the other
the power that masters himself and subdues
the world. Nightly, triumphantly wrest-
ling with that darkness of the mind worse
than death. Sturdy resolution 10 do what
is demanded serves the double purpose OF
defence and attack. 1t expels internal foes
TO peace, and Stays the enemies OF progress
and achievement. 1t is the highest ideal
that conquers; the powerful conviction that
laughs at difficulty, strikes down opposition
and with serene Constancy pursues Its de-
termined way. 1t may lead 10 suffering
OF quite another kind, and even death but
these are tTlfles too paltry TO put Into the
balance with duty But the gentlest may
oltimes appear the greatest. lie will see
the more pathetic but equally imperative
side OF duty. He will assuTedly be gentle
who compares the woes OF others To his own
And beside, the greater degree OF misery
shall silence his own Complainings, ant
shame and gratitude be his best medicine
In the need for action is secreted his owl
cure. Look where we will, 1t is worse will
some creature OF God, some poor human
brother, than with ourselves. Now is the
opportunity for the cup Of cold water-the
type OF blessed charity. But not by proxy.
Soul contact, personal touch, power OF pres
ence, is the need, and its own reward. Re-
uarctnU "a cnurap narfunptOrV
Ii we give,
Our cup OF water is not rendered Till
We lay down pipes and found a company
With branches.
The gver and receiver both are blessed. No
real preacher, doing his whole duty to all
men, but is first convicted by his own preach
ing, and healed, that he may be the healer
OF his brethren.
II Macbeth had asked me-
Can't thou not minister 10 "A mind diseased /;
Pluck from the memory rooted sorrow;
Raze out the written troubles OF the brain
And with some sweet, oblivious antidote,
Cleanse the stutf'd bosom Of that perllous
stuff
Which weighs upon the hearth
should have answered out OF most CRATE
lul experience, 90 10 DOrk Begin with
what trembling strength OF heart and hand
may be granted. Persevere rs II the fate OF
worlds depended upon asslduity. Gather
power from exerliOn. Let the occupation
be all-absorbiug, ~ rs to Danish the spectre
Of memory, AM leave no time for intrOspec-
ton. AnalyZe a text, and clOthe the skele-
ton with grace and power. Delve ut law
case I'LL every detail ID mastered, every point
hedged about. Cultivate a garden, where
every movement OF the utensl must he with
great caution guided, 50 as not TO inJure the
tender plant. Amy kind Of wOrk-not david
ling-any kind Of work that requires men
tai concentration, that the worker shall be
compelled u forget himself and his miseres /;
thus preventing the mind from consuming
itself. Thousands have thanked God, on
Bonded knee, Tor blessed work IL has
rescued thousands from insanity, and the
grave, and brought them back 10 hope, and
courage, and strength.
To drive away the demon Of anxiety,
shorten the view OF life Sufficient unto
the day Is the evil thereof" Tomorrow
you may be in that best land where IS no
cause Tor care. The divine economy limits
the prayer and the promise u single day
1t Is enough. With daily food no man shall
go hungry. "Doth God care for oxenf" Let
IL shame Us Forecasting the future 10 make
IL Tue subject Oh ClhtnOTOus pctltlOu Is W Al
ticipate Providence, and exclude trust.
II we pray at all,
We pray no longer for our daily food,
But next centenary's harvests.
That alone is enough TO make US miserable Z.
That dreadful word, anxiety" its original
horriG meaning the closing upol the throat +,
cutting off the breath, sutfocatiOn, choking
of the very source OF life II the loved com
panion is by your side, do not weave her
shrouh for next weeks burial. II the children
are around the table, do not dig graves 10 the
heart which mortality has not opened. II dis
ease is wasting the frame, consider that no
man ever died before his time, nor had choice
OF means ~ that end. If pain ia agonizing,
remember how bravey and patiently you
have borne II for years, one moment at a
time. II, from our point Of view the lot
seems hard, II were far wiser not 10 resist
Bot let determined thoughts 10 destiny
Hold unbe walled their way
Recognize the doctrine on which the strong.
est characters and happest lives are found