The Magnolia gazette., 1899-11-25
THE GOLDEN VIEW.
MEMO plscouRsEs ON SPIRITUAL
IsoTHERMs.

rpI hne maStfF is always nearest nm,
Not when he is up, but down,
Your correspondent is much
ashamed of the controversy he
has been engaged in for some
months with two ministers. So
far as the remarks of opponents
are concerned he has not been in
jured, for similar remarks never
carry any wounds with them: but
it is his own rejoinders that he
has put forth that occasion him
worry.
Ordinarily one feels that there
is no danger in controverting with
ministers, as they are supposed to
be above the common world level,
and that letters printed from them
would have an everlasting ten
dency to lift the hearts of readers
up to higher plane Of religious
thought and life.
While there is no maturity in re-
ligion in the world, no condition 10
be reached where the soul does not
find new lights and loves still be-
fore il; yet there are ascensional
lines, called by Memo spiritual
isotherms, that run up and down
through character, which;like the
isothermal lines that mork climat.
ic conditions, exhibit the ups and
downs of spiritual ascension,
marking as plainly as thermom-
eteric degrees, the altitude Of the
Christians whereabouts. ANY
conversations, readings, or per-
sonal associations, that lower,
these isothermal lines, should be
carefully avoided. for they are
maelstroms that destroy religious
life.
1t is very true that in life
"The flesh win quiver whore the pincers
! tear,
The blood viii follow where the knife
is driven.''
Misled by this. and by the ad-
ditional fact that ministers com
missioned to preach salvation to
dying men, would always be safe
examples to follow, and that min.
isterial trumpets would never give
out TO the public any uncertain
sounds, was led to initiate the
style Of writing'of my opponents,
which | thought perhaps the pub
lie approved; but whatsoever the
public may have thought'I soon
found that my isothermal line Of
spirituality was rapidly running
down and that could enjoy no
elevation while | contended
against writer's who seemed not
cognizant Of spiritual deprecia-
ton, and farther found that was
as unable to lift myself into my
usual condition as was Moore 8
fallen Angel after he had given
away heavens pass word to a
woman whom he loved, and al
though she had taken wings and
flown away; that his wings were
atrophied and lay still and dead
by his side forever.
Many good people assert that II
is right to pay the devil in his own
coinage; but | find a power with
in me that directs me into a dif-
ferent channel; an inward moni-
tor that points me 10 nobler things
than TO combat with men, nice
preachers though they be, that
never refer to Christ in all their
writings.
Memo Of course expects Bro.
Schilling 10 print the printed
charges that he says he can find
in old Gazettes. His own good
word requires him 10 do this, and
Memo is anxious TO see all the
evil he has done, as he fears no.
thing but loss OF the Savior g
love. II he has injured any min
istry, he will make the AMENpE
HONORABLE when it Is shown. He
would here repeat that there was
nothing in the review Of the Lane
card that was written to wound
any person, and Memo will retract
nothing contained therein, but he
does regret the fiery caustic that
some Of his subsequent articles
contained.
There still is balm in the Savior's breast,
There is balsam near MS side.
He will calmly await the promised rest,
He will trust in the Cruci1ed.
Great and powerful as is the
lightning's force, yet when these
bolts Of heaven come in contact
with earth or ocean, its power
disappears forever, as the heav-
emily messenger win not mix its
forces with terrestrial things. So
too the Christian life when it de-
scends to the lower planes OF