Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-04-10
ANGLES LETTER.
FanaticiSm.


Enthusiasm is a trait of character |
peculiar to mankind that has distin-
guished a few in every age since men
first began to exercise the God-given
reasoning powers. All the satirists that
have ever existed could not prevent
few from "taking themselves seriously"
Wisdom and sensibility combined pro-
duce the effect, of which divine inspira-
ton is the cause. If certain amount
of misery is part of the system by
which men may be tried to prove their
fitness for the life eternal we can believe
that the enthusiasts are those sent to
teach, by impressive examples, the means
by which the great problem of life is to
be solved. The presence among us of
such gifted beings is one of the compen-
Stations. Between the enthusiast and
the fanatic there are many degrees of
difference, although there are still many
who cannot or will not distinguish be-
tween the two. Gautama was one whose
breadth of intellect was only exceeded
by the depth of his love for his fellow
men. Amidst all the splendors of his
fathers court he became exceedingly
sad, for he found food for thought in
the comparisons he drew between the
idle and luxurious life led by his COM
panions and the misery that lay beyond
the outer gate. Sick with safety, he
conceived the idea that by seclusion,
fasting, and other severe forms of pen
ance, he would become enlightened, and
thus enabled to find a remedy for the
miseries he so deeply deplored TO this
great purpose he decided to consecrate
his life. His sublime courage enabled
him to resign the love of a beautiful
wife and child, and all the joys of life
that men hold dear, to undergo his self
imposed penance of many years dura-
ration, that he might ''point the way"
The results were as great as the motive.
We might call science to our aid, and
prove, point by point, that his thought
and the resultant "system" was fanati-
cism, but we must have an inner convic-
ton that his "delusion" was the most
beautiful and rational dream that the
mind of man could conceive.
One who was destined to become the
"Light of the world" came four hundred
and fifty years later. Here we see the
same boundless love, and a surprising
endurance, that men might become en-
lightened.' Can we wonder that, even
in this Unconditional age, here and there
great mind becomes infected with this
glorious idea? The enthusiast who, in
a manner eccentric, resignedly devotes
his or her whole life and fortune to a
noble purpose may, by those incapable
of approaching such a sacrifice, be called
fanatic, but it is a matter for regre
that in each age there are not NOR
blessed with "a like delusion.
When lady, young, beautiful, highl,
educated, and the mistress of larg'
fortune, deserts p luxurious home for tn,
Salvation Army barracks, and not onl,
furnishes the means" but assists night
ly in the work in order to give also tn
"noral support" the matter natural,
provokes much comment and, it may be
harsh criticism of the officers of tina
organization who may be said to hav
taken an undue advantage of her credu
lily. The representatives of the churcI
of which she has so long been a membe
will of course regard her action as
slur upon the teachings and accomplish
ments of a time honored institution. w
read that the lady in question has a
ways been studious, and intensely re
ligious, and that she became so impresse
by the earnestness of the lowly apostle
as to desire to join them, and to furnis
the "moral and monetary support