Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-12
MENTAL AND MORAL HYGIENE


Life Is exalted just in proportion to
it's organic and functional complexity;
and, as organization is the primitive
language of the Creator for the devel-
opment of higher purposes than can
be expressed in the lower forms of
animal life, human being stands
foremost in the scale of creative life.
Therefore should we seek for the high
est development of the moral and men
tai, as well as the physical nature, and
in pointing out right methods of train
ing this threefold life of ours,
prove this to be Gods plan for the re-
demption of the body as well as the
higher nature; and the very richest
inheritance a human being can fall
heir to-
To woman's development, mental
moral and physical, are here given
years of earnest effort. We have urged
her careful thought and study of the
unfoldment of the laws and mysteries
of her own being, and seeking through
every available avenue, such knowl-
edge as will enable her not only to re-
sist disease but fit her to become a
teacher in her home; thereby building
a wall of defense about her sons and
daughters against the quicksands 50
thickly strewn along life's pathway
So related to her family we see the
vital need of making her primary edu-
cation a thorough knowledge of her
own organism. and the relation 1t holds
to the mental. moral and spiritual de-
velopment.
The Indifference, age and recklessness
so apparent upon all sides as regards
the care of these bodies has another
side to be considered, as well as the
disease and suffering consequent upon
the disregard of the laws of life. We
have no moral right to defy these laws.
!. These bodies are a sacred trust to be
kept fit temples for the Divine In
dwelling. How dare we defile them
with improper food and drink? Depress
and drag them down with improper
dress? Let us write in words that
burn, this one fundamental fact Ply
sical law is as truly Gods law as is
moral or spiritual obligation. How
can one preserve a vigorous intellect
and receptive spirit in a diseased
body?
We need physical vigor in order to
have strength of purpose, clear percep-
tion and a normal outlook upon the
activities and responsibilities of daily
living. How are we to attain unto
this perfection of living? By obedi-
ence to low. Look at the array OF
broken down women in our midst.
Hurry and worry, no time to rest, are
the secrets of nine-tenths of all this
trouble. We are living in a period of
scientific research Light Is coming
in upon many abstruse subjects. We
had best pause, turn aside for a brief
period and consider life in its three
fold aspect: mental, moral, physical.
The true philosophy of lifes develop
ment and expenditure adjusts itself
by right thinking, acting, living. 1t
means health, not disease; comfort, not
suffering; love of life and love for
humanity born of obedience to all of
Gods laws. The principle is an em-
anation from Divine Wisdom and is
practical Christianity.
Thus we learn how interdependent
is this triple nature of ours, so that
one part cannot be disturbed without
proportionate arrangement of every
other part, and that it is only when
balance and harmony exist that we
reach the best of which we are capa-
BILE. Out of such living come we'll
springs of peace and rest with
healthful activity and outreaching to-
ward all needing our ministrations.
H. P. VAN KIRK, M. d.