Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-03-05
INTOTHE OPEN FIELD
Should Go the Seeker of Spiritual
as Well as Of Physical
Welfare.

tary discoveries of modern medical
science is that of the value of fresh
air as an agent of general bodily
health. In the old days we use to
muffle up our throats to keep cut
bronchitis, pad our chests against con-
sumption and sleep behind closed win
dows to escape the contagion of the
night atmosphere. Today all this Is
changed. The victim of bad throat
or weak chest is taught to expose the
affected parts to the outer air as much
as possible. The fresh air treatment
of tuberculosis is now universal The
in summer with every window wide
opener. still better, out Of doors! To
keep out in the open air is in our time
the first law of health
Now, very impressive is 1t to note
that what is true as regards the body
is no less true as regards the soul. In
the spiritual life as well as the physi-
air, No longer do we drive the tempt
ed soul into the ways of solitude or
separate the sinner from contact with
his fellows. al
Active Life Beneficial.
No longer do we regard the monas
terry as the refuge of virtue or the
dark silence OF the hermit cell as the
cure of spiritual corruption. We
know today that retirement is danger.
GUS and active life In the outer world
always beneficial II a man be over
weighted with cares or beset with
temptations or stricken with some
loathsome moral cancer let him flee
from the lonely chamber where he
knows only dull breeding and sterile
remorse and desert the towering al
tars where he makes confession and
does pennance. Let him take his anx-
iety or sin into the open air. Let him
go down to the sea- and look unto the
hills. Let him heed the skylark, and
dance with the daffodils. Let him seek
the company OF the sun. and bow to
the benediction OF the stars. Let him,
III word, hold communion with Ma
ture in her variable FORMS" and lol
his cares will fall from him like a
ragged garment and his sin vanish
away as little thing The air will
make him pure. The sun will give him
light The shining armament will lift
him to its own expanse of beauty. In
the words of Mrs. Browning:
The little cares that fretted me
/ lost them yesterday
Among the fields above the sea,
Among the winds at play
Among the huslSing OF the corn
Where drowsy poppies nod.
| Where Ill thoughts die and good are born,
| Out in the fields with God.
Getting Rid of Troubles.
And II it Is beneficial thus to bring
our ills under the influence of Nature,
how much more beneficial still is 1t to
bring them under the influence OF our
fellows. What unworthy thought can
flourish in the presence of good man,
or what ignohle motive survive the
grace Of a good woman? How shall
we maintain our petty envies and de-
ceits in the face of little children, or
keep our selfiahness alive amid the
sweet influences of comradeship and
family love? Where is there cruel pas
sion or secret sin which is strong
enough to resist the wholesome i'm.
pulses of the crowd? What we need,
If we would keep our souls free of all
unhealthiness, is simply the open air.
the open air Of rubbing elbows, clasp
ing hands, making friends, knowing
people, going with the multitude"
above all, of seeking the near com
partnership, If possible, and the distant
influence, If nothing better, Of men and
women who are stronger, drawer,
purer than ourselvesi To know men,
to love men, to work with men, to live
with men--to know the grace OF
brotherhood and the Joy Of fellowship
this is the first law Of the spirit.
Out in the open, therefore! Away
from solitudes and silences -from win.
dows closed and doors barred against
the world! And 10! it shall be seen
that strength and beauty are the
sanctuary of the soul as well as of tho
body.