The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
The Mastery OF Grief.

IF there Is order in the world" v.,.
BOLTON HALL In the preface to his new
book. The Mastery Of Grief 1HolN 50,
malice does not rule, there mus, =.
such understanding as will minister ~
our needs In time OF trouble" IN.
consultations of religion are no, mi
versally applicable, and the attemn, :,
to formulate the solaces in arlIc,,on
that reason propounds In place OF Tho
balm OF easy faith. There is an ahnn.
dant and beautiful literature OF comso.,
for those who accept sorrow with roo
ignation. but the less spiritually dis
posed are not so generously provided
for. Grief Is as universal vet ind,v,S.
ual as breathing; can 1t be vicar,ousv
borne?
In the presence Of genuine grief m.
commonplace Of consolation are An
added affiiction worse than the original,
yet they are based IN kindly feelin.
and on old and common experience and
must have good sense at bottom. For
instance, every one knows that scpara.
ton Is not measured merely BY tim.
and space; that you can be more hone.
lessly separated from your brother a
block away. II there is any lack q,
|
be from your lover in China" Death
is separation, says this PHILOSOPHER
OF grief. over which we have the same
power OF mental control that We have
over discovering space; 1t cannot b.
diminished but 1t can be annihiated
The idea Of the souls immortality Mr..
Hall never questions: its mere imma.
hence in the consciousness OF the gem
erations is proof enough for him. Death
Is not the end of life but change IN
life.
Regrets are vain: to Danish inc
haunting memory of unkind words
spoken or deeds done. Mr.. Hall pre-
scribes recollection Of the thousands Of
helpful words or acts orfsettng each
error or detection from the works o.
perfect friendship. lie reprehcnds
nugatory mourning and urges recourse
to the only possible form Of "atone.
ment." PREPARATION for past sins OF om.s.
sion and commission by effort to m
| crease in helpfulness to others Tie
idea OF atonement Is pretty metap phys
cal; less so is the plea for recu-a.tlon
OF suffering not as mystery" but
as revelation OF the laws thai govern
| life:
u'h gpu etN SUN HtFtlstn as FoN
have? Was II from yourself or i.Ju. IA,
universal !fe7 II we could be born aai
exist without the life force We mIgh. 3D. ~
OF ourselves as separate from Ii ana weak
Heat. magnetism, electricity, cohesion. a..
of the great forces OF the physical r5ra,
ind expression In your body. Yll afs
allied with the forces OF grayi;atlol" A.
traction. persuasion, reason, all the !,rr.l
that influence mind. because they are ia'Li.
go 10 make you You. Emotion. enth.s.asn.
love. are expressed In your soul. iHu csn
do nothing OF yourself. but you have al
the power OF the universe to draw upaa.
II you talk OF your feeble efforts trans.
pose this and see how absurd % g.. lilo
feeble efforts that the Spirit makes tNr--.4
you"
This epitomiZes the whole prtlgAmenI
of Bolton Hall on the mastery oi -r,lt'
1t might be more convincing were b.
less determlnedly and aggress.rvy op-
timistic. But it is we'll meant ell
deavor to make practical and prtc;.ca-
bic the conventional formulH ~ c'ur-
age, which the strong man commands
and the weak cannot learn. t.a.'"f
", The Medicament Of Grief r'ic.s
from the cant about dear ou,- N"r-
taken away" by God, haNl- ...n
not given to us 10y Him but ou.l .H'
so far that Ii passes the opJ,yt' ..
more honest glossary and sWrl- over
into something very like the object 'l
Initial protest, the explanation 2 az
individual death as the plan % ynl''
cence for the promotion Of tlt iai
vidual's welfare. With the eNf'r.'h
OF one or two soft" spots, AaWH''-
Mr.. Halls little sermon Is brave aua
cheerful. practical and hylpi-l ~