The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-21
The Soul is Always Pure
ny MAURICE MArvrEuIINcI<.

What would happen II our soul wc-e
suddenly 10 take visible shape ana
were compelled TO advance into Tho
MIDST OF her assembled sisters. striincd
OF all her wells. bu, laden with nor
most secret thoughts. and drngg.ns
oeh'hd her inc mysterious, ineNplicabI"
fnctS OF her life?
o: what would she be aphamod2
Which are things she would like TO
h!deF Would she, like n bashful maid
en- cloak beneath her long hair the
countless Gins az tho neshc
She knows not OF them and thos.
Sins have never come near her. They
were committed h thousand miles from
her throne. and the soul even o; tho
prostitute would pass unsuspecti,glv
through tho crowd with the tranenar-
ent smile OF tho child in her eyc.
she mas not in.crfcrcd she WAS living
her life whore the iisht fell on her.
and II Is this life only that clio can
recall.
Are there any sins or crimes o.,
which she could be guilty? Has she
BETRAYED. deceived. !iedc Has she in
hIct"d suTciins or been tho cause OF
tears: Where was she While this man
delivered over his brother 10 the
enemy? Perhaps far away from him
she was sohb'ne and from that moment
ahe VIII havo become more beautiful
ana more profound. She will feel no
shame for what she has no; done; she
can remain pure In the midst OF terrible
murder.
often she will TRANSFORM into inner
radiance all tho evil drought before
her. These things are governed BY an
Invisible principle. and hence. doubt
less, has arisen the !nexplicable in
diligence of tho gods
And our Indulgence. too. Strive as
we may. We arc bound 10 pardon, and
when death, tho great conciliator."
has passed by. is there one OF us who
does not fall on his knees and silently.
with every token OF forgiveness bend
over tho departing soul?
When stand before the rigid. body
OF my bitterest enemy when looi,
upon the pale lips that siandered me.
the s!ghtless ewes that SO often brought
the tears to mine, the cold hands that
may have done me so much wrong-do
you imagine that can stilI think OF
revenge? Death has come and atoned
for all
have no grievance against the soul
or the man before me. Instinctively do
recognize that II soarS high above
tho Eravest faults and 'the cruelest
wrongs and how admirable and full
or significance Is still instinct II
there EnRer still regret within me,
II is not that ann unable to innict
suffering in my turn, but ii In per-
haps that my love was not great
enough. and that my forgiveness has
come too late
One might almost believe that these
things were already understood by us
deep down In our soul We do not
Judge our fellows BY their acts-nay,
Tor these are not always dlsccrniblA
and we 20 far beyond the undisccrnible
man shall have committed crimes
rcputcd to hc the vilest of ALL and vet
IL may be that even tho blacklist OF
these shall not have furnished for one
single moment the breath of fragrance
ana ethereal purity that surrounds his
presence, while At the approach of
philosopher or martyr our soul may
be stepped in gloom
1t may happen that n saint or hero
may choose his friend from among men
whose faces bear tho stamp OF every
degraded thought. and that. by the side
OF others. those brows are radiant with
lofty and magnanimous dreams. he shall
not feel human and brothcrly atmos-
phere about him
What tidings do these things bring
us? And wherein ':cs their siRni6-
canoe? Are there laws deeper than
those by which deeds and thoughts are
governed what are the things we
have l1arncd, and why do we ALWAYS
act in accordance with rules that none
ever mention, but which are ONLY rules
that cannot err?
For ii may be boldly declared that
appearances notwithstanding, neither
nero nor saint has chosen wrongly.
They have but Obeycd. and even though
tho saint he deceived and sold by the
man he has preferred. still Will there
abide with him something impcrishabIe
something by which he shall know
that he was right ana that he has moth
Ing to regret. Tho soul will ever re.
member that the other soul was pure.