can be devised. We should elevate the man of sorrows and mistakes, by kind intentions and commiseration. We must endeavor to modify inherited character. Wrong doing is many times the effect of error in judgment, rather than defective conscience. Let us therefore condone, but seldom condemn.

The works and practice of righteousness are not easy; but hope for every one is based upon this fact, that all imperfections of character are ultimately to be mastered and eradicated; so that not a vestige of them shall remain to interfere with the future happiness of the immortal spirit. The perfect God wills the perfection and happiness of each and all His children, and, without the least infringement of the freedom of any, or the change of any law, will bring all at last to choose the good and true.

By virtue of law's discipline, man's destination is illimitable growth. Morality is a consequence of the unchanging divinity of the spirit, and is as undying as the immutable laws. The mind is endowed with all the attributes we call divine, and is destined to accomplish its heavenly mission in love, wisdom and eternal progression. Perpetual change is perpetual motion. This ceaseless motion produces refinement; this refinement produces advancement, and all true advancement is evolution of progress. Evolution can end only in the establishment of the greatest perfection and most complete happiness.

VIRTUE IS THE SUBORDINATION OF PASSION TO THE INTEL

LECT.

The misguided and unregulated stand in danger of premature dissolution. Impulse should be submitted to judgment, reflection should be strong enough to subordinate all inordinate desires and inclinations.

He who can suppress a moment's anger, will prevent a lasting sorrow. Putting one's self out of tune is not the way to procure happiness. A miserable life can never be called a well-used life, for misery means waste, dissatisfaction, discord. We should be luxurious within and without; and so live that people can say pleasant things of us-at least to live a harmless life-a well-balanced, effective youth and manhood.

Every theory of life should become a beautiful reality. We should endeavor to enjoy all the good that our life contains. Length of days is still a criteria of a good life, and to obtain this boon we must substitute economy of force for waste, by encouraging the powers that build up the entire system.

Reason re-enforces, passion squanders, vice destroys, ignorance retards. To preserve one's mental constitution and nourish one's nature, is the way to heaven. Individualized existence and intrinsic merit have steadily appreciated in value, until the long-looked-for right has come uppermost. Present merit is now the criterion, not the reputation and success of long-departed progenitors. What does he know, what has he done, and can he apply knowledge? · The self-made man who has worked his way through the greatest obstacles, is usually possessed of a sound article of conscience, self-made, like the rest of his character. These are the minds who promote the world's progress into truth and right. They institute new morals, generate new maxims, and fill the air with new revelations of truth and principles of action, increasing moral power and responsibility. This is an era of reason and liberty, opposed to superstition, but hospitable, to what is deemed the universally natural, which is found to contain everything that is good and true in every system of effectiveness and practicableness.

We must sweeten and purify life at its fountain-springs, by habitually letting the spiritual in us dominate the natural, and by permitting the highest in us to govern the lowest; natural religion is intrinsically adapted to all phases and necessities of universal humanity. And it is the only system that is capable of being universally adapted, and of becoming inseparably identified with the eternal institutions and needs of restless and progressive human nature. All classes and all temperaments, whether intelligent and buoyant or ignorant and down-trodden, demand of true religion that it shall bring them true consolation, true courage and undying hope.

THE WORLD WANTS THE BALANCED MIND.

What the world most wants is well-balanced, healthy minds, that can see truth on all sides, with intelligent discrimination. Intellectual and moral welfare requires the most open-housed hospitality. Politically and theologically the mind is in bondage; but constitutionally and spiritually free. The thinking powers demonstrate the central fact that the spirit is constructed on a plan of pure reason and harmony. Uniform reasonableness-the verdict of a class of well-balanced, intellectual, thinking powers-is what we term common sense. The human mind irresistibly seeks for uses, ends, results; and the intellectual and imaginative powers naturally trace out ultimates. If the reasoning powers are well-balanced, vigorous and pure, the rule is, that the understanding by moving steadily along the line of logic, will arrive at the most reasonable solution of whatever problem is presented.

The power to conceive or feel a principle of truth is identical with the power to put it into practice. The truly cultivated mind is one that entertains the greatest number of thoughts and variety of ideas, on all subjects of considera

tion. The mind that would be monarchial should have whole provinces of thought for its dependencies; and, though under practical responsibilities, will yet be alive to the intellectual activities of the age, and mark with critical eye the tone of sentiment and popular opinion. It should be the ambition of every one to do perfect justice to every phase of truth; to weigh every idea in the balance of an evenly poised understanding; above all, to concede the intellectual integrity and soundness of those who differ in their opinions; to cultivate greater fraternity and unity of spirit. Every one should be both radical and conservative, taking in both robes of thought, sympathizing with both modes of action, harmonizing both tendencies in the rounded char

acter.

THERE IS A SUBTLE SYMPATHY PERVADING THE AIR.

Ideas are contagious, and simultaneously take possession of different minds. All thoughts may be termed irresistible impressions.

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Spirit approaches spirit by sympathy of a spiritual condition. The philosophy of sympathetic influence, when understood is everywhere applicable. Divine influence flows in appointed channels and works by laws. The mind that diligently seeks out the avenues to truth will surely receive the inflow of her rich

treasures.

When free from folly, we to wisdom rise.

Nature demands obedience. Upon her laws depend our happiness or misery. To be in harmony with nature and God is no spasmodic act of the will, it requires the work of the brain and the strained energy of the heart.

A heart that can love truth as fast as reason discerns it, and a conscience that will firmly and steadily steer life's

bark in harmony with such convictions are vast riches to their possessor.

Hope and faith give light and peace to minds of fine sentiments and intuitive sensibilities. When they look upon a beautiful scene in nature, they experience an emotion, and praise to God goes up from the soul.

O nature how in every charm supreme!
To the enraptured heart and ear and eye,

Thou teachest beauty, virtue, and love, and melody.

The grand, joy-inspiring ecstacy that fills the willing soul, deep, calm, permeating, issues from the fruition of the whole nature, intellectual and emotional. To be religious is to be just, open-doored, open-windowed, nearer to naturenearer to God. To be scientific, is to be free, as knowledge makes free.

EDUCATION THE UNFOLDING OF MAN'S COMPLEX NATURE.

Education brings out that which is hidden, straightens the crooked, embellishes the unsightly, and equalizes the vigor and action of all the faculties. As smoke-consuming lifts the demoralizing pressure of dirtiness, so culture removes the repulsive pressure of degradation. Education is food for the mind, as bread is for the body. As the province of the mind is thought, which is the sum of all uses and the apparent purpose of life, it has the right to the means of its cultivation. The possession of an educatable mind proves its right to education. Society acknowledges the right, because it understands the advantages conferred are reciprocal.

Religion says the kingdom of God is within you; and culture, in like manner, places human perfection in an internal condition-in growth and predominance of our humanity proper, as distinguished from our animality; in the ever