weather. I cannot stay long under conditions in which I have no faith, and against which I am fighting to the best of my ability. As we grow in understanding, we more and more realize that effects follow cause, and, if we are not prompt to remove the first cause, the effects become cause for other effects, and, if we are unwise, we go from bad to worse, in geometrical ratio. No other way can a wise soul pursue, than to remove the first cause. To practice what of truth we know will lead us to the fount whence all truth doth flow. As the practice of truth is the only thing that will make us free, there is no hope of salvation only in obedience. "We realize that the gospel is not as yet manifest in its perfection. We are longing and working for a renewed baptism of gospel life, fire and light. It needs a good deal of divine wisdom to discern the truth, and more simplicity to acknowledge it when presented. Nothing but a genuine love for truth will enable anyone to accept and obey it. Who can possibly have this love, but those whose lives are made straight by being squared in accordance with the Golden Rule? "What a glorious sight it will be upon this earth,— a body of people living in a section of country where the weeds are all subdued, where there are no destructive animals or insects, where the seasons come in perfect harmony and where the people have complete control not only of their spirits but of their bodies. No accidents, no sickness, no premature death and no burdensome old age." His own grasp of the spiritual reality underlying physical expressions of life and activity was so strong, that he was carried safely through many crises which might have been serious accidents. Once, when trimming trees, the high branch on which he stood, broke, precipitating him to the ground. His companions thought him killed, but he was conscious of resting quietly in the arms of PRACTICE SHOULD ACCORD WITH PRINCIPLE. 151 Elder Richard Bushnell, and rose from the ground unharmed and unjarred. Falling through an open trapdoor, in the dark, a considerable distance, he was again uninjured. In the most dark and stormy nights, he would go alone over the slippery path to flume and watergates, and, whatever the danger that threatened, he was always ready fearlessly to face it, prepared to do what he could. "We ought to be in such a spiritual receptive condition that we could always heed the admonitions of our good guardian spirits and thus bring the science of spiritualism into practical use. There are no accidents in Christ, Truth." "There ought to be wisdom to discern," he said at another time, "between practice and principle, and whether our practices are in accord with or in violation of our gospel principles. If we come to a knowledge that our practice violates a principle essential to our salvation, spiritual or physical, we ought to possess enough of the power of self-denial to cease such practices, and not go blundering along, stumbling at the cross. Salvation and protection from the power of sin and self-indulgence that leads to sickness, disease and death, physically or spiritually, should be our constant aim." In January, 1890, he wrote: "We have recently put "p a private telephone line through our village, reaching to Canaan. All who will, of the families, can now hitch on and make our bond of union stronger. I have been thinking that in the near future, we should have a tangible line between this our world and the summer land we sing about." Elder Daniel was much interested in the schools and in the training of children. "The subject of education," he said, "is one that all who take an interest in the rising generation should study and exercise their minds upon. The whole everyday life of our community is industrial education, and it is firstrate; but industrial education, practiced mechanically, is drudgery in its lowest sense, even when exercised in that which is congenial. While that which would usually be termed menial, if mind and brain be brought to bear upon it, becomes interesting and elevating. No labor, however disagreeable, if its end is use, is in any way dishonorable. But when the necessity of the labor is scientifically understood, the disagreeable is largely diminished. Our district or home schools should be so conducted that they will instill into the minds of the pupils the light of understanding, and made so interesting that the children will drink in by absorption. What a child understands, it will remember, what is learned mechanically, is soon forgotten." "To really enjoy life, we want to have a high ideal, something we can look up to and be working toward. It is the inspiration of our lives. It is that which distinguishes man from the animal. I love to have the angel come down and trouble the waters, it gives opportunity for exercise and the power to do good. Life is a continual problem, solved one day at a time." "I should like to see a Village Improvement Association," he said more than once, "started in our societies, so as to cultivate in a practical way a genuine public spirit. Have a union labor week, to improve and beautify the village, and the roads and road-sides. To cast up a highway and gather out the stones, nor have our sight hurt by noxious weeds and briers, that ought to be dealt with as the tares of old." Often he would say, "Let the light shine through all our works, financially, as well as morally and spiritually." His attitude towards sisters and women generally was that of the spiritual father and brother-the true son of the divine. His devotion to the truth of the Motherhood in God made his conduct toward Her visible representative one of reverent, tender consideration. To all HE SAW GOODNESS AND KINDNESS. 153 sisters, he was a thoughtful, care-taking protector. One of the Mothers in Israel suffering from the effects of a chill in riding, he wrote: "Let all our aged friends learn from her experience, when passing from the warm cars, to ride in the open air, to put on warm wraps; and we, that are young, whose duty it is to convey our gospel friends from place to place, should not forget the extra wraps, and, when possible, provide a covered carriage with noble, trusty steeds attached. When long journeys are to be taken, a warm soapstone will be very acceptable. These should be heated in the oven and not on a hot stove. By so doing, they will not get hot enough to burn." His filial devotion to Eldress Anna White, in her declining years, was beautiful to see, manifesting the loving, reverent kindness of a true son in the gospel. After some difficult and dangerous work, like harvesting the ice or cutting the ensilage, he would express in the tenderest manner his gratitude for the protection from accident, and to his helpers for their kind, courteous spirit, and, if no oaths had slipped from the lips of any of the hired helpers, he was sure to notice it gratefully. When he went to a public gathering, or visited a distant city, he never seemed to see any of the disagreeable elements of life, but would come home filled to his soul's brim with the good things he had seen, the kindness met on the street, in crowded stations and subways, and the universal goodwill he saw practiced on every hand. No one who once looked into his clear, loving eyes, could have said anything but a kindly word to him. He read of untoward conditions and thought much of them and their remedy, but, when abroad among men, he could see only the goodness and kindness in the world. He was greatly interested in the work of that champion of the children and the common people, Judge Ben Lindsay, of Denver, reading with absorbed attention and deep feeling everything that came in his way about the Juvenile Court and the life of its founder. Other great leaders of the life of the time, who met all men on the basis of the Golden Rule and the Brotherhood of man, were often spoken of in most tender and appreciative manner. It was a delight to him to watch the growth in practical life of the principle of dealing with all men and women as brothers and sisters, children of the One Father and Mother. The boys of the Berkshire Farm and all lads and lassies everywhere were subjects of thought and kindly feeling. The tramp, who came shivering through the snow, was taken in and cared for like a long-lost brother, and the poor man who had no other friend, knew him as the one who would remember and help. One to whom he had yearly sent substantial assistance, said, "What shall I do, how can I get through the winter, wihtout his kind care? The kindly spirit of the gospel, the universal love it inculcates, had in him free course. He was ever sending out his thought of love and cheer to all in Zion. Often would he call for the old song to be sung, to those far away, his rich, strong voice holding the shout at the end, till it seemed as if it might reach the most remote: "We'll waft a waft of love through Zion, To our kindred everywhere, We'll shout a shout of gospel blessing, Over plain and flowing rill, We'll extend the gift of union Till our kindred it doth fill." "To all, far and near, in our Zion home, we say peace and everlasting love. To those not yet in the fold, come, for the Lord hath need of thee." |