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Considerations On The Subject Of Insanity

Creator: n/a
Date: March 1852
Publication: The Opal
Source: New York State Library


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All interesting subjects have negative and positive relations, and need to be so regarded, that we may not be unfortunate in our observations, but think of whatever most de-serves attention, according to the natural and truly philosophical order of time, circumstances and events; for "He hath made every thing beautiful in its time," and given us the best directions for keeping every thing in its place; insomuch that a proper deference for these directions is always the first step in every desirable undertaking; and many of the essential and contemporaneous organizations on the subject of insanity are useful and available under the permission and even command of inspiration: "When ye are persecuted in one city, flee into another;" and those who delight in persecution are thus allowed to rejoice in their own mis-taken happiness, while the time and space prescribed by destiny for its possible existence is permitted to continue: but this will not be forever, and compassion will make some differences in favor of those who are properly affected by this slight adumbration; and hence the law of kindness obtains in the administration of every illustrious charity -- a law whose practical use and application is associated with no more prolixity than the best methods of communication have ren-dered expedient, desirable and necessary, to preserve good manners from becoming dete-riorated and even corrupted, by those unhappy departures from intelligent and in-structive intercourse and communion; which the choice of wisdom has preferred, and the fruition of experience beautified and endeared; and we only wish to put our nu-merous and partial admirers in mind of some few ideas in the best light of these imperfect and general considerations.

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Our feelings may be peculiar, our hopes aspiring, our wishes imperious; and yet, if they have been approved and sanctified by that GOD with whom all things are possible, shall inferior power check our progress towards their attainment? Let us be loyally subject to the powers that be, and then inquire. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened up to you" -- maxims of classic science which even Jesus would not disown; (for he not to condemn the world;) but which he seems to have chosen, adopted and baptized with his own princely and impressive language. Do we rightly inquire concerning this subject? If ye will inquire, inquire ye; for nothing will bear discussion which must be understood and obeyed without remark: else would not the world hold the books that should be written. Let us then be wise in time, and the order of events, negatively and positively, will justify the fruits of wisdom by the felicity of experience. When we have hoped against hope sufficiently long; when we have been found faithful; when insignificance hath found its happy domicile; when our inflexibility hath been chastised by the behest of Providence; when the welcome of peace obtains its answer and reward; when forgetfulness is forgotten, and neglect forgiven; when unseemliness is disowned by charity, and charity rejoices in the truth; when precision is exceeded by liberality, and liberality appeareth liberal; when irrelevant knowledge hath vanished, and truth remains glorious in the house of its chosen glory; when civilization thinketh no evil, and the standard of science and experience have issued their certificates from the throne which their ermine adorns; then our present subject will not be allowed to ask unproportioned regard.

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Let us not be weary of preliminary studies and discipline, but strive lawfully for the crown which is worthy of fame! How hard to strive! how hard to believe! how hard to hope! how hard to preserve! It were idle to tell how hard: do we sufficiently know and do, in these respects? Thus speak the lives of all who appear as examples; and let us walk in their gorgeous light. There are those to whom it is given to believe a lie: -- may it not be given us to believe the truth, even though it seemeth false; to believe the truth on the ground of its intrinsic and external character. It shall not be forever crushed or down-trodden. It was not made for this needless purpose: it was created with intelligent design, and formed for its own necessary, immortal, and glorious destiny. Let us not be prepossessed unfavorably; let truth enjoy our abstract preferences, before we can know in what manner its specific developments will meet our observation: then shall the angel of the future smile at the presumption which is only diligent to be unsuccessful and unwise. An idle name -- whether it be insanity, or any other watchword -- whether useful or unuseful -- will not the divert the meaning of our sober purpose. The course of intelligence will be onward, and truth will pronounce the eulogy of those to whom it bids a necessary and affectionate farewll. Heaven will do its part, nor ask us to do more than ours. It will cause much to pass away from the possibility of remembrance, nor let aught be treasured in our recollection but what is useful and interesting. This will be our happiness; this will be our reward; and who are not promised their appropriate reward? Inspiration indulges such hopes, and science permits us to wish, that He who hath the power to do so, "would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness in time, all the days of our life." We desire to avoid all such fears, and obtain all the security and quietude, which may be thus implied. Then poetry and eloquence shall achieve their purpose: then shall we enjoy intelligent and undisturbed repose. Can this be possible? We are allowed to believe that all things are possible with GOD. He can give us a sound mind in a sound body: sano mens in sano corpore! Let us not desire less: let us even wish more.

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