Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1881 — Mystery. [ARTICLE]

Mystery.

There *re two classes of - minds always present in society, one of which tends towards credulity, the other toward doubt. In their extreme manifestations, the one accepts everything that is presented, without evidence: the other denies everything until proved to the satisfaction of its own limited Judgment. It does not need much penetration to perceive that each of these extremes is fatal to the symmetrical development of the mind, and the acquirement of truth. . The one practically ignores the reasoning powers and prevents their growth; the other sets them up, all imperfect as they are, as the only criterion and the ultimate appeal. The one burdens the mind with a heterogeneous mass of truths and errors, never to be sifted or assimilated; the other affords only such meagre fare as happens to come in the range of a single small comprehension. Of course, between these extremes are numerous shades of mental condition, and, although, we cannot avoid the natural bent of the mind, in one or the other direction, we may do much toward so regulating its action as te restore somewhat of a truer balance.

The idea of mystery is not justly appreciated either by the over-credu-lous or the over suspicuous. The former eagerly welcome it as a substitute for the trouble of thought and investigation; the latter scout its existence, and pronounce it a mere phantom to amuse or frighten the simule. Not a few persons when called upon to examine a prejudice, to explain a seeming contradiction, to search a hauntdl house, or to prove some covert slander, will shelter their unwillingness to comply under the world itself. ‘ “There is some mystery n it,” is forever oir their lips, not with any intelligent desire to clear it up, if possible. but rather an excuse for believing that which they ean not prove and do not wish to investisrate. There are some, 0.1 the other hand, who can see no mystery in anything. What is not clear to their nn utal perceptrons they dismiss as unworthy of consideration. They never stand silent, with wonder and with awe, before the grand or the sublime in nature; they never realize that “there are more things in heaven snd earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy.” Mystery, however, has a seal place in life, adistinct function to perform; but not until we discover something of its true nature can we find its rightful place, or know how to deal with it. It does not dwell in the clear light of full knowledge. There is no mystery to the mechanic in his well used tools—to the architect in his wellconstructed plan—to the scholar in the language he has mastered. What we thoroughly comprehend, or what we know others to have entirely fathomed, can not be mysterious. Neither is there any mystery in that of which we know * nothing. There may be wonderful and awe-inspiring sights or sounds or thoughts,but until we have at least conceived of them, they have no mysteries for us. It is between the bright light of knowledge and the total darkness of ignoranceth at the realm of mystery lies. It is reached when the aim light of the intellect affords a partial glimpse into long vista# which it cannot yet penetrate. The blue sky, with - its brilliant galaxy of stars, was once an unfolded mystery to man. Gradually wonder filled his mind, curiosity was excited, inquiries were made, and alowly he came to distinguish suns, moons and planets, to learn the relations they bear to each other, the laws which govern them, and the beautiful order and harmony of their motions. As his knowledge advanced; the mystery which had bewildered him receded. Yet the very knowledge which had chased it away revealed new mysteries. The most powerful telescope is ever telling us of fresh wonders, and ►ls “the undevout astronomer is mad,” so also is he who fails to perceive the grand mysteries by which he is surrounded when we pursue our way through some dark cave, the torch which lights us is ever dispelling the shadows and revealing new objects which we pass: but at the same time it is easting a dim and fitful light ahead, showing us in an uncertain and shaded manner, things of which we had not dreamed. So the light of knowledge, which chasing away the shadows from what had once been full of mystery, at the same time dimly reveals new vistas ahead, ami brings Into the realm of mystery what had before been unknown and unimagined.

It is plain then, that mystery, so far from being the end of inquiry, is only .the beginning. Those who make it an excuse for not examining or searching out a matter, mistake its whole function. It is,or should be, an incentive to wonder, to curiosity, to scrutiny, and is thus an important means of progress. Rightly viewed it will not shut the doors of thought and investigation, but throw them wide open; it will not, lay an embargo on reason and discovery, but stimulate the mind to action and endeavor. On the other hand, let those who sneer at mystery remember that they are scorning one of humanity’s chief blessings. Just as our eyes can only bear tempered light, so our minds can only endure gradual enlightenment. Mystery is not only our gentle leader up from ignorance to knowledge, it is also the teacher of modesty, .humility and reverence. We cannot dwell upon the profound mysteries of human life without acknowledging our inability to solve them. . We should honor it as at once the handmaid of intelligence, the inspirer of progress and the antidote of conceit. —Jfvaiwvrte Journal.