--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Naisbitt, Henry W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 7 published: 1903-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Henry W. Naisbitt, "Is the Marble at Fault?," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 7 (May 1903): 492–497.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0607unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0607unse start_page: 492 end_page: 497 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0607unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Is the Marble at Fault? IS THE MARBLE AT FAULT ? BY ELDER HENRY W. NAISBITT. Some twenty years ago, or more, the thrice elected mayor of Liverpool, England, built and gave to that city an art gallery, which at the time was counted a munificent bequest. The architecture of the building was classical and fitting, and the liberality of the corporation which accepted it has every year purchased from the annual exhibit held within its walls, usually the finest picture of the season, so that, what with purchase, gifts and loans, it is now quite a reputable gallery,visited by tens of thous- ands annually, who scan its treasures, and acquire some idea, at least, of true art, and so are enabled to carry with them to other localities a certain amount of taste, judgment and appreciation. However, it was not with this treasure-house as a whole, nor of its educational value, that presently concerns us, but a thought occurs in regard to some of its embellishments which may justify, perchance, the attention of the reader. Quite in harmony with this noted structure, its entrance is glorified by two colossal, seated figures, originally in pure white Italian marble; they each cost about three thousand pounds (twelve thousand dollars), as the writer was informed, and they are the enlarged representatives of the world- renowned Raphael and Michael Angelo; the former the producer of the celebrated cartoons, and the latter who glorified by his genius in painting, sculpture and architecture, the streets, palaces and churches, so ministering to the over-powering grandure and pres- tige of imperial Rome. Both these belong to those immortals who have idealized on canvas and on stone, their probably unreached conceptions of beau- ty and grace; yet they made such efforts as have electrified the IS THE MARBLE AT FAULT? 493 •world, inspiring students and masters in realms where idealism reigns, and where genius struggles for expression in failure as in success. Originally, these figures were indeed marvelous to behold, grand in conception, suggestive in location, powerful in magnitude immaculate as the newly-driven snow. They were the admiration of all beholders, inspiring both visitors and students, and giving an added glory to the commercial energy of the grand old town, re- vealing that the spirit of trade had not placed in eclipse the higher attributes of human endowment or culture; and telling that be- neath the stirring energy of commerce, the gentle, more refining arts, painting, sculpture and music, had fitting temples for wor- ship, probably more entrancing than cotton or corn, or the product of every clime which finds a market in that emporium of steam and sail, of train and traffic, so familiar to all the world. During two years of observation, there was a marked change came over these lustrous effigies; the unconscious marble missed the blue skies of Italy, and its shadowy play of sunshine upon their porous and receptive surface. The smoke of human habitation, factories, foundries, and giant works, mingled with the wintry storm and the summer rain, stained and discolored, they now bear potent testimony to a principle called alike by the sceptic and the scientist, "environment," or the power of surroundings to make or mar. In Salt Lake City stands the Temple which, from either curi- osity or interest, commands the attention of the world; born of inspirational genius, it was yet baptized by the elements which surround it; its unique architecture, its spiritual purpose, its gran- ite solidity, have not made it proof against "environment;" had its unquarried stones been surface-polished, it might have defied for decades, if not centuries, the more favorable climatic contrast of the elevated valleys and the less moist and murky atmosphere of acknowledged altitude. Now, however, its original grandeur, and uncompleted cleansing is being outranked by the white and glist- ening marble palaces, which exhibit architectural beauty of another order, lustre, unshackled, individual enterprise which almost as- tounds in its story of modern wealth, scientific appliance, and a growing spirit of beauty. 494 IMPROVEMENT ERA. The proud citizen of Paris is a lover of order, cleanliness and beauty, scrupulous as to the outer aspects of his capital city; it is said that he never fails to retone annually all the sun-kissed palaces of its magnificent Boulevards, so that every tourist thinks, even amid its historic treasures, that Paris is absolutely new; its long lines of palatial splendor glisten in the sun, until the city, whose very name is synonymous with grace, gayety and beauty, continuously makes the nearly-admitted boast that it is indeed the capital of the world ! Whether in these illustrations there is any thought which can be applied to the culture of humanity, or to aid in the argument that ''environment" is as potent in the realm of mind as in that of more crude and denser material things, is the point at present. There is an immense field here for philosophy, natural and re- vealed. Human character, as a whole, may be said to be the pro- duct of surroundings; the Chinaman, the Bedouin, the Christian, are casts; so, by the accident of birth, so called, all human institu- tions, national, political, religious, are created of man for, and in- tended to perpetuate, a certain phase of character; and where there is dissatisfaction, it surely arises, not out of the preparatory train- ing, but out of a marked individuality which out-runs the bounda- ries and defies the restraints, to which the majority are either pas- sive or subservient. This is evidently the key to responsibility, as well as to that eternal order of reward and punishment which often spoken of, is but little understood; and yet, its base must be just, righteous and eternal. If we ask the question whether a man is responsible for his individual nationality, we unhesitatingly answer. No ! If we ask whether a person is responsible for his training, we give the same reply; and only the few ask why they were born under less advantageous conditions than a neighbor, or, at times, even a son or a brother of the same family. We dilate upon our glorious agency without a thought as to whether, individually, we had in- dividual choice as to that most potent and influential fact; and not a few have dived deeper into the essential nature of things, and culminated mentally in that interesting speculation, "Had my par- ents been other than what they were, should I have been the same man or woman ? Or, at least, would the manifestation of spiritual IS THE MARBLE AT FAULT? 495 individuality have been the same, if exhibited through another med- ium (or tabernacle), and under a moral and mental atmosphere essentially different ?" One thing is very evident, that whether a man is responsible for his nationality or parentage, with all that grows or exists as a consequence, he is certainly responsible for himself, and he is re- quired to utilize, by repression or by cultivation, all that he finds in his own individual heritage. It does not appear that any per- sonality is required to conform in detail to the personality of another; but, finding himself possessed of one, two or ten talents, he is under creative obligations to put those talents out to usury; or, if self-experience, observation, contrast or the authority of a teacher, points out the necessity of correction, direction or repres- sion, each, personally, is bound to "face the music" against self- conceit, and put under bonds the characteristic which is sinful or obnoxious. This is the discipline of life, the triumph of individual effort, the secret of that power which is of the gospel of Christ. The humblest, th3 most refractory nature, is under that covenant, entitled to that divine aid which is the product of the Spirit, given by the laying on of hands, and constituting that marvelous mani- festation, "God working in you [man] to will and to do his good pleasure." It may not be possible to "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," but the miracle of turning the mulberry leaf into silk is famil- iar to all. Sudden conversions, however, are not always complete, nor are they always permanent; for to re-create is evolutionary, and to overcome is the climax of absorbing work. The religious world always quote with unction the experience and example of Paul, who, in a moment, was turned from a perse- cutor into a supplicant for mercy; but many years afterwards, he found that his ardent nature was not yet under complete control. He acknowledges humbly, "When I would do good, evil is present with me, and the things which I would not, those I do;" stronger even than that were some of his expressions as to that internal warfare which, to men of a different temperament, is nearly un- known and certainly not understood. In the grand court of inquiry, which is present now and not altogether in the future, the great question appears to be, "Have 496 IMPROVEMENT ERA. you, are you doing the best you can with what you have received? Is the warfare against sin and self being waged by you to-day? Are you in posession of that aid which is your inheritance by adoption and obedience? Is your temper — are your appetites, and passions, under control? Do you realize a growth. of tpower, of self-abnegation, of spiritual life?" Happy is the man who can respond that he is using all the appliances which have been pro- vided for him, "and who is self-conscious while realizingfthat it is not of him that doeth or of him that willeth, butlof God that showeth Mercy." The spirits of men and women may have been as'pure as Parian marble when they left their primal home, for they are in- deed the "children of the sun," but the atmosphere of earth is heavy, cloudy, subject to fog, and mist. Chill rains and biting frost may drive the stain of sin into the very grain of^spirit, as it does into the white marble, but the re-tooling'processes of spirit toil will renew again and again the original symmetry, beauty and architecture of a smitten soul; until, beneath sunnier skies and a more ambient air, the edifice of God, redeemed, shall, in added splendor, adorn the city of the Great King, and testify to that* re-generation, re-creation, for which Saints seek and toil. It has ever been the dream of the poet-sages of the world, the burthen of their highest thought, the creation of an ideal Zion on the earth, and its peopling with "the pure in heart," —a new heaven and a new earth in which dwelleth rightousness. Through the ministry of Jesus, it was said he "gave men power to become the Sons of God," and Paul in his exuberant way said, "Now are we become the sons of God;" born not of flesh and blood, but of incorruptible seed. Born, indeed, of God; and the beloved John stretches out this thought to its most sublime limit when he said, "He that is born of God, cannot commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him." Like his great file leader, he may be "tempted in all things like his brethren, yet without sin," and then^ having been so disciplined, he "knows how to succor those that are tempted," is in fact, "a Savior upon Mount Zion," by virtue of having overcome. In such an atmosphere, sinless man can surely, untarnished by contact with the weaknesses, and crudities of the present, con- ' IS THE MARBLE A7 FAULT? 497 secrated by obedience to divine law, and under special call and specialendowment, inaugurate the millennial glory the reign of — righteousness and power. Surely, thus redemption will be proved to be a cardinal fact in the economy of God, and an unanswerable vindication of that gospel which, scorned and contemned in the beginning as in the fullness of times, is yet to bring to pass the salvation of all mankind. In this, salvation, progress, growth, are nearly convertable terms; the promise is in the birth, all the pos- sibilities of manhood and womanhood are enshiined at first, and the guarantee of every element needed, in its time, is surely predi- cated upon the fact of birth — the new and the old. The physical and the spiritual run thus far on parallel lines; creative energy and abortion are the antipodes of each other; law and life are twin sisters from all eternity, and obedience and blessing are as insep- arable as they. By and by, man will learn to create and to preserve, as the horticulturist does when he makes, by his intelli- gence, the climate of the tropics for his children of the sun; he knows that then they bud and bloom; there, also, they will flourish, fructify with rarer beauty and grander perfection, being the objects of special care. Shall we learn this secret of life, this miracle of propagation? And will not, must not, the day yet dawn when "the children of the kingdom" will no more read that stern rebuke given to the un- regenerate, "ye must be born again," when the "first birth" being perfect, no other will be needed, among His chosen seed, and when climatic conditions shall perpetuate unsullied, and in perfection, the imagp and likeness of God?