THE HARMONIAL MAN; OR, THOUGHTS FOR THE AGE BY ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS, AUTHOR OF "NATURE'S DIVINE REVELATIONS," "HARMONIA," BTC., ETC. "Let our unceasing, earnest prayer Be e'er for light, and strength to bear REVISED, RESTEREOTYPED AND ENLARGED STANFORD LIBRARY BOSTON : BANNER OF LIGHT PUBLISHING COMPANY, No. 9 BOSWORTH STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, BY ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS, In the Office of Me Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 175715 CIBBYBA TROW'S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING CO., NEW YORK. PREF A СЕ. THE Contents of this little book are designed to enlarge man's views concerning the political and ecclesiastical condition of our country, and to point out, or at least to suggest, the paths of reform which the true Harmonial Man should tread. We stand at the opposite extreme of Catholicism; regarding all intervening organizations as pillars supporting the arched bridge connecting the Old with the New World. A large proportion of this book is devoted to a consideration of scientific themes which concern man's social and personal happiness, and to a class of suggestions whereby certain meteoric laws may be made to subserve the physical development of the race. It is earnestly hoped that in these considerations, and the pages succeeding, the reader may find food for Thought, and feel henceforth strengthened, and inwardly disposed to become, as nearly as possible, a Harmonial Man. THE AUTHOR. HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE MANKIND? THIS World is a theatre of incessant action; the scenes change perpetually; the actors come and go like autumnal clouds; and the parts which they perform are comic or serious, dramatic or tragic, invariably, in accordance with the moral culture and external circumstances of the actors. I am impressed to affirm that every man has a part of his own to perform, assigned to him by the Supernal Soul of Nature-a part in which he can only excel, be happy, and become favorably distinguished. This "natural part” is stamped upon the entire constitution of the man; slumbers in his bones; lives in his muscles; breathes in each element; ripples through each vein and artery to their fountain-head; mounts to his brain, -to the throne of his organism-becomes, there, the radiant genius of his nature, the prime minister of his attractions, the sovereign of his life. This natural character is the only character a man can sustain with happiness to himself, or benefit to others. The trouble of the world is, that man is not permitted |