THE DURATION OF MEMORY.
By J. O. Collins
The power and duration of the memory is a subject worthy of serious reflection. When events long since lost sight of in the bustle and excitement of active life are recalled by the merest accident, and the thoughts and feelings which had slumbered in forgetfulness for years are once more experienced, we are astonished at the vividness of our memory of scenes that had seemed to be utterly lost, and we mentally inquire the cause. By investigation, however, we learn that science has ascertained that the memory is governed by certain fixed laws by which these mental exercises are recalled. It is said that it was the opinion of Lord Bacon that no thoughts are lost, but that the mind possesses within itself powers which whenever fully brought into action are capable of promptly and perfectly restoring the collected acts and feelings of a man's whole past existence. Some other very able writers have pursued this subject so far as to conclude that all thoughts and feelings are imperishable. The ability of the mind to restore its past experiences has been inferred partially from the testimony of persons who have been rescued when on the point of drowning. They have said that when in that situation, the operations of the mind were so quickened that their whole past life, with its thousand minute incidents, has instantly passed before them and been viewed as in a mirror. Hence evidence is afforded that the mind may be so aroused as to render ideas which had long lain dormant objects of vivid consciousness. If this doctrine be true, there is one consideration in connection with it which is of the highest importance. The Bible teaches that in the Judgment all the deeds done here in the body will be investigated, including every secret thing, and that we shall also give an account there for every idle word spoken by us. Objections have sometimes been raised on this point that we could never feel the justice of the decisions of the Judgment without a knowledge of all the minute acts of our past life on which that decision is based, and that such knowledge is impossible. But with the view that nothing is wholly forgotten, this objection immediately vanishes. And when we consider that a faithful record of our every-day life is preserved in Heaven, and that the final decision will be rendered in accordance with what is “written in the books,” may we not suppose that when that record is presented, and its contents scanned, the mind will summon from its hidden recesses, and clearly present before us, a perfect representation of the past, and bear witness to the justice of the decision rendered? Truly, man is fearfully and wonderfully made. The acts of his every-day life leave their impress on the memory to corroborate the record of his character on high, and thus vindicate the justice of God in pronouncing his final destiny.