AND VALPARAISO EARTHQUAKES AND THEIE CAUSES. 53 



ascent of the old beach ridges of Lake Agassiz sliow decisively 

 that no faults having much displacement occur in the large 

 part of the glacial lake area surveyed by the present writer 

 in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba, amounting to 

 more than 30,000 square miles. 



Courage for Eebuilding. 



After powerful faulting and earthquakes have brought rest 

 from the long accumulating stress of the earth crust, it may 

 be expected that many years will elapse before so great 

 pressure or strain will be again developed as to repeat and 

 continue the rock displacement and oscillation. So it is with 

 well-founded perseverance that the people of these stricken 

 cities, possessing the best harbours of the west side of the two 

 continents of this western hemisphere, have set themselves 

 to rebuild their fallen homes, factories, and marts of commerce. 

 The scene gives us an increased appreciation of the grand 

 capabilities of man's mind and heart and hand. What does 

 it tell of a higher, overruling and creating Power ? 



Quick, geneious, and large aid from their fellow men far 

 and near came to the maimed and hungry sufferers of earth- 

 quake and fire. We are inspired with better hope and con- 

 fidence for the development of all the noble and kindly 

 qualities which exalt mankind. Have the shaking and fiery 

 trials also any teaching of the highest values of life and death 

 in their relation to the Supreme Giver ? 



When a destroying plague or tornado or earthquake comes, 

 we may be tempted for a time to distrust the grand truth of 

 the goodness and universal fatherhood of God ; but the correla- 

 tive ennobling truth of the universal brotherhood of men then 

 shines forth most clearly. The mighty affliction awakens in 

 every heart sympathy, a brotherly spirit, and sweet charity, the 

 greatest of virtues. Yet I will not doubt the divine goodness. 

 Soon or late, in the ordinary course of nature, not less than in 

 its wildest catastrophe, everyone is called to say, with old Job, 

 in highest faith of God's ultimate kind providence and care, 

 " Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Is death more 

 to be dreaded, and less to be welcomed, knowing that " He 

 giveth His beloved sleep," if the summons be sudden, to a 

 multitude together, after the momentary pang of a great con- 

 vulsion of Nature, than if it be slow and gentle, with long 

 warning and more suffering, to each one alone ? 



There are good reasons for the rebuilding of these cities, and 



