Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-06-20

ADDRESS.
br. President,
and Gentlemen Of The Lyceum j:

mir. President,
and Gentlemen Of The Lyceum
In rising to address you this evening, and
through you sir, the honorable and intelli.
gent society over which you preside, am
unavoidabiy agitated by no ordinary embar-
easements, arising partly from the novelty
OF The character in which | appear before
you, and partly from a consciousness, that [
have arrayed against my sentiments ON the
proposed subject, some of the most gigantic
in'eliects which have ever iilumined the
world OF letters. 1t may he thought there
| tore by some, almost objectionable presump-
ZION IN me, WIN am in comparison Of them
bot as The babe Of yesterday even 10 attempt
TO hold up my glimmering taper, as though
meant 10 assist their brilliant suns 10 shine.
However, as you well know the long appro
we'd ndage, that" pariety is the spice Of life %
and there is hardly any one of the various
dishes, even only toferably well cooked and
spIced up, but may suit some palate Lam
not withou. my hopes that my specuations
may be acceptable al least To some here pre.
sent, and il they should but wake up in f,.
luro spirit OF further investigation, shall
ieei my self amply remunerated for all my
labors. Eut should even fail IN this, am
still sustained by the grateful assurance,
tnat am addressing an audience who cher>
ish the kindest feelings towards my person,
and who will, am sure, extend all possible
indulgence towards my sentiments
Sir, we believe ourselves living in an age
OF Improvement, and frequently "mighty
things % show forth themselves and these
mighty things produce their influence, and
sometimes connections upon the world of
mind: hence il behooves every .over Of his
species 10 mark well the practical effect Of
these commotions upon the morals and hap.
IN rfc tl.os
sell whether the world is indeed under going
change Tor the better, or whether it is ONLY
like the maddened ocean, wrought up to a
tempest by the contending storms. Aud l
pray you, sir, not TO consider me censorious.
when frankly confess 10 you my fears,
lest The world should he struck blind by the
dazzling successes which have attended for.
mer investigations into truth and science and
should run from The extreme of supei stjijon
INTO the opposite Of inhdelity, aud learn the
iatal art OF defying nature and reason, and of
discarding the God CT nature and The only
fountain OF truth; and thus, instead Of ma
King learning The handmade Of pieiy, il
should make il The Instrument Of ITS desirucs
iIon. And the only consideration that ever
induced me to consent TO address you this
evening IS the conviction OF duty, that, mas
ouch asyour society is capable of exerling
mighty and sweeping influence over the
sentiments and feelings OF this community,
!, VINO ENJOY The honor OF an honorary MEM
6ership in il, ought 10 do what can 10 aid
The Inquring mind in its investigations OF
truth and nature, and if possible TO prevent
IT'S falling by the way upon those dangerous
rocks OF scepIcism and impeiy, upon which
! lear, lis thousands have been ruined. And
Tor ibIs purpose | have chosen the subject Of
The THEORY OF TIE EARTH or
the form or constitution OF orr Glohe, not
so much indeed on account of its more prox.
innate Connection with revelation; but rather
because the controversy on the subject has
now arrived at point, from which ii must
necessarily snon be turned either greatly in
i9Vor OF religion, or against il; and more
especially because that subject has frequen l.
/ " oeen''reaied by master spirits too, but in
manner | fear better calculated iu lead the
student OF nature into The labyrinthS Of Pan
theism and io6deliiy and to cripple his ge-
MUS, Than TO inspire him with sentiments
NOME ami worthy Of himself, or 10 lead him
/ rom nature up 10 natures God"
| nc general ground assumed BY Geolo
g'sls has heen, that although the earth ha,
experienced many changes through the ef.
fects ~ Hoods, ioundations, volcanoes, earth.
qnaKes &c. yet her general CONFEDERATION
climates, seasons &c. arc the same nov
pretty much as they were from the begin.
lning NOW we're obliged TO believe ,hi