The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-16


dictated ny the love of what is familiar and sup
posed To be profitable We tolerate error tuo
frequently, at the expense Of healthiul innovation
and content ourselves with gray haired abnse
| rather than fall in love with Youthful experiment
Like the bishops of the 18th Century, we want
no CALLED nor Columbus To interfere with our
PLAIN notions. by proving the earth to he a bali
when we have su long, on Scrp,ural an,hnrtv
insisted on its resemblance 10 blanket.
DeSpotic governmen mis- ever have been, and
ever will he opposed To popular associations, be-
cause their spirit and tendency are essentially
lrepuhllcan. The favored few, who live by en-
pending the earnings of the many. are never par
iicnlarly DESTROYS of finding test, by which the
relative value of social and political institutions is
10 Ia asceriained. or the best method of checking
abuses is To he discovered. They know the
| power OF hereditary privileges and very naturally
suppress associations whuse growth might prove
their downfall. The Duke of Wellington no
doubt entertained this view, when he interdicted
| the formation of Temperance Societies among the
British soldiery. Temperance leads men to think
Alright, thought points 10 action and action looks
I" freedom. The soldier. in the eye Of the iron
Duke is machine which, for the purpose of
effective motion. under all the circumstances had
better he oiled with rum and Tati0ns than thought,
and voluntary action. But if the soldier love his
country. and the cause fur which he is enlisted is
just one, the Duke acted about as wisely as a
priesthood, denying the people the use of the
Bible with the view of instruc,inp them in the
sublimity of its truths
Having thus alluded To the nature of the socia,
principle and lis embodiment into voluntary asso-
cations, let us examine some of those which ha We
been and still in existence
VIII not tax your patience however with n
description OF those vast religious and political
associations, which have, 10 same extent. con-
troiled the destlnles of the old world. The state
" "beilsks, The towering pyramids, the huge
caiacombs, and the spacious temples which rlvet
The eye of the traveller as he wanders ,hroush
Nubia and AbyssInia, speak more eluquenlly than
can OF that Priest caste or hereditary association
winch, by working upon the fears and supersti-
non ot The people, thus wrote indebly upon all
that country frum the Cataract of the Nile Ia
Lower Egypt. the history of its puwer The
excavated mounlains of India in which their SIN
pendous and varously scu plured temples are
erected, sufficiently speak of the more PRIVILEGED
society OF the Brahmins. The amphilheatres
Baslllica, Cloac@, roads and aqueducis with
which the Eternal City" abuunds, most forci
bly, tell OF the Colegia .fabrorum Ell ariifcnn, of
| Inc Romans--an association formed for desiuninp
and constructing those magnificent monuments of
human skill and industry. The frs. successful
attempt to stem the current Of desputsm in Eu-
rope, winch led To the establishment of the free
towns of Germany and the Netherlands. mue,
speak for that prodigious voluntary association of
merchants known as the Hanseatic League. The
immense Society of Jesuits which, at one time
controlled the education of Catholic Europe. and
made poentateS as well as peasants lis pIant
tools, is too well known for description here
My object is rather 10 invite your attention ,o
voluntary associations of less questionable cha,.c
ter-to the literary and moral enterprises fr
tt.h Irh ha nta1l. IL
have associated themselves
The 18th Century was most fruitful in liter,
ry associations. The spirit of literature seems +,
have suddenly aroused from sleep of centuries
To restore and improve the latent energies of the
Augustine ages. Literary Societies sprino nm
IN all parts or Classic Europe The yerv dsor
seated corFuptlons of the Church began to tremble
before the rapid march of mind. The epic. lyric
and eleglac strains Of Virgil, Horace, Properties
oVlu' ana lIhnlus, though hushed for ayes.
again breaihed melodionsly in other verses Even
Jur!dical science and staid philosophy, of which
The Augustine period so proudly boasts received
new character PsalmlsiTy, coniuraton. and
aS'rnioSy, with The Infamous and untold imposi-
lions oi the priesth God, withered beneath the
The burning light of these associated intellec,s
Ike shaded plants exposed to The refuIpence of a
vertical sun. Who is there familiar with the
interesting history OF that period, with souls that
nf
pure philosophy and immortal verse who does
not remember with grateful emotions the names
of Lorenzo de MedicI, Politian, Mirandola and
bandmi? Who has grapped with the praver
sciences OF natural philosophy history, and phvs-
les. Who does not bow in revetenlal awe before
the memory Of LUvlcelli, Calico, Vivian Rod;
and BorellI 10 associations of yolnn,a,v
character are these bright literary stars indeb,ed
for H'1ch of the light which they shed uuon the
darkness OF that era. At later period we find
the Iileratl of France associatng and conceotrat-
Ing their energies and means of research nnde,
The TILE OF the acodemie Royal dcs Sciences
Tor the purpose Of accomplishing through tho
union OF minds what could not be attained bv 10
divdual effort or existing Institutions. I,ondoD
followed soon after with her British Rouol Soc;a
W. And SO were formed and still exist invriad e
literary associations both in Europe and Amo,;oa
OF less magnitude, but all instituted for the NV,
pose of collecting, coating. and diffusino ;6G,,-
ballon which could be obtained in no other wav
The Benevolent Associations belong ,no,s en-.
phaiIcaly to the nineteenth century. and to onr
own country. They are destined TO constitute
one oi the most embarrassing chapters in its history
What unborn millions will live TO bless the Ms-
slooary enIerprise7 Rearing the Cross in every
land, snalchlng misguided affection from The