Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-04-08
IaEroaTED Foa the GszErTE.
LITERARY AssCCIl-
lion.

TiON.
The sIxih lecture before thrs Association
was delivered BY Noas4N MlLLhs, Esq
Mr.. HrLLEa's subjeci was THE Misappica-
ton Of Human Effort,
After very appropriate introduction, he
presented his subject under three hsads--yiz:
lst, The nisnpplieaiion or the physical ener-
gies Of man: End, OF bisinielcctuai pursuits:
and Sd, Of united endeayofs 10 attain that
political and religious good, Of which human
society is susceptible.
Under the first Of these he brought forward
man in his most rude and uneuliiyated form (;
and traced him through the various changes
Of manners, habits and character which inter-
yened prior to the possession Of pastoral hap
piness. Ffom this be proceeded with much
beauty 10 trace him up 10 all phases TO that
point, a, which the cultivation Of knowledge
naturally becomes part Of the useful occupa.
lions Of our race. After pointing out the abil-
tiles and advantages which nlen might have
enjoyed, he introduced ''war" as the first il
lustration Of his subject. As the conclusion TO
one part OF his lecture on this subject. re said.
il we take our position al the fli, Of the Ro-
man Empire in the East, IN the 18th Century,
and run back as far as the lines Of authentic
history carry us. we shall find thatnolless than
three fourhs ofthe physicallaboFsof man have
been spentin providing for, and sustaining the
pursuits Of warl Reference was then made
10 some Of the best known evidences Of this
terrible misapplication Of human Effort.
He next showed how the capabilities Of hu-
man industry have persisted, not from the alb
sence OF encouragement, and protection !; but
from The oppressive restraints, and exaciions
OF rapacious rulers. Syria, Palestine, Egypt
and South America were brought forward as
illustrations Of this proposition. Their pyra
nds, palaces, theatres, museums, Sc, were
impressive illustrations Of human folly. So
also the vast works Of the Roman Empire,
whose chief utility consisted in announcing to
posierity the empty greatness of its sovefeigns,
and the inyinclbilny offs strength. The same
abuse Of effort was traced through the dark
ages in beautiful and very impressive man.
Der.
lie then brought in his second head, and
pointed to the vast changes accomplished BY
the spirit Of investigation and inquiry; and
dwell, on its misappIcalon. FIVE take from
fifty TO seventy millions Of our race, who have
felt the moral effects of this change, the
amount of their industry in agriculture, man.
ufaetures and commerce--doubling itself pro
badly every forty years-exceeds the valuable
results of the remaining seven hundred and
thirty millions Of the worlds population and
all this physical effect is under the moral eff
fects ofnuth, aud the aids IMPRACTICAL science!
He eloquently pointed out, as the only conser-
vatye principle of this glorious result, the
blessed agency Of Him whose '"kingdom ru.
leth over ALL" He mex, stated that the misap-
piea'on Of the intellectual powers Of man is a
subject of higher consequence, as mind is his
noblest part, yet referred to the difficulty Of
review OF mental alterations. This divided IT,
self into the condition among the mass Of hu
man beings, and the intellectual occupations
Of the votaries Of learning A contrast was
drawn betwesnsystems oteducation in aIlages,
which was not only very pleasing but instruc-
tive and the effects Of such systems as exhib-
tied by the lecturer were equally so.
feel sorry that my time has been so broken
in upon, that have been prevented from 81
wing full sketch Of Mr.. MrLLER's lecture
To say the least oft, j; was well digested,
well arranged, and elegantly written prodrc-
ton. /, was decidedly one of the best lectures
delivered. What threw charm about the
lecture, was the pointed manner in which he
referred 10 pure Christianity, as the conserva-
tvs principle Of all effort. S. M.