The organizer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1849-08-11
By HON. ALEX. M. CLAYTON,
President Of Board Of Trustees.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

LADIES GENTLEMEN:
We live in an age Of unparalleled devotion to learning
knowledge the idol Of the day. and its pursuone Of the chief
enpoymen of the time The boundaries of have been
enareedthe liberal and mechanic improgedand literature
extended beyond the limits of any former period New discOv
cries and inventions made almost daily and new applications
of known and familiar principles Steam electricity and the
fays of light three of the subtle and ethereal things
ure have been brought under the dominion Of their agency
has produced results which few years ago. would have been
deemed incredible. Another continent has been discovered and
another planet added to system All that pertains moral
science to politics the morals of nations to law the noblest of
The sciences and to has been greatly advanced Man
as an individual and member Of society has become more
familiar with his rights AID duties An immense progress has
been made in all which susan and adons human life or which
preserves and proongs The Of enjoyment and happ
ness muped the Of discomfort and annoy
ance diminished. Commerce with unexamped activity has
oyspread the globe Europe and America almost shake hands
together The sixhundred millions Of human beings who live
in lands that are washed BY the Of the Pacific fast
coming within the range Of civilization These
events have been mostly accomplished within the last three
turtles but they have progress for ages before and that
progress has advanced with increasing apy the present age
has been approached.
To those who witness the meridian spendOr Of learning in all
its forms may not be easy realize its growth from infancy to
maturity and to trace the Of its deveoPement
The Northern bOrdes which invaded the Romau Empire du
RING m long decline we're rude and ignorant savages they
MOI , So sAn VINO Iormed part oFtne rus
sian army that entered Paris some thirty years ago wrapped in
undessd sheepsns and unuored the bears Of their native
forests They made upon all the learning andIart which
Rome had either derived from Greece or framed for herself
was war barbarism upon civilization Barbarism trump hed
The vast fabric Of Romon power founded by the sword likewise
fell bv the sword Every Empire from Alexander Napoleon
founded BY conquest has been swept away by conquest Gov
ernmens be permanent rest upon the affections Of the
eoyerned The dark ages followed this triumph Of baibarisn
ages in which science and civilization seemed lost to the world
Kings regned and warriors conquered who like Pnarro the
conqueror Of the Peruvans knew not the alphabet Aha who
among the conquero of ancient Of modern times UNI
ted the mighty kingdoms Of Germany and Scytha was
ignorant letters Neither Theodore Charemagne could
write. OF the Barons whose affixed to the Magma
Chars Of English Liberties very few could write. The igno.
rance Of the people was still profound. This mental
dakness and obscuaon endured for centuries There was but
one link which bound these ages the civilization Of the past
that link was tho Christian Church. 1t the ark which
bore in its bosom the deuge Of barbarsm aihe treasures
Of ANCIENT learning which have been rescued from destruction
and which have proved the fruitful germs Of civilization in a
ter times.
The early followers Of christianity devoted monasc
life 10 the secluded retirement Of their monastees all the
learning and arts Of the anrn which survive preserved
from the hand Of lho spcIer. These either
.peced BY invader protected by their poverty In
heir sheltered solitude before the invention Of printing the
pens Of the Monks employed IN tdnscfbng copies Of the
classic remains antiquity they sent some Of their order uPop
missions in search Of ancient lore they founded
schools and Colleges and Unverses al the learning Of the
lines was IN their hands, they became the teachers Of their
lusrors. The progress Of Christianity marked BY twp
orous and decisive conquesone over the citizens Of Rome
hsoihsF De barbarou seyhians and Germans who sub
,ered the Roman Empire The monopoly Of learning could
70, fail to cary power in s tap. The highest civil Offices Of
he State the most exalted dgniss ofhs aw The Poa delicate
r Of diplomacy ween the hands q he elsTgy Twas This
superiority in leaning which enabled them 10 vrese success
uy wh The dssposm Of the sonqsrors sand between the
,ppressor and he ve and soen where t could not
move TIE yoke Of servude It The sane superiority which
the Popes 10 put orwad claim filnpora as vel a. spir
ua supremacy over Europe The church asproa to govern
A. psope whom i had taught and redeemed from rnornce
But with ts prOgres. Of nisllgsnss hs spt q re enquy
eran 10 awaen A few noble minds asserted hs CLAIMS Of hn.
nan reason. At 40 early day Efgsna, Rosetta aad AeaI
-ho mi.oumss have been made IMMORAL By 81 gems d
pope and ohess began snsie lho night Fl houg and 81
Judgment IN every man. Their saors produced no imnss
ruiz The church was able % keep de ihsl. Psnsiars asp