The organizer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1849-08-25

light and knowledge shis doctrine supposes gnonce tObe
the only source Of evil the only remedy proposes is the
universal diffusion of knowledge.
This scheme for the training and elevation Of human nature
has been handed down to from antiquity In Of hs
dialogues Socrates is made say "The man. Euthydemus
that knows the laws that regulate his conduct serving
the Gods will them according those LAVISH No
doubt" replies Euthydemus "And he who serTeh them
according TO those laws, will servo them he ought"
"He will" says Euhydemus "Bn is he who serveh them
he ought piousP' "Assuredy," answers Euthyde
mus. "Then he who knoweh how he ought to serve
the gods" concludes Socrates may rightly be defined
pious person." Thus according to Socrates, knowl
edge alone the grand panacea for all superstition and vice.
for all idoary and crime.
In strict conformity with the above reasoning the great
ral in question to the eonclusOn that 1--WE furnish
ourselves with nexhausbe fund of virtue when
up the writings of great men, If this be So why we ask
Bacon the pures well the greatest and brightest
Ofunankindi But Socrates himself shall pronounce the
demnaton of his logic. In the very dialogue he
says Doth ntemperance rob Of reason that chief
excellence of man. and drive commit the very greatest
dsOrdersl Can he who immersed in pleasure find time to
Iurn his thoughts things that useful But il he
could his judgment is far erboe by his appetes that
seeing the right path he deliberately rejects it, Here the Phi'
oopher losing sight Of theory and speaking from observation
has spoken accordance with the experience OF mankind in all
ages For who has had occasion uterthe complaint Of
the poet that he perceived and approved the right but yer
pursued the wrong
"VideO meli4rS prologue
DsieriOra ssSuOvf"
Nowhere can find more striking illustration Of this sad
TRUTH than that which the great bard of Scotland has e upon
record in the memorable lines which he prepared fit ePiaPh
for himself
Is there man. whose Judgment clear,
Can others teach The to sser,
Yet runs, himself lie mad career,
Wild the waA
Here pause-aud, through the star hg
Survey his gravtA
The poor inhabitsnt below
Was quick to feel, and wise 10 knob,
And Keeuy felt the friendly glow
And sober 6amel
But countless follies laid him low,
And stained his name.
All how bitterly he have felt the Try midst Of oil his
light the CALLING aud debasng tyranny Of ve Though quick
to u and wise to know, this superiority f knowledge and
mora sensbity only caused Of O sting like
adder and conscience guaw like buung worm. Some
thing more potent than knowledge weepea necessary
to subdue the will oman Indeed in the whole range and wild
chaos Of human folly know not more hia deusOn thar
that in which many parents ondy ndu that when the
children "grOw up and learn better" as they express it,
will be easy to induce them throw of h bad habits which,
in early life they have been most unwssy permitted to
contract
To train the mind, and form Il 70 habt4 OF virtue ~ far
more difficult task than supposed by man Of the engh
tened friends Of iucaOn We might eas select hundred
striking illustrations Oflh business Ofths remark But we shall
sonine our attention single example, which is taken from
an author Of great emnence In his celebrated work on The
Active a0d Moral Powers Of Man." Dugad Stewart has said
Good habits neOmparaby easy the acquisition than
bad That such habits reasonable and agreeable
ture are easily acquired than others Of contrary descp
ton is an old and remark Il well expressed and
very happily illustrated in the following language Of Quinc
liam The discipline Of vuouS life shon snd easy nature
having formed for whatever excellent and having 50 hc
lated willing mind every acquisition which tends is i'm
prOvemeni rs render wonderful that vice should be
prevalent 10 the world For fishes the aPprOpr
ate element; to teresal animals the dry land and brds
The surrounding atmosphere certainly easy
10 follow the suggestions Of Natse Than pursue plan
~ 10 her obvious intentions and arrungemenls.p.
Now this reasoning, plausible as may seem. owes I'll
he apparent concusivsness the ambguiy o single word
on which has but securely stood from the time Of ouus
lillian dawn he present day We intend lay bars ihs
.bgy and szPSss the Portsnioas sophsm h has long
been made % support For n dis sophiam Be received
rh IL cannot fail give form and substance and dreenon
% Our views respecting hs necessary elevate and
purfy tie nature Of man: nust inevitably coucsal on
,ur minds TIE great dicues 81 s1ch task and conss.
guny led u 10 a30Pt Inadequate and visionary schemes T
a. nls-hrnrnt