The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-09
Remarks of DR.. D. Rrainard.
Made before the Fremont Literary Association, on Mo
day evening, February 5th, 1850.

Learning you had named me member, could
not but make feeble effort, to express my graft
tude for the honor, by presenting to you few
ideas on the subject of Science Then firstly my
fervent wish is, that the intellectual FIRE you have
klndled upon her Alter, may continue to burn and
blaze, ever adding lustre upon the far West,
where but few years since, Science had never
dawned, but now on many parts, shines forth in
maridian splendor, proving to US she never for
sakes Genius and Industry.
! When we trace her footsteps from her earliest
existence OH the Earth, when Egypt received her
first impress, (whether in the reign of Menes Nj
crotis, or Sesostrs; for the exact period is not
known,) we have always found her propitious and
true to her votaries. There is doubt, believe,
but her first smiles, her first brilliant rays were
shed upon the Egyptians, that they were the first
learned nation. Moses became proficient in the
learning of the Egyptians)
! In process of time however fond Science, the
great luminary of the world of mind, convinced 9TH
er nations-she was not particularly partial to her
first residence, and Cadmus smitten by her potent
charms was permitted to transmit her power to
Athens, with only sixteen of her emblems, he grad
ually diffused knowledge among a barbarous peo-
ple eight other characters added to the alpha
bet when the arts and sciences rapidly progressed
Since, tho Greece was doomed to fall, she could
boast of her orators historians, poets and states
|
Rome availed herself of her instruction, and at
length We'd with her in the Arts and Sciences, and
her name has come down to us with equal fame !;
for learned men, in both public and private stations
many, whose mental exertions and requirements,
have immortalized their names; from the extensive
conquests of the Romans the Sciences were in some
! measure disseminated among the surrounding ma
tlons, but the Augustine age the zenith of her
power and glory, from which she rapidly declined
till her final overthrow, A D. ATS. 1t was at this
time the Dark Ages commenced; Science became
shrouded in mourning, but like the glorious King
of Day, which is sometimes obscured by storms and
tempests, her light entirely extinguished
she occasionally manifested herself by some bril-
liant and cheering rays; even amid the horrors Of
ignorance and superstition her votaries at intervals
in different countries, unfurled her banners amid
the solemn gloom, and proclaimed her sway, and
sometimes at the risk of liberty or life.
Flashes of Genius and Science awakened the
fears the envy of the supine, ignorant or super
stitous. An ACQUISITION of sorcery or magic was
natural consequence. Under suchimputations the
illustrious Roger Bacon was doomed to ten years
close imprisonment where he still sought to i'm
| prove his mind, and where he wrote many of his
valuable treatses his genius with the aid of friends
trumphed, he was enlarged, and continued to shed
honors on his country by bis mental Iabors.
At much earlier period in the sixth century,
Gildas England's first historian, gave his manu-
scripts to the public; he happened to escape un-
seathed; during the whole period of the Dark Ages
those in power and authority, could with more
safety declare themsevesth champions of Science,
and make an exertion to dispel the surrounding
darkness. Alfred the Great did much in his time,
yet it was, comparatively speaking) but glimmer-
ing of light he diffused it became nearly extnguis-
at his death the darkness too profound, to be
long affected by his brillancy and the nation re-
lapsed
And such was the lamentable condition through
out Europe, (except in Constantinople,) the few
manuscripts Of the enlightened ages that had es-
capped the confagrations were in the possession of
monks and priests, who had generally become too
ignorant to read Them even the breviary was often
omitted as a consequence. But there was at times
found among that class a redeeming virture.-
Casiodorus in Italy, devoted 80 years in close ap
plication collecting, and transcribing manuscripts,
and prevailed upon some other Monks to do the
same,-so by the united exertons of a few, re-
spectacle libraries were formed for several cities.
All! they were the foster children of scinnce, and
to them we are indebted for nearly all we enjoy,
of the learning of Greece and Rome, in their pal
my and victorious days. Their indefatigable in
dustry, and their great success, excited compet-
ton. Manuscripts were more eagerly sought for,
intellect more genera ally aroused and learned men
pears that Science, of the choicest gifts of Hea-
ven to fallen man, that so much tends to amelio-
rate his hard condition, and elevate his character,
was not suffered amid revolutions and crash Of
empires, to continually slumber. Though Maho-
met with his fanaticsm and ruthless sword, pros
trated kingdoms, deemng all writings useless but
the Koran though his immediate successors, Abu-
beker and Amor, continued the devastation, and
their General Amrau,at the taking of Alexandria
devoted to the flames 100000 Volumes yet Sci
ence survived those terrific times fingered amid
desolation and ruin, till more congenial and noble
spirits should arise, to espouse her cause. They
the thraidom of ignorance.
Succeeding Calefs made Bagdad the seat Of
learning and the arts, and none was more conspi-
cuous than Alraschid; and wonderful as it may
appear u.s. the Saracenes were, for centuries the
most learned people on the globe, Notwithstanding
the Chinese claim the greatest antiquity and the
earliest inventons) but they were destined to be
overwhelmed by the Turks, who in the 10Th cen
ury took Constantinope, the capitol of the Eastern
Roman, or Grecian Empire, when many of the
learned Greeks fed and commingled with other
nations of Europe, and added to their fund oi
knowledge they had acquired in their crusades to
the holy land or Palistiae. From that time there
was more equilibrium of knowledge throughout
Europe. 1t was there then, the dark ages termi-
mated in the 18th century. Then it was, that a
reaction took place in the dormant minds of nations
and every individual, who possessed genius, was
aroused from his apathy; arts and inventions were
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