The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-05-29
~BIoomsburs Lyeeum.

Messrs. Presidents
Being solicited by the unanimous vote Of
the society for acopy Of an essay presented
BY me toihe Bloomsbury Lyceum, May 18th
/ transmit the same which is at your disposal
A B. RUNYAN.
Gentlemen:
This is a day of natural wonders. The
field of science is becoming more and more
enlarged, and deeper, and richer beanties
are unfolding themselves TO our view. An.
other half century may cause a future gen.
Grafton TO exceed US as much in knowledge,
as we have exceeded the past. Who is will
ling in this enlightened day amidst the num-
berless privileges which are Afforded to US,
10 remain as far behind the aext generation.
in knowledge as our predecessors are be-
hind vs.. They are excusable. But should
we be? They were excluded from the vast
resources which are now opened for the I'M
tellectual advancement of the world and
compelled to devote the greater part Of their
time TO obtain The sustenance of lite, and
procure that from which we are deriving so
muo,, happiness. Go..tell them Of the mag
ne,ic telegraph the rapidly with which it
acts, and it's benefcia! results, and many Of
them will look upon you as being supernat'
ural or as possessing a spirit Of divinaiion,
Are you willing to be as Ignorant Of the adj
vancemen, of science for the next half cell
tury as they are Of the present order! Go
then and enjoy your ignorance. Weaken
and sicken your powers by such pleasures
as may be acquired from novels and obscene
books, from the frivolity Of the tavern chit
chat and games of chance, aud you may be
left equally as low in the estimation Of men
of the next half century. But if DESTROYS Of
becoming wise, seize the present moments
as they lv, and make them tell upon your
moral character your advancement in knowl-
edge and your future usefulness and infu-
en- ce upon society. Haste TO the great foun-
tain whence flow all our comforts. Drink
deeply of the perennial water. 1t is nutri-
tous in its nature ; salutary in its effects, and
its whole tendency is to renovate your intel
%lectual powers and raise you to that sphere
ir. which God intends you TO act. What is
man without mind ? an | what is mind with
out cultivation. Man without mind would
be but a beast, and the mind uncultivated but
a den for all manner of vice. Or as a
certain author tells us 'like the marble in
the quarry in which is seen nc inherent
beauties until the skill of the polisher brings
them out )" or like a piece of uncultivated
land which is filled with all manner Of wild
wood and excluded from the genial rays
of the summer sun. What is the condition
of the rude and uncivilized minds who are
excluded from the light of science and reli-
gion? Alas! wretched indeed. Their works
of architecture, the cultivation and produce
Of their soil; their forms Of worship, and
mode of government, their knowledge Of
the supreme laws, and relation to each 9TH
er all go to prove the miseries Of the de-
PRAYED mind. But is it not even more miss
cradle for any person dwelling under the
light Of science to make himself a heather
in manners and principle by neslecting 10
improve the powers given him land thereby
render himself obnoxious 10 the contempt
and opprobrium which may be heaped upon
him by the great. There are few persons
but what feel strong reproof's when they
contemplate the manner in which the mo-
ments of Milton, Franklin and Washington
were spent in order that they might unfold
hidden treasures and beauties and elevate
man to the station we now find him. Have
they completed this work! or have they
handed down the key OF knowledge to US.
Can VIC not unlock mysteries as well as .heys
Or are there no more mysteries to be unfold
ed that we may thus spend our time in idle
ness or are the mysteries loo deep for COM
mon minds to Owe?
Nothing SO deep but search will find il out.
w. DIX. M, Secretary.