Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-06-21
The Democracy Of Science. mo. iii
BY JOSIAH HoLRRooK.

The abundant element and powerful
agen, already referred 10 is called Oxygen.
Combined with nitrogen it forms air; with
hydrogen, water; with hydrogen and cars
bon, vegetables; with hydrogen, carbon,
and nitrogen, animal matter; with the met
ais it forms ores, rocks, and soils.
Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen,
and the metals are the ssAlphabet Of Ma,
ture.n This alphabet is SO simple that a
little child might learn it hundred times
while he could learn the alphabet of books
once. II is SO delightful as TO be sought
for and used by every young mind as the
richest of all amusements. 1t is SO bound
less in extent, so in6nile in its combina.
tions, so ;llimilable in its uses, SO transcend.
ant and glorious in its beauty and majesty,
as to pul at defiance and render hopeless
any attempt al q full comprehension of it
by the most powerful intellect in any cre-
at ed being. The expansion and yastness
of created things SO entirely oulstrip their
exploration and development as TO present
an ample and rich field Of labor and Of
progress for all hands, in!ellects, and souls,
constantly engaged 10 the utmost capacity,
for O century to come, and then leave uIl>
touched the greater par. Of the wonders Of
this wonderful world. The periections
and the glory Of the Creator, and the ele>
valion, dignity, and happiness of his MoR>
AL CREATION, will then only be seen by
some slight glimpses of what they may be.
The same great Creator and Architect Of
this vast universe, who formed the heav.
ems and the earth of few simple ell ements,
also placed in the human soul an enger
and Unsuitable desire to know and to use
these elements in accordance with the de-
signs Of the Author, both Of inanimate
things and Of The living and deathless soul.
70 check these desires is at once TO do vi
olence to the very nature of our being, and
to Illustrate the great and holy purposes Of
Him who made all things ''yERY GOOD"
The true democracy Of science is to rem
der knowledge Of the elements and uses
Of created things as widespread as the
things themselves; at least coextensiye
with human existence. Permitting and
aiding young spirits to &c, in obedience TO
those eager desires, those reaching and
lofty aspirations so deeply implanted by a
bountiful Creator, would render familiar
and extensive their acquaintance with the
different departments of the vast storehoase
of riches given 10 them TO keep and to use.
Who can doubt tha, if the elements Of
created things, with their endless com5ina-
tions, their illimitable uses, and their SUR
passing beauty, richness, and glory, were
made the subjects and objects of early in
struction, language 10 express them, both
spoken and written, would come of course!
Ii could hardly be avoided. If ii were not
provided otherwise, it would be created as
i. should be needed. Language always is
created as occasions call for it, both. by
children of a larger and fasmaller growth.
Hence this endless prating Of unmeaning
phrases from books ITO lsarnto read" is
not only useless, but does violence to the
very nature Of the human soul, and often
defeats and perverts the glorious purposes
Of God-changes His very best works into
the very worst.