Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-06-21
BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK

The elements Of science are purely
demoeraiic.v-sThey are in all places al all
times, and obedient to their own laws. new
CT swerving an iota. Each renders aid to
all the rest-togelher making perfect and
glorious whole.
One Of these elements constitutes about
half of our globe-lhe animal, vegetable,
and minera. kingdoms. This mos, abund.
ami element is also the mos, powerful agent
in the workings of science. II is in all
and for all created things, or nearly So.
Il heaves our lungs; lights and fans our
fires; decks our forests and all creation with
their beautiful hues; shiyers mountains into
rocks, and crumbles rocks into soils; con>
yerts soil into the majesty of forest, the
yerdure Of plain, and the richness Of q
garden; changes the products Of forests,
plains, and gardens inlo beasts Of the field,
birds ofthe air, fishes oflhe sea, buzzing
insects, and all creeping things; with the
whole Of animate nature, embracing the
lords of this lower creation, having do>
minion over the whole.
This same element and agent in our
vast creation assimilates things the most
diversified and opposite, and again sepa>
rates into atoms things assimilated. by the
most intimate and perfect union. 1t is
constantly performing services the most
dissimilar and opposite in character, and
yet always in perfect harmony, completely
carrying out the great designs Of the Crea-
tor of all. In most Of the wonder,work.
ings of this wonderful world, this one ugen.
is always present, and always active, but
can only act with and for all kindred
agents, however diversified their offices or
dissimilar their work. II yields strict
obedience TO its own laws, and yet is de-
pendant upon the same obedience from all
the rest, 10 their respective agencies, for
accomplishing the grand work of this cre-
ated universe. If such is the abundance
of one element, and such the power Of one
agent, and both one and the same, who can
doubt but the knowledge Of it should be as
widespread as it's existence or its power!
How strange, then, how mysterious,
that those protesting 10 mould pliable young
beings by the elements Of science, SO wise
ly designed for them by the Author both of
the beings and the science, should have
them in charge, month after month and
year after year, and not once exhibit to
Them the most abundan, element, or even
name one Office of this most powerful
agent! The mystery is more mysterious
when it is known, as every one must know,
by the avidity with which every young
spirit drinks in such knowledge, that the
highest possible delight is added to the rich.
est and most enduring instruction, by sup
ply to their bodies, minds, and souls of food
so evidently and SO abundanny provided
for them.
But thanks be TO science and TO humani-
ty that mighty change is coming over our
country and the world in the kind of
knowledge taught, and the modes of teach.
ing it. Instruction is in rapid transition
from words to things, from signs of ideas
to idees themselves; from shadow to SUBJ
stance; from saying to doing; from specu,
lation 10 production; from consolidation to
diffusion; from few TO the whole.
NorE.-the name Of the element and
agent presented above is deferred to fu.
ture occasion, that teachers may have the
privilege Of first presenting i TO their Pu.
pills, and parents to their children.