Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-06-24
But God, the father Of 1s all,
Some dag viii send us to the tomb,
And call us ap to stand or fall,
Upon the deeds On earth we've dc1e


Some day viii send us to the tomb,
And call rs ap to stand or fall,
Upon the deeds on earth we've dcRe.
All those young men in the congregation
who have not been in the habit of insulting
their fathers and abusing their mothers,
will arise and sing. THAT young man with
a round head, full face, red hair and snub
nose, with an ear-mark on him, being the
only one in the house who has presumed TO
stand up--and as he no longer ago than last
evening, while his good old mother was, in
the kindness of her heart, dealing out some
good and truthful advice to him, turned
upon her like mad dog, aud called her an
old fool-will not be allowed to sing, but
must be turned out. Turn him out
Ny text you will find in the 18th chapter
and lst verse of the Proverbs of Solomon
" A wise SON heareth his fathers instruc-
ton: but scorner heareth not sebuke.o
My sons You have this day assembled
yourselves together, to be alone addressed, !,
for the first time, upon subject which,
however trihing it may at first appear t.
you, deeply concerns the quiet and happi-
ness Of families, of communities, and of
nations. A discourse like this upon a SUBJ
ject of such magnitude and Importance to
you should be listened to with profound re-
spect; and in it, hope and trust, you will
take deed interest
II is written that
Education forms the common mind
just as the twig is bent the trees inclined
Or, in other words, circumstances make
the man. The mind Of man has in it the
elements of good and evil, which are found
in the affections and passions WILL,
which is a combination of the forces of his
intellectual faculties, and which develops
itself in determination to do or not to do,
according to the convictions of his judg-
ment; and CONSCIENCE, which is an ap-
pendage Of the mind, but not q part of 1t,
and is good or bad in the influence it oxerts
upon the actions of man just il proportion
as his judgment is determined by truth or
error. The above philosophy of tho mind
does not comport with some absurd and ri
diculous notions and ideas lately sprung
upon the world by phrenologists, but, be-
lieve, they will bear the test Of the strictest
scrutiny. If you would have all these fac
ulties and powers of mind developed and so
directed that you will become good men
and true, lend listening ear to the in.
struction in the remaining portion of this
discourse. Those girls outside, peeping
through the windows and throwing their
billets-on which find '' Go it, old Doc
tor give them fits they are scape- goats !"
may laugh on, but they will get portion
in due season in some future sermon, though
some Of them may be entitled to that re-
spect due to age, having laid aside their
pantalettes quarter of century ago.
This is, indeed, a fast age. Our thoughts
under seal 70 longer move slowly along over
the country at the rate of three or four
.rc al, ,sto oh
but upon the wings of lightning they speed
six weeks of our precious time to travel
from the Mississippi river to New York,
but this once perilous journey is now per-
formed in few hours. No longer ago than
when your humble speaker was young
man, it required seven years hard study to
fit young man for either the proft OF
law or medicine, but now, especially in this
western country, from four TO six weeks is
! considered q long time to prepare for any
| profession or occupation. All the improve
ments made in the onward march and rapid
progress of the arts and sciences have been
| of practical utility to mankind, and against
these improvements no man of good sense
aud enlarged views will say word. But
the influence exerted by these improvements
upon the minds of the rising generation is
/ causing evils to spring up far and wide.
| like noxious weeds, which will, fear, even
tually clothe the whole country in the habil-
iments of mourning.
! These evils are already apparent. Mer
are every where exciting their inds, art
continually in feverish state; they have
/ ceased to think, but act without reflection
as they are moved up on by that strong
est and most dangerous of all high pressure
enginess-the impulse of the moment. They
hurry along, rccklessly, through the world
and never stop to ascertain whether this
man or the other man is deserving OF tne
most merit, but the only enquiry is, Scar
l make anything out of him? If so, will
/ be his friend for time, and break with
him whenever find it for my interest to dc
so." Integrity is no longer virtue, when
these evils shall be generally practiced, as
they are now by too many in this fickle, in.
considerate, inidel community.
/ These are general evils; but there are
| others, my sons, which are limited to you
/ refer to disobedience to parents; heed
less disregard to the opinions of old men,
and the contemplate, cow-slip, poke-weed,
| cabbage-head Importance you attach to
your noble self. Gray hairs once, if not
considered mark of wisdom, at least en-
titled the old man who wore them to that
respect which ever was and always should
be due to age. God bless the old man!
never met one in my life that did not take
of my hat and bow in token of my yenera-
tion of his snowy head. RI mean no disre-
speot, but, Old doctor, would like to know
if men do not become gray too young,
now-a-days?l My son, that they do is too
true, but will give you the reason before
finish this discourse. Do you ever stop
and consider that when you were born into
the world that the kitten, the pig, end the
puppy, guided by instinct, exhibited greater
apparent evidences of intelligence at the
Same age than you did yoursslves9 Have
you not improved in mind, and grown up
into the Importance Of men, while these an
imals have become but cats and dogs and
hogs? And will you now stand still and
know no more of yourself-no more OF
men and things? Is your Judgment now as
sound and mature as it ever will be, and
will your opinions never change? Think of
these things, and ask yourselves the ques-
tion, if old men think US fools, from their
long experience, have they not better evil
dence of il than we have to the contrary?--
"Honor thy father and thy mother is the
first commandment with promise;" and
what pormise is that? ''That thy days may be
long upon the earth which the Lord thy God
giveth thee.o How can you honor your
father, while you pay no respect to his ad'
When he tells you that being out late