Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-12-14
ORIGINAL T. : SS A Y =
Communicated for the Lewisburg Chronicle.
emt,baiic9 Of ibs Social 1ffscticNs.

Affection is one of the crowning attrib-
utes of our mental and moral nature. To
cherish feelings of sympathy and recipro-
city toward one another, is productive of a
high degree of pleasure, and in accordance
with the dictates Of reason. He who
formed the human FOUL, designed that it
should be the seat of strong social affec-
tons that it should find enjoyment in
their cultivation and that they should be
promotiye of virtue.
That the social affections exist, and form
part of our nature, is evident. They are
not confined to persons of taste and refine
ment, but have place in the breasts Of the
rude, unettered and uncivilized. The ties
of affection which bind together the hearts
of savages, however uncouth their manners,
are sufficient to awaken our admiration.
But especially among those, who, by their
urbanity send a fragrance through society,
do we find the finest touches Of social feeling.
The affections OF our nature may be cul-
tivated and on their judicious cultivation
depend many of the fairest productions of
the human heart, the solace of sorrow, and
the happiness of life. We envy not the
man who sympa;hizes not in the joys and
sorrows of his fellow man who feels no
glow of delight in another's success who
has no tear to shed over another's misfor-
tunes, or at the grave of friend. Nor do
we envy the ascetic, whose recluse manner
of life makes him hater of mankind, and
Of himself. 1t is true, retirement has its
pleasures and advantages, but absolute
seclusion from society is derogatory to a
law of our nature, and precludes the GER
tain attainment of happiness.
The social affections should be cultivated
because of the pleasures they afford. Mu-
tual intercourse between those who are
bound together by tender and sacred ties,
and close and permanent union, forms no
small part of the sum of human happiness.
1t is natural for man to love society; to
be united in interest and feeling with those
to whom he can make known the secrets
of his heart, who feels an interest in his
welfare that approximates to his own, who
may sympathize with him in his anxieties,
and participate in his pleasures.
When person witnesses scenes that fill
his mind with emotions of admiration and
sublimity, how greatly his pleasure is en-.
HANGED if he has those to whom he can
reveal those emotions! The traveller, as
be gazes upon the beauties Of nature, or
the embellishments of art, feels happy in
discoursing of them to those whom he has
BY the cultivation of the social affections
made his friends. The lover Of study, or
the admirer of eloquence and poetry, tho
he may penetrate far into the former, and
witness the sublimest exhibitions of the
latter, though his mind and senses may be
delighted, is still uneasy and unsatisfed
until he has impaired to others knowl
edge of his investigations, or descanted on
the noble efforts of the orator, and the
sublime productions Of the poet.
How tediously would pass the years Of
childhood, we're it not for the social affec-
tions What is more irksome to youth
full mind, than solitude to be without
any with whom to share the sports and
amusements of Juvenile innocence! And
when the social affections are cultivated at
the altar of virtue, what a source of enjoy
ment do they become, not only in the
season of youth, but also when the mind
lays aside the habilimcnts of childhood,
and becomes sufficiently matured to engage
in the sterner occupations of life. The
past, with its pleasant pastimes and loved
associations, will often break the spell of
corroding care which settles on the mind
oppressed with the anxieties attendant upon
a responsible station, or overwhelmed with
transactions of business nature Assoc
iations formed in early life by the judicious
cultivation of the social affections, will
cluster around the memory as holy remin-
iscences, and embellish the soul with the
finest touches of humanity. They who
rightly cultivate the social affections, will
realize many advantages, aside from a
large degree of pleasure. The interchange
of thought and importation of judicious
counsel on the part of sympathizing friends
is calculated to improve the faculties of
the mind-augment its stock of mental
resources-and adorn the character with
the fairest ornaments Of human nature.
But there is connected with this subject
a pleasing thought, and that is the durabi-
lity of those connections founded on relig-
ious principles. The fashion of this world
will pass away-the grandeur of human
actions will cease to be remembered-the
elements that compose this beautiful earth
will be dissolved but the union of believ-
ers, formed in the present and consumma-
ted in the future state, will be in the highest
degree tender and endearing, and will exist
Il Al Al