The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-24
ebulrf ReaOing.
LITERATURE AND THE TINES
A LECTURE,
Deferred at the Quarterly Meeting Of the
Library dissolution, Con7c,xport,
Noren'ber 7h. 1857, by
REV. c. NJ. BLAKE.
A LECTURE
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST.

In beginning to address you, Ladies
and Gentlemen Of the Association, allow
me first, few moments,
J, ]. To remark upon the TIMEs-the
worldwide panic and revulsion in busi-
ness circles and interests, which now Sc
occupies the minds of men. The times
are portentous. Thoughtful persons
have fancied that they saw shadows pass
ing over the worlds great dial some time
before the great crisis approached US
And like vast eclipse it now holds, not
our land alone, but the civilized and CON-
mercial word beneath ts pail
Exchange ON the United States in Chi
Ii, formerly at discount of FIVE and even
ten per cent. last year at par, and at the
beginning of this year at four per cent
premium, went up to twelve per cent. in
July last; and at the latest dates in Au-
gust, could hardly be obtained there at
any price. That country after six years
calm, was on the eve of a revolution
What was this but one of the fore-shad-
owings Of disorder? And it is by no
means our own country alone that Is af-
feeted and involved in the disorder. Eng
laud with her vast business transactions,
not enl ly with us, but in every part of the
earth, at the latest dates was beginning
to feel the affective stroke. France, with
her credit mobiier--and very mobile and
uncertain scheme of business it seems to
be, was yielding to the pressure; and
throughout all the chief capitals of Eu-
rope similar results we're ensuing. \ cri-
els, an epoch, of no ordinary interest, ap-
pears oEce more to have come over the
affairs of MEN. (N0te II
/ / believe in Epochs, periods, as the word
signifies, ,chich arrest attention and cause
thinking men to hold on, to pause and re-
feet. An epoch is reidjustment of af-
fairs, when it would almost seem that the
complicated machinery of the Great Uni
verse was wound up and set running
again, or oyerhauled and reftted for new
er and more surprising developments
Like Prof. Babbage's wonderful Calcu-
lating Machine, mundane affairs some
times appear to go on, with all their COM
plex movements. The great pendulum
for long periods wags backwards and for
wards with perfect regularity, no jostling.
no friction, 10 loss, no hindrancc; until
it appears that the mechanism is perfec-
ton itself. Mel think it vii! run on so
forever. 1t does seem as though it would
4 I,,c nj "a
REACHES the three hundred and thirty-nine
thousand billionth combination, perform
Ing all It's difficult calculations in figures
aud its varied adjustments with uneFring
exactitude; when-presto change. 4
adjustment occurs In a moment. No
one dreamed of it. No one but the in
ventor knows how it was done; or when
it will take place; but at this precise
point it takes on new powers. All the
old movements are lost. All the old sys-
tens of combination are no more 1t de-
velops itself in entirely new series Of
numbers, performs altogether 4 new and
more brilliant set Of examples, and thus
goes on with like unvarying uniformity
as with the first series until a new reid
justment, which, together with the form
er. was all provided for in the original
draft Of the calculating machine.
Such an epoch, in some degree is the
present one in bu@iness. But its effects
are not limited to the affairs of trade
alone nor need we feel much terror at it
/ The Great Architect, who attends to the
readjustmentS all for US; and provided for
them all in the outset, who knows per-
fectly their limit and power and mean
ing, affects now the world with His match
less wisdom and skill. We feel His
hand hold of the mechanism, and rejoice
10 know and believe that "He ordereth
all things well" He is now touching
some of the higher laws of eausation, and
is about setting in motion some new COM
binations of His Infinite mind.
ID Here then, we have some lessons
! to learn. We are at this time sent back
10 first principles once more and by the
commercial crisis. no less than by the sea-
son of the year, the long evenings, the
decaying foliage, and the wealth of hap
piness in our own hearts and homes, if
we will seek it there from God, are we
reminded Of the new duties, occupations,
delights, which the bountiful Creator has
placed within our reacL. Home, that
magic Anglo-Saxon word, unknown in
all the languages springing from Latin
unknown, too, elsewhere throughout the
world, except in our own dear mother
tongue and its sister languages, the Ger
man, dc.--HoME, fond name let II.
tara To thee .it 4Fr. ST.