Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-07-17
BUILDING vpos A BROAD FouaDA1IoN.

Idictorv address, was written and delivered
at the closing Of the late term OF Plate
willie Academy by MATTHEW NJ. MILLER,
a student in the Graduating class. His
parents reside at Gaiena. His age / 6 o.
M. In appearance, he is loose joinled,
moves with a swing or careless swagger,
indifference about his person or
want Of pride; in conduct he is mild, firm
and earnest; in deIneanor he is bold and
wears an open conntenance. Mentally,
physically and in practice he is a perfect
embodiment Of the principles taught IN
his essay. The reader needs not be told
that evangelical religion has deep and
and firm root in the heart Of Matthew
On hearing the essay delivered, we were
SO much pleased that we solicited copy
for publication and now have the pleasure
Of presenting it, except the closing part
which is deemed Of less Importance being
addressed to the teachers and fellow stu
dents:
Ma is placed in this world an iDdiyid-
ual to obtain for himself if he wishes, hap
piness, wealth, station, and character, and
also to obtain his own peace with God, BY
himself, for himself Individuality in re-
gard to character, is my subject. If a
man intended to build himself house he
would want plan. The characters which
those Of US who are entering on the voyage
of Life are forming, are to be the houses
for our souls, and it remains for us to say
how high, how deep, aud how broad the
| foundation for these houses are TO be build
ed; for We know that if we lay broad
foundation, we may build broad charac-
ter, or if we build narrow contracted
| foundation, as natural consequence our
houses must be contracted.
We in order to build deep and broad
reputation, must have the foundation
stones Of benevolence, AMI love to God
! This foundation stone ofbeneyolence, con
sists in good will to Our fellow man. The
other founda ton stone Of love to God con
sists in desire for the advancement Of
His cause-for the building up here
of His kingdom in love to God for His
tender care-IIis kindness-EIis watchful-
ness over us-EIis many mercies tc us in
supplying the wants of the body and soul.
Hasing now laid tho foundations Of "Char-
acter," having ingrafled in our hearts good
Desires and good principles, We have some
thing that will protect us against evil asso-
Eciates. We who are now forming the foun-
by the company we keep. There is i'm
planted in man desire for association
which companions alone can satisfy, and
man is also an initiative being, and during
the time we are associated with our com
: panions, a change, the change Of asilnIa-
ton is'gradually creeping over us; it goes
on silently almost itnperceptily until at
length we are similar unto them. If they
have been the bad, the vicious the impure
in mind, aud soul, then the change has
! been for the worse, but if on the contrary
they have been the good and virtuous,
then the change has been for the better, a
healthfuI saving influence has beenthrown
around us which we have inbibed into oul
f own dispositions and which, we in turu
will cast on those with whom we are asso
ciated. These foundation stones Of bencv
olence and love to God will be proven
tive against all evil habits and practices
we cannot become addicted to the habit
of using tobacco, strong drink, or to The
habit of swearing, slandering, or stealing
!. without going through with the primary
steps, for as the twig Is bent, so will tht
tree grow, as the foundation is laid so vii
| be the superstructure.
Ayoung man cannotrlay the foundation
stone Of love- toGod without knowledge 0
Him and His attributes. It will lead hin
to associate with those who exert a saluta
! tary influence. He always has an objec
in view-the advancement of his Redeem
ers kingdom, and he always has bis tho't
and affections conferred on that object o
: supreme love. He never is led into The
sins and follies of life; he is known to b
| opposed to such things, and therefore hi
ISOCt0by ID lOb tihCi t1iSoO WIN
wish to lead their feIlow-men astray. I'll
has the respect and esteem Of the goo
and virtuous. Life is to him, who posses
t trune religion, although beset with man,
trials and troubles, peaceful reality. H,
who possesses in his heart the love Of God
has that which will keep him out of tht
snares, pitfalls, and enticements of wieket
men, and which will steer his bark clea
from the rocks and breakers of tiisappoint
, ment, into the clear open sea Of heaven
Hence the influence that tits necessary il
early life to guard with diligence anc
watchfulness against all evil beginnings.
The small hole in the bank of a stream
may at first only let ont few drops 0
water, yet those few drops make the holl
!. larger, and it will not be long ere the LITTLE
! hole where once but few drops passed
will be the outlet for mighty stream
: The simple drinking of one glass of liquor
were that all, might not in elfconsideref
do any harm, but let a person persist il
drinking liquor, and the experience of The
past would tell us, that it will not only xii