Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-01-13

aides. The attention paid to the some
What protraeted exercises, and the mani
festa,ions Of applause which were repeat
eddy made evince that the interest which
our citizens feel in this association con.
tinues undated.
The lecture Of Rev. Mr.. HoTT was
sound, logical and instructive one. The
lecturer maintained tina. the great histor.
ical events that stand ont prominently in
the Worlds progress are but continued
series Of causes or instrumentalities in the
hands Of an all.wise Providence tending
TO the same end-the advancement Of
mankind in mental, moral, civil and reli-
eious liberty that while great revolutions
have deluged large portions Of the earth
with human gore, carrying in their Grain
misery, ruin and desola,ion, BE who sees
not a. man sees has guided and shaped
the destructive elements SO that the end
might result in His own glory and the
good Of bis erring children. The first
great historic event TO which attention wa.
called was the Christian era, vastly i'm
portant with reference 10 its great results
upon the final destiny Of the human fami-
ly, IS we'll Is being in itself mighty result
of causes, predictions and preparations
that had engaged the attention Of man
through the long period that had elapsed
since our unfortunate progenitor was
thrust from the garden of Eden, fallen.
sinful, srring creature. The direct and
ultimate results Of the Inauguration Of
this era in the increased impetus which it
gave to mans mental IS well as moral
energies. the new. born light which it in
fused into the cloudsd understanding Of
the benghted nations of the earth, and its
tendency in the elevation of the civilized
world to its present omparatively exalted
position, WAS presented with much force
and beauty.
The fate Of Imperial Rome was alluded
TO as affordpg much useful information
as well to the practical statesman as the
student Of history. Her rapid rise and
progress-;he extent of her power, and
the glory OF her achievements led to pride.
arrogance, and finally to righteousness,
dissipation, effeminacy and national i'm
becility. Ceasi1g to be virtuous, she lost
her power Of accomplishing good, and in
her deep humiliation as humble vassals Of
rude barbsrisns, she but exemplified the
power and wisdom of an avenging God.
While man would be led to mourn at the
des ISOLATION produced BY these savage con-
querors, in the wanton destruction Of
Rome's magnificent monuments Of earthly
grandeur, and in the dark ages that fol-
lowed, the great ruler Of events SO directed
the destroying elements 'as that the earth
should be scourged because Of iniquity,
while the wisdom Of his grand design
should be displayed in the organization
and development out Of these rude but
unpolluted successors in power, more
exalted and enoblng character o. intellect
and morality.
The great reformation of the 10th cen.
fury was alluded to a. the next most strik
ing historical event that tended to the ele.
vation of man. The direct aim of the
christian reformers was 10 induce men to
attach less importance 20 old and eslab
ishsd maxims, and 70 exercise the intel
lec.ual powers with which they were en-.
dowed in personal examination Of those
things that interested them with reference
to their present and future we'll being
Hence men were taught that error should
be exposed, even though it effected those
who occupied the highest position IN pc
litical or ecclesiastical authority. From
this era may be dated the emancipation
Of man from mental bondage, and to il
may be traced those mighty events that
have followed in succession, gradually but
surely elevating the nations of the earth
to that proud position at present occupied !;
and it is by the principles then eaunc;a ted
that God in his own time will, by the use
Of instrumentalities, extend the pure doc
trines Of the gospel, accompanied by civil
and political freedom to all the bcnighted
regions of the earth.