Smyrna times., 1860-02-09
TRUE KNOWLEDGE.


presented by Bacsn, or the Scientific and PraC
teal, represented by Newton. Until the nine
t7enth ceRtury, the advocates of the forme
were largely In the ascendent, for the minds {
I'll Students were mainly directed in the studie
ot the languages, science of government, sys
sems OF philosophy, &c. but within the las
one hundred years, yea the last fifty years, we
find the bent Of studies directed to practica
mechanics, engineering, and in fact the scen.
tifc basis of every conceivable subject. Both
systems have served a valuable purpose in
working out for man higher and greater des-
tiny. The philosophy of Plato, Socrates, Ly.
curgus, Pythagorus and others, though all de.
fsctIye 10 themselves, have been of incalcula.
BILE benefit 10 the world in pres senting new theo-
ries and forms of government, and principles in
mOral and political ethics; from each of which
the succeeding generations have gathered frao
msnts aud moulded them into concrete forms of
great beauty and strength. True, no system
has yc; been devised to meet eyery want of
tree people, even with the light of the blessed
Gospel of the Sou of Peace to teach man his
Gd!g to has fellow man; but this does not arise
80 much from defect of the code Of ethics, as
ir'm The inherent evil and procltvities of man.
kla'0 rebel against all laws and governments.
The principles Of true government have besn
Centuries IN developing. The sages OF antioui-
~ have well nigh accomplished, tnuush h through
intervening Centuries, The end for which thew
almed-selfgovernment; and with the aid of
DIVINE Revelation to correct and control the
human passions and will. man can 60 on and
fulfil his destiny.
Inc mind now takes broad range in ano-
ther hsld-the practical sciences. In process
oi time an Important revolution has Ia ken place
lnoPlnlons aud pursuits nd the steady and pyac-
tcaI has pussed from the stage what is vision
ary aud unreal. BY little and little, knowledge
has Increased, and generations have succeed
ed each other, larger additions have been made.
each serving as the vantage ground from which
to essay new conquests, until, in the middle of
this nineteenth century, We are lost in wonder
aud admiration at the fertile ingenuity and al.
most omnipotent knowledge Of man.
distinguished writer has presented
three-fold classification Of knowledge, as fol.
lows:
knowledge might be regarded of intrinsic, of
quasi intrinsic, and Of Conventional value
Ano"ledge Of intrinsic value was that which |
u impaired all men in every age, country, and
state of society to be acquainted with, and !
winch was always and universally true
knowledge of quasi intrinsic value, was thai
"hicn depended on surrounding circumstances
ana was local instead of universal in its neces.
SHY and application. knowledge of a conven-
tional character, was such as contributed to our
relaxation and enjoyment-was convenient
ana proper for US to have, in order to avoid the
censorIous Judgment of mankind
Inc sciences are an example of the first kind
OF knowledge; the language and literature of
lore'gn countries, an illustration cf the second
sind and historical knowledge, such as is or
oinarIIy taught in schools, an instance of the
'hlrd class. Of these different kinds of knowl.
eJge' 1t might be affirmed with certainty that
mat whOse UGLue Uas Intrinsic, uas most corth
whose acquisition should be sought earnest
~ and perseVeringly, and the diffusion of which
amongst the youth Of the land was calculated
10 result in the highest measure of advance
ment and usefulness
The sciences constitute the harmonies of the /
universe. and are intimately connected with
each other. S Isaac Newton, in unfolding
the mechanism of The planetary system, the de-
composition of light and the theory of the tides,
opened for man field of Unlimited study, and
gave him higher conception of his own i'm
mortal career, and the unlimited powers of the |
great Infinite.
The best possible method of extending our
scientific acquisition, is the personal applica |
Ton OF those laws of nature which are known
and understood to the great purpose for which
they were given, and thus we see in all our
schools and even in the old colleges where the
languages and philosophy once formed the only
studies, practical sciences are pursued as of
paramount interest. Education, in times past,
mas been too superfcial-the studies circum.
serloed abstractons-but now the student not
only grapples these theories and easily system.
a''zes them, but delves into the then great IN.
kno"n, bringing up hoary knowledge by the
LOCKS and revealing to the wondering
'yro the mysteries, beauties and uses orI
Tue things connected with every day practi.
cal life, that have been buried in obl;viors a..
turies. Herein we find The reason of The o,o..
Advancement and superiority of this over prs.
Vlous ages-we are instructed in the practical
tangible subjects, and learn TO do as well a.
m'nh .anh What we shall yet accomplish in this
direction may be only locked up in ihe vagariss
of the enthusiast.
The trial of Stephens. of Hsrper's Ferry no.
'orety, was concluded at Charleslown Fridav.
The iurv after an ahsenra. .af eeooa Ia -