Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-05-02
.3Q9aA Gl00A4a q
4 ~ A.sNITn, county superintendent.
For Che EdU.aJionM {
Liberaiity of Hind.

Everybody has heard that Alexander
the Great, after long course Of conquest,
sighed for other worlds to win. This i'm
moderate desire has been differently inter
preted, either by an expression oI an over
wceuing ambition that was not content to
be conqueror of the whole known world,
but long for new spheres Of effort, multi
pied battle fields, and a greatly extended
sway; OF as the natural wish Of every great
soul to press forward from one achievement
to another, from o.e world Of effort to an
other, from the known and attained to the
unknown and remotely attainable.
Alexander's sigh is echoed by not few
in this christian age; yet the object OF the
sigh is somewhat different Many gA for
new worlds, since they feel so perfectly
confident of having gained one entire
world, infinitely vaster than Alexander cv-
er sought 10 subdue, namely the world OF
truth. Fclicitating themselves upon so
Grand an achievement, they sigh for other
worlds. dccaning themselves quite too good
and pure for this. They sigh over the in
fatuaton Of those who doubt their full pos
session Of all truth, and they feel holy in
iignation against any who venture 10 claim
possession Of truth which has not been stamp
cd with their approval. They feel that on
them is laid the necessity Of warning 9th
ers against accepting anything contrary TO
their articles Of intellectual belief; they
denounce as fatally mlschicyous any virtues
not contained in their catalogue. aa3 IS
equally mischey9Us the omission Of any
that their lists may contain. Very great
suffering and anxiety do these 81 ghing CON
qucrors of truth experience; they must live
in so very naughty world, and all, even
of the intelligent and thoughtful, will not
subscribe to their authority in matters re,
lating to truth. Surely they are to be pit
led, unless they can be relieved Of some OF
their knowledge and thereby can gain hap
pv release from some OF their sorrow
Perhaps this is meant in that saying Of the
Preacher: For in much wisdom is much
grief.
The surest mode of gaining freedom
from the perplcxities of knowledge, is to
study more diligently and know more. The
best remedy for the troubles which wisdom
brings, l. 10 seek greater wisdom.
This Is a wretched world; nobody cares
for the truth; | have attained great wis
dom. but miserable men will not be guided
by my authority says Conplaccnt Igno-
ramus, Esq 4 seem to myselfiike child
who has picked up few pebbles on the
shore, while the great ocean lies untravers-
ed before me- Thus does conccit lead
men to fancy that they have explored the
entire ocean of wisdom and truth while
they hold in their hands only the time
worn pebbles which some ancient searcher
found; and thus does genuine wisdom lead
men to value but lightly what they have
already won, and to look with eager glance
toward the shoreless ocean of truth which
eternity will be just long enough to ex-
plore.
And real wisdom is not humble in view
Of what is yet unachieved, hut it is genQ.
inely liberal and catholic; it does not as,
sumo to know the secret counscls of Deity,
or to understand the incompreh hensible
mysteries in whose sacred shadow humapl-
~ moves. It does not assert its own opin-
ion against the conscience and education
Of others, tut is well content 10 see others
search for the light whose revelation shall
satisfy their eyes, even though the tints be
widely different from that which shines Oh
it's vision. Ignorance is fearful that every
thing will surely so to ruin unless its pru-
dent counsels are needed, unless its words
of conjuration are employed. Wisdom is
serene and cheerful in the thought that all
error is finite by its very nature, and in the