The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-19

man well developed bodily, with forut
erect, with strong lungs, with cheerful
countenance, with hands ready to encoun4
:er obstacles which require bore and muss
Gle to overcome them, and enjoying perz
feet health, we might conclude that mans
physical powers should be especially
developed. r.
When we see man possessing so muck
sociabihty, and such friendly dispositions
that he not only "rejoices with those who
rejoice and weeps with those who weep"
but is constantly exerting upCp his ASSOC
ciates a personal influence which tends to
make them better aud happier, We might
conclude that mans social nature should
be chiefly cultivated.
When We see man acquiring and using
literature, the arts and sciences when we
see him making extensive explorations
on the land aud sea, pioneering the way
Of civilization, levelIng forests, cultiyatlng
the soil, building towns aud cities when
we see him constructing canals and rail.
roads, bridging broad rivers, spanning
deep ravines, and tunneliug mountains
when we see him subjecting the elements
to his will, employing the latent forcs
found in wood, coal, air, water and elecs
tr:city as agents Of mighty power, erect4
ing telegraph5 aud using them as great
speaking trumpets to converse with those
living many miles away; when we see
him building ships, navigating rivers,
crossing oceans, aud carrying on all the
vast interests Of commerce when we ses
him writing and printing books aud news.
papers, building seminaries and collegesj
when we see him making laws, studying
the art and science Of war, and serving
his country IN time Of peril when we see
him digging into the earth for rich Minis
eral deposits, boring for and pumping up
/ that valuable substance called petroleum
when We see him turning his thoughts To
the worlds far above him, ascertaiuing
their distances from the earth, their rela.
tive weight, their motions, and discovering
that great law which governs all matter
attraction; when We see him studying
himself-his body with its remarkable
complexity, aud yet beautiful harmony;,
his mind and heart with all their wonder
ful capacities, operations and laws wheu
we see all these things We might eouclude
that man, in doing these, attaius The
highest mental culture, and thereby
answers the chief end Of his creation.
But when we consider that man has
conscience, ard nevcrdying soul whsa
We behold him living iu accordance With
his highest roason-his moral sense
exercising his noblest faculties in doing
good, beneVOleutly draining his own cup
Of happiness to relieve the suferiugs OF
his feIiow-men, learning in the Sacred
Volume his origin, his nature, his destiny,
his duties to himself, his race, and bis
God when we behold him originating
and supporting efforts for the promulga-
ton Of Bible truth at home and abroad,
leaving his best friends and his dear native
land, crossing the ocean, enduring as a
Missionary many tribulations in his self.
sacrificing exertions to proclaim the Gos-
pei of Salvation to benighted heather, and
not only pointing them, but leading them
to the Better World when we behold
the christian martyr dying at the stake
under the most exCruciating tortures
rather than to violate his conscience and
betray his Divine Master when we behold
these deeds of goodness and moral SUBJ
Iimity~-these lasting benefits to mankind
and consider the value of the SOUL
which is worth more than the whole
world besides, that for its salvation the
Son of God died-when we think of al
these things we can hardly escape the
conviction that mans moral nature Should
be cultivated to the greatest extent, even
perhaps, atthe expense of his other powers.
Let us examine this subjec: further.
Probably all will agree in regard to
these assertions, namely that lnau
may be a giant physically, and be a dwarf
in other respects that man may be pres
eminenty social, and yet be wanting ID
other better qualities ; that man may be
Newton mentally, and almos. Nero
morally; that man may perhaps, be
christian, but be SO deficient physically,
socially and mentally that he can scarcely
be called n,an, and finally, that he who
is the strongest, the most frieudly, the
most learned, and is the best man, really
has the most manhood, and is the only
one who Genes most nearly completely
fulfilling the great object Of his creation.
1t IS not to be supposed that any mau
is, in al respects, superior to every other
man. But it may be affirmed that supe.
riority in any respect is not entirely the
result of cultivatlng exclusively thoss
powers in which that pre-emiueuce exists,
The human organization, though distinct
In It's parts,is such that each part IS closely