The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-07-10

49, 'yt'. tt tuJHy " WC tOfINi
Stone Of tie Normal School Buiidin,
at BloonsLTg, Ume 25th, 1865.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :--Afte
listening TO the eloquent and pertinen
remarks of the Governor, and the alb,
aid interesting address just delivered
in the Institute, il is scarcely justitlabl,
to keep you longer exposed to tn,
scorching rays Of the sun. In carrying
out the previous arrangement | mus
however, as the representative of tn,
Board OF Trustees, crave your indul
gcncc for Il few moments.
If the occasion which calls Us togeth
or had been of Il scctarian character, i
would still have been one of deep inter
est to the people Of these middle coun
tics. The erection OF II public cdiice
such rs is here proposed, could not fai
TO attract the attention and enlist tn
sympathics of Ill the people, rs wei
those without the organization havin,
it Immediately in charge, as those with
in. But when, as here, the object t
be attained and the means by which i
Is to be accomplished, have neither
sectarian nor Il political complexion, am
| every citizen may feel that he stand
upon an equality in reference to it, wit
| every other citizen, tho interest bo
| comes more extended and the symp;
thics in its behalf of II more ardcI
| character.
That such feeling exists here to-day
is manifested by the interested countC
nances of the vast assemblage bclor
me, and the anxiety to participate i
these proceedings and listen to what
said in behalf Of the enterprise in hant
That it is an occasion of no ordinar
character, is shown by the presence {
the Chief Magistrate of the Common
wealth, and the performance of tn
principal business Of the day by hi
hand-by the presence of the officer III
der whose control are the Commo
Schools of the State at large, and ais
by the presence Of distinguished gel
| tlcmcn IN the cause OF education
| from surrounding counties.
In all ages of the earth the progre,
Of the people in the arts and scicnccs,i
civilization and general knowledge, III,
been markell by the character Of the
public and private buildings.
BY architectural structures evcrywhel
we are enabled with much certainty
take the intellectual measure of the in
habitants Of the country. BY the pre-
| cncc or absence OfcCrtain structures Il
traveller can accurately judge whethC
the people Of Il community fear Go
and regard the material interests
man. If he sees no spire pointing hca'
cnward-no buildings devoted 10 pu
lie worship, he has irrctragiblc cvidcn,
that he is in the midst of an irrcligiol
people,
| lfhis eye is greeted with no buiIdii
Indicating it MS place where the youl
idea is taught TO shoot, or il he finds Il
school house less adorned, more cramp(
and inconYenicnt and more lily Vcntil
| tel than other buildings of the neig
borlOod, he may safely set down on Il
uote book, that the standard of educ
ton is not much elevated in that
Icality.
| If he finds no manufactures whc
the facilities for them are ample, al
their estnblis shment would be prOfitat
| he justly concludes that there is thei
=. Il lack Of industry enterprise and laud
bic ambition to compete with, if not
excel other localities possessing no gre
ternatural advantages, But ifin his ira
els through country,though ii be wi
railroad speed, he discovers church,
seminaries Of learing, business bull
ings and tasteful residences, he m
write down that people rs moral, ed
Gated, cnterprlsing and refined, assur
that the testimony upon which hcmal
r up the record is reliable and true.
IL 1t is the purpose to which an edif
or structure of any kind is devoted Il
gives character to it and the people.
If the descendants of Noah unt
Nimrod, the mighty builder and hu
. er had been content to build Il city up
J, the plain in the, tand of Shinar, til
would not therefore have brought up
:, their enterprise the displeasurc of
a Great Architect of the Universe. |
their desire for fame, and the dari
spirit manifested by them in attem
ing to build tower whose top shot
!. reach to heaven, being in defiance
Divine authority, brought down NJ
them confusion of language and disp
sion over all the face of the earth. Il
bility to understand one anothC
speech was II severe punishment
them, and has been source of inc
venience to their posterity in all ii
since.
But by the aid of institutions sucl
is here initiated, we are enabled,
dint of labor, (the mildest puni
,e ment which could be inflicted NJ
m mani to overcome this difficulty, ant
understand each other, though we sp
with tongues and in divers languag