Evening star., 1869-10-02

Mighty to bless!
By every rolling tide,
BY PLAIN and mountain side,
Let peace for aye abide,
With righteousness!
Rev. j. &. Butler, Of the Lutheran Church,
read appropriate selections OF scripture and
onered the dedlcatory prayer.
Tbe scnool choir sang "Tne Sky Lark"
Alderman w. H. Chase, in behalf Of the Bnild-
ing COMMITTEE, in an appropriate address pre-.
sented the keysto acting Mayor Crocker, who
responded as follows:
ACTING MAYOR CRocKRR's ADDRESS.
SIR: In receiving these keys from you on
this occasion, have the honor OF discharging
the agreeable duty Of accepting from the Build
ing COMMITTEE this spacious and beautiful
temple OF knowledge. l accept it in the name
and on behalf Of the Corporation and people OF
this splendid edifice has been reared with ex-
traordinary care, and at q cost Of upwards of
S2oe,oOO, by the Liberal and intelligent citizens
school system.
We are dedicating it to. day to the free edu-
Here, as generation follows generation along
the course Of time, the children and youth OF
our city may come and partake Of the fountain
price. The liberal and commendable spirit
which prompted our people 70 make this mu.
nlhcent grant, In order TO secure to every child
within our limits q tree education, Is based
upon their cherished idea that 1t is q duty
which they owe to society at large, as well as
to the children who are TO be m ore specially
amined in the light Of reason ana Chris.
tian philanthropy, who can galnsay the
proposition, or prove that the idea is not we'll
founded. The God Of Nature, who declared il
was not good for man to be alone, formed him
for society. He created man a social being
and endowed him with such mysterious INTEL
lectual faculties and powers OF reason as can
only be developed through the social relations
Were each individual man to isolate himself
from all others of his race, and MAINTAIN a
separate existence, he would remain in his first
estate, Of rude and uncultivated barbarlsm
Like the rough ashler from the quarry, which
never received the touch Of the chisal, or the
polishing SIX i'll Of the master mechanic, his
condition would be scarcely changed by the
rolling years. There would be no such thing
as progress, no mental culture, no improve.
ment. There weuld be no civilization, no intel.
lectual attainments TO enable man to remove
the veil that would conceal from his admiration
the sublime beauty Of the arts. The vast field
OF literature and the sciences would remain by
him forever unexplored. He would have no
correct conceptions OF ths objects OF his exist.
ence; OF his duty to his Creator or his fellow.
men. The extreme darkness that would con.
stantly envelope his mind would exclude
the idea OF an eternal sphere Of existence after
the affairs OF this life shall have faded forever
from view; and he would know nothing of the
nigh destiny that awaits him. In short he
would forever grope his way in the blindness
OF ignorancs, indulging in the selfish sensuali-
ties OF his gross nature, and never emerge
from his dark surroundings to enjoy the light
and blessings OF refined civiliZaton, to give
expression to his natural powers Of reason, or
10 exhibit those higher qualities Of the soul and
nobler powers Of intellect, which elevate the
race or man above the brute creation. If then
II be true that man came from his Divine Orig.
maj, impressed with social nature and pos.
sessed Of latent powers of reason, which re-
quire the full enjoyment Of society; social hab-
It's and social inf uences, with their invigorat.
ing impulses, emotions, thought, intuItions,
as well as wholesome restraints, to de.
yelop them, to unfold the immense resources
OF his intellect, until at length he grasps the
Divine thought of the existence OF Deity, and Of
mans eternal destiny: it follows that society
Tor man shold be establlshed upon the most
perfect system that can be devised, and
governed by rules that will cause the
fullest development OF his rational powers. 1t
should be conducted upon principles that will
secure the greatest expansion Of the intellect,
soften and ameliorate mans obdurate nature
and give him clear and pure conceptions Of
his social and moral obligations; his duty to
reverence and adore his creator and preserver,
and ame..:. crate the CONDITION OF bic fellow man.
Every person who loftis part OF the social |
compact, exeYts an influence to some extent for /
veal or wo, upon the whole !, 90 Do1y II we
nasis, its purest principles, its sweetest atec.
dons Its loftiest ideas, holiest asperatons, and
noblest aims; we must instruct, improve and
develope every individual member that IL TO
form q part OF the social compact II portion
only should be instructed and refined, the l
deleterious influences Of the ignorant and un-
eoucated, would more or less impress Ana
corrupt the whole body Of society, ana prevent |
the attainments and full intellectual achieve
ments Of which man Ii capable. especially /
would such be the case In Q Republic |
like ours where every man enjoys equal
political rights and 70 q certain extent
s1erts an induence upon the body polite,
and social organization. Hence It follows that
TO secure the highest degree OF mental and
moral development, the most perfect degree Of |
happiness to mankind, the most positive %. |
curtty TO society and the State ana the difu-
sion Of the most correct ideas among the people;
We must educate, cultivate and improve every
individual that helps 70 compose the mass Of
society. To accomplish this, Il Will be neces-
sary TO commence with the little children. who
are really the fountain head Of society. First
purify the fountain, aad pure water VIII low
from 1t. Carefully eultyate all OF the little
children, educate and improve the youth, i'm.
press them win hving principles and moral |
truths, and % they advance 70 maturity they
will be prepared fer noble deeds; Thetr intel. |
lectual natures will b disttngutshed ny energy
Of character, Aobleness Of soul, oflihancy OF
intellect, grandeur Of thought morality Of
principle, and virtuous affections. Truly It
has been well said. 1Just - the tWfg 10 bent,
the trees inclired." II then II Be necessary 70
educate and improve all classes IN order to OBJ
tain the most healthful and perfect com.