Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-04-06
For the Republican.
The Responsibility Of Privilege.

for tne ehepuDllcan.
The Responsibility Of Privilege.
Duty, as well it may, engrosses much
of our time and attention. Many vol
umes written by learned men invite our
research upon this subject, and the Bible
is but n divine revelation of our duty
to God, and our duty to man. But
though duty should be thoroughly stu
died, and well understood, the import
ance of its twin-sister privilege should
not be overlooked. 1t appears to be one
of the foibles of the 18th century to en-
tirely lose sight of privilege, in the uni
versal pursuit of novelty and change.
Living in an advanced period of the
worlds history, reaping the fruit of the
labors of generations, and surrounded
by so many advantages that We could
only properly appreciate their worth by
being deprived of them: we are daily
living on in the disregard OF the high
| privileges which We enjoy.
We exist in an advanced age of rea-
son, and one of rare attaiments in all
the branches of art and science. The
fierce lightning of the clouds, arrested
| from its mad career OF havoc and of
death. The mighty giant steam. and
the fleeting ray of light, alike yield up
their varied powers and bow in homage
TO the mind of man. And not only are
the mechanic arts seemingly carried al
most to perfection, but the public mind,
freed from the dark pail that so long
rested upon it, has attained the maxi
mum of civilization. The influences of
Christianity, assisted by the increase of
knowledge and the power of the press,
have swept away the dark superstitions,
and enslaving ignorance of the middle
ages, and new era refulgent with gold
en- beams of the brightest promise dawns
upon the world. The fact of living in
the present age, surrounded by all the
advantages Of civil and religious free
dom which one of the most beneficent
governments of earth can give, is Il bless
ing which few appreciate and none
should scorn.
Life, like mighty river, is bearing us
onward to eternity. But should we be
content to follow a course which the
common current of circumstance, or
chance may assign? In the great drama
of life shall we so live and act that our
name shall remain behind us4a monu- |
ment of glory-or shall I'VE leave to |
others the glittering jewel that lays
within our grasp? There is no lot in
life so humble, or position so exalted |
that the whole energies of an active
mind can not improve. The need of
poverty cannot bind the willing arm
the fabled wealth of the Indian mine |
can not bestow perfection of morals to
him who is devoid of will. Though our
pathway is encircled by firm and fore
ordained DEGREES, yet, created moral
agents we are free to choose. In the
most trivial incident and on the most |
momentous occasion two courses are left |
to our preferment. The one shown to
us by that silent monitor within, the
other dictated by our wayward desire.
Is not this a privilege then, which We
enjoy-the freedom to govern our own
actions. and the power to declare whether
they shall be good or evil?
We also have high degree of relig-
ious freedom of choice and action which
many of our ancestors did not enjoy.
Roman Catholicism no longer leads its
victims to the dungeon,or the frey orde-
al of the stake, and the terrors of the
inquisition remain only in the dusty rec
ords of the past. The lonely exile from
the joys of home, no more is compelled
to hide his wcaried limbs in the dens
and caves of the earth, but pure and
holy liberty asserts her benign influ-
ences over lands purified by the blood
of martyrs. The true worshiper no
longer fears the shrill war-whoop or the
silent arrow of his dusky foe, but with
out fears of danger lifts up his voice in
his Makers praise.
The privileges which We enjoy are not
all'of temporal nature, but the spirit
ual advantages which we possess are in
Vulnerable, and in his perfection ofwis-
dom God has promised to the true be-
lever, greater blessings than the mind
of man can think of or conceive, even
the riches of his spirit and his grace.
We are permitted to read and study his
word, and to employ ourselves in his
praise. We have his promises upon
which to establish our hope, and which
are as soothing balm to the wearied soul
in the times of greatest need, Promin-
ent among many is the privilege of
prayer, in which, though mortal, fallen
from our high estate, and dyed deeply
with the guilt of sin, We are permitted
to approach into the presence of Him
whose purity is immaculate, whose pow
er sublime. There are some parts of re-
ligious worship of which the fury of
man can dispossess us, but there are
others inherent in themselves, which
God has youchsafed unto us. In the
darkest hours of life, when the sun of
our prosperity has been extinguished in
the thick clouds of adversely, when the
storms of despair have seized upon our
souls, and the jaws OF death are ready
to receive us, in that dread hour can we
approach the throne of the Eternal in
the spirit of prayer, and pour all our
plants and sorrows into his never dis
regarding ear:
From time immemorial, responsible
ty has attached to those who enjoyed
superior privileges, or were intrusted
by their fellOw-men with the duties of
office or honor. Our fathers enjoyed
many advantages its true, but we
through their labors have acquired new
and greater privileges. In proportion
as our advantages, so are our response
bilities increased, and we should take
heed to use well the talents committed
to our charge.
Has God given us life and health
We should dedicate these to his service.
Has He given moral faculties, quicken
ed nv cultivation and educafjon2 LET