, 1873-12-22
Eloquent Sermon by the Rev. z. N.
Powers.
What DR.. Ryder Said Of the Great
Scientist.
The Defaications OF the Present Day.
THE DEAD SCIENTIST.


and culture. Tho announcement Of 30 interest,"
Jug subject drew out large Attendance, auo
tho discourse was listened to with profound at.
tontton. For h'B text Dr. Powers chose tie fol-
lowing scriptural passages:
Tho works Of tho Lord great, sought out Of theu
that hayc pleasure thero!n.-pa, e1 2.
man ahall bo commended according to his wtadornt
Prov. Kill, g.
Tho sermon waB as follows: Ono revelation
Of God is His material universe. and tho mors
wo know Of this tho bottor ab1o shall We be to
nso tho wondrous gift of life as It was designed.
All knowledge is good, and TINT which instructa
men to bo holy ia tho best. Wllilo we attach m
infinite valuo to tho word Of God as Expressed In
tho Bible, VIC must not forgot that by tile word
also were made tho things that aro seon. God
Expresses Himself in oil His works. " Day unto
day uttoroth speech, and night unto night show-
9th knowledge" There Is really no antagonism
in tho revolutions Of tho Almighty, Hla written
word aud His infinite worha Wc SEQ but part
now Of the perfect meaning, -onough to direct
us to tho way of everlasting lifo, but not oil that
may contribute to all the possible advantages Of
man. Those who interpret tho meanings Of tho
spiritual aud Of tho physical universe nro both
showing the Divine thought aud will. II they
make now and thon discords In their uttetanco,
wo !, may DO sure that thoro iB har-
mony below them. Whateyer man NAV
say, God doos not contradict llimaof. While
wo rejoice unspcakably that Ho has mado tho
path Of salvation so plain that mono nocd err
therein that He las shown tho heayy-adou
place OF reRt, aud those who hunger aud thirst
for righteousness how thoy may be tillcd, wo arc
not to imagine that no blessing. attends tho dis
covory OF the wonderful yorities of Ills hands,
which mon call Natnre, or that in the uses Of
4 large senao to both body aud soul. fair
Bight Of what tho great scientists layo found out
and reduced to practical uBos would not only fill
most boholders with astonishment, but excite .
ing our human welfare. How fow, for instance,
know or think, as they send or receive kilograms
that are 20 important to thor interests, o. the
long and 1aborious studies TINT prepared tho waY
for modern te1egrnply,
The Same may be said OF the application Of
steam to locomotives tho printing press, photog-
raphy, electrotyplng, tho telescope and microA-
copo, physiological TRUTH and ali tho vast SUBJ
1ects Of science aud itB applications. person
deeply in earnest in thep.rsut OF truth retros to
hislaboratoly Or pursnca hs studios in obscurlty
In converse with lonely Nature. and tho bhst1ing
world docs not give him credit for much usofu-
ness there with his acids or salts; Or gascs, big
scrapings Of tho deop soa's bottom; his
strange instrumental; his quiet Indifference to
tle business M and PLEASURES Of mankind; yet
a What le is isooyoring or inventing becomes ia
the worlds concerns. 1t appears in sanitary
knowlodge; i'll tho. economics Of industry aud
commerce; in speedy transportation, time-sav-
ing machinery, beautiful fabrics, moro whole
some food, grander powor over nature aud hor
possessions, 1uoro perfect demonstrations Of tho
creative wisdom and benignity. Thoao inycsti-
cations. apparently 90 remote from the practical
concerns Of 1ifo show finally their Intimate con-
nection with everything Of human interest and
advantage, aRa those who arc doing most for
mans material good arc those who, to the COM
mon eye, soeIn to bo engaged in the most nl-
practical and useless occupations. But pro-
fur removed they iasy sosm MI from 1 The ntilitiea
Of life, are still tho richest contribu-
tiona to tllis end. They finally not
only eventuate in human comfort and temporal
ment tile knowledge that, BY it's immediate re-
lation to the soul, is termed spiritual, It is,
therefore, true TINT great naturasts and sayanta
aro among tho worlds bonefactors. They oarn
nnda d tho ppa1dng rssoglon Of the
are helped on to creator dominion over both
Nature and themselves.
OF the most illustrouB nanea that have pro-
NOTED the cause OF useful gcionce in the present
generation, none ia higher than TINT OF Agaasiz.
Willis arn prevented by lack Of timo for due
preparation to do anything like Justice to tho
lahora aud character Of this noble student md
interprotor Of the worka Of God, have too Pre-
opportunity raBs, without giving at loast some
feeble tribute to his nonory. Louie John Ru-
dolpl Agassiz was largely aud richly endowed.
iamind was fashioned OH colossal scale. His
temperament was lively and ontorprising; hia
roasoning faculties keen and comprehensive;
lia nature deeply impreBRible to all excellent
influences, and his physical constitution of such
q franc as to- endure tue most laborioua efforta
md activities. His early youth gayo promise pt
raro intelligence, and it was Ills good fortune to
receive his first instructions from Christian
mother, who waa gifted and accomplished beyond
tho usual range Of woniRnkiud. ue waH tract-
nil fo~4t1
stimulus but q love Of learning to keep aslow
tho ardor OF Htudious pursuit. At an carly ago
he had become intimate with tho naturallsts Of
the Continent, who recognized and applauded
friendship. among others Of MARITIME, Cuvier,
SoAelling, Doliingor, md Humboldt. Before tho
ago OF 80 ho was known to tho scientific society
Of Europe. and had received honorable distinc-
the most remarkable industry, Ae prosecuted In
yostigatipuB covering folds bnt lttlo examined.
aud commanding moro and moro hia ta1ents and
attalnmonts to the most accomplished scientieta
Wow Of h,s enormous labora through his liietime
traatiso. Ills work on tho Fresh Wator Fishoa
Of Europe; Oil Fossil Fishos, which occupied
ton years Of labor; the geological Eomonclator:
the auimal kingdom; lis Dlbliothica Of Zoology
and on tns ne'0'Eyi hs s'iss' IT, sssSs
studies OF tho glacler5 and the Glaclal ayetoH,
his Investigations in elonchology; his vast work
entitled ''Contributiong to tho. Natural History
OF tic United Suites !" l,ia muifarious consribu-
tions to popular science by papers in periodlcala
aud Journals in this country aud Europe eno
by humorous lccturca,--slow the amazing fer
tllty Of Lis genius, and his almost incredible in
During thcse fruitful aud toilsome years. be.
sides preparing for the press, tlis vast
urlount Of valuable scientific matter, he has !.
uatla n,ost fjflipet porHDual investigations Qyol
vide areas OF llle earth to study pGyscal fact4.
and to verify hiH theories. ue explored Ger,
many and Switzerland on foot; wandered oyer
tic Britiul. Isles; pursued his critical labora
shoroB Of tic United States; familarzod lin.
self by personal observation with tho goologl
Of New York, lhe great Lake superior region
and tho Rocky Mountains; spent u long p0rlot
carriotl his studies In portions Of the earth mos
x,l, Il, allaioat ti,at an,aid ki