, 1876-05-13

takes more IMAM us wants uenlllIu' 'Hc ~"
atty is disc.sc or an unsightly detormity, or
death. It's b.othe. leaves 10 not meet ~
committee OF the whole, when one has taken
n,orr than hrlNnos 10 it, and white wash the
criminal with an investigation, then send
him up to the topnos. branch, and point to
him. and 50, TO all the little young trees and
limbs below hrhold the great successful
tinancicr in our great and glorious Botm'
cal union. They leave him in alI his de
tormity; or dccnpitate lin, and hur him
from among them; cut off his mtions and
let him sta,vc--tll passing wind, the
rreat botanical undertaken, sweeps him OIL
to oblivion That tree has commercial
transactions with the waters OF the great
deep; purchases its hydrogen, its salts,
rivinr measure for measure. With the
earth also: takes it's beautiful colors there
from, and after chemically combining them
into every hue and shade, borrsws sunbeams,
for pencils and brushes, and using the
heavens Tor canvas. the clouds ior an easal,
the mountains for u back ground, develops
a picture that no art can initiate, no human
hand execute, nothing but the infinite mind
conld ever have conceived. Science can do
more still. out of that tree can bc brought
forth a thousand illuminating jets that shall
make the streets Of the midnight city bright
as thc morning. From its iibres can he
made tissue pure and spolcss "a the snow
fake. on which our thoughts make impress
sions like birds feet on ;hc sands From its
blood comes balm TOR the bcO.ing Of the
nations, Science sees still, more, L is 4
distinct species, endowed with the powers
Of se,f rrodcct'o,. =, Inn numerous family
relations, kindred M, tribes. Science Toes
back through the long agcs oi time, tells us
when that tree first appeared ON the earth,
Tells VA what species, if any preceded It,
1t looks into the future, analyses the soil
from which its nutrmcnt is taken, COM
putcs the amount drawn annually thcrclrom,
and iortells, with proyimatc certainty, how
many ngcs more, before this particular
species will become extinct, and its place be
supplied by new order of vegetable life,
It teaches a prorounder lesson STILL This
tree is immortal. Thousands Of its kind
have preceded it, and perhaps millions
are vet to come, ere its place will be sup
piled by n new and higher order. ] say
bichcr order, because we have already found,
that every step in natural evolution, Is q
progressive one But the fallen tree is not
dead. Though buried up before your eyes
il il not nnnihilated. 1t has changed its
forms. Its ultimate particles are still in the
hand of the great designer Of all, and some
where in the boundlcSs realms of infinite
space is being developed into other forms OF
beauty, mocsty and use in completing the
sublime conception and designs to nature
This is very far from all that might be said
of this one single sample of the vegetable
kingdom. Exhaust that one, and then
multiply it by hundreds Of thousands OF
other species of the same kingdom; each
varied in its anatomical structure, its
methods Of development, its uses, size, the
duration of its &c, and period of its birth
and final extinction so varied in fruits,
fulinge and flower as to make up an endless
" recurring, perennial panorama OF sur
pnsne, unsurpnssiblc beauty. Then, add
/ to it still greater number of extinct species
that have from time to time had their being
on the earth since solar time began, and we
begin to catch glimpse OF the golden har'
vest of wonder, admiration, delight and
glowing though, to be gathered by the in
quiring mind in single branch of natural
science. | need not alludc to the thousand
rises Of practical, every day life that may be
made of such q scientific attainment. They
are too self evident to need naming. will
only say. that one who has by mr1 study
and patient investigation, mastered only one
ol the many sciences now recognized, stands
ON a more elevated moral platform, brenthcs
purer moral atmosphere, has noblcr con
ccptions, and has n stronger arm to hold
ont and lift M to his own level, those
whose path in life has led them through
fields less ycrdant than his own and can
resist with all ease, the efforts OF those, who,
being wilfully blind, the hcwcrs OF wood
and drawers of water, mouders of brick
and carriers Of the hod in the moral world,
are even too willing to drag down all to
their own level.
Let US briefly glance at another branch OF
natural science, whose humanizing and ele-
waiting tendencies have helped TO bind, chain
and cage some of the demons Of crosse
ness, ignorance, bigotry, intolerance, vim
dictiveness and superstition, that have here
tolore reared their hideous shapes athwart
the way, and prevent the onward sweep OF
the palacial car Of human and moral pro.
nress. Have you not often sat upon your
yeranda, in the heat Of the day, and watched
with alarm and ave- the gathering clouds in
the horizon as the spirits Of the air mar
shalled their hosts for fiery combat in the
hcavens' You watched with otnirous dread
a