The Van Buren press., 1876-03-07

MISCELLANY.
For the Van Buren Pre..
The Lessons of the Beloved Swan
nena to her Lover Bernardo.

".
Iawoke early, next morning, and soon
arranged to get off to see my loved one,
as the time now had come that | must
take my departure, for years, from the
presence of this beloved teacher; yet a
few more lessons was all that | could
have time to receive. When | arrived. |
found her among the dew bespangled
flowers and vegetables of her garden, re-
freshing herself in the balmy breezes of
the morning. She met me, and we walk
ed together to the house. told her that
her lessons had been much comfort to
me in enlarging my views, furnishing me
guide for all farther progress in knowl-
edge and that expected this would be
the last day would have for years to
receive instruction from her, and that
there were several questions yet, upon
which | wished to learn her opinion.
| Swannena, let me call your attention to
a sentence you uttered good while ago ;
it is this Now, in order to cover the
whole argument, without further special.
izing, it may be stated, without fear of
truth being violated, that theology and
philosophy a directly in harmony, as
far as they are guided by truth; and no
dissension an take place where there is
no departure from truth and the party
to the greatest error will be that which is
most dogmatic. and impatient Of contra
diction." 1t is the last clause of this SEN
tence which | wish to hear explained,
Bernardo, think this will be obvious
by little reflection. If we look back
the stream of time, and observe the pro-
gress of the students of nature, that they
were ever earnest searche.s after truth ;
often they invented hypothesis to ex
plain difficulties, with which they met in
their Investigations BY hypotheses,
/, any facts that go to build up science
and philosophy, have been established !;
yet many hypotheses have been proved
to be erroneous. The truth is the end
sought, and no departure from these
principles has ever characterised them.
There ttave often been strong arguments
on both sides OF some mooted point; but
whenever truth has come to light, both
defenders and opponents fall into the
same ranks, with the utmost harmony,
dUu 1opu WILL ougil tuC "HbiC loui sc
of history It'll not to be found on record
where prosecutions to death haze been
practiced on account of not believing in
some of the doctrines Of science and
philosophy. Theology, as it has been
through past ages, has taught doctrines
| full of the most benil GIFTED superstitions,
which it is impossfI,te for an enlightened
mind to believe-doctrne coptradicto
ry to the constant experience and obser
vatiun of those most qualified for inves
tigation, yet, through ages, multtudes OF
lives have been sacrificed for opinions
sake. think these examples aell-illus
trate the point to which you called my
attention, viz: the party to the great
est error. will be that which is most dog
matte, and impatient of contradiction. y
This assertion may be established by dai
| ly observation The man who really
thinks he knows all tat is to be known
is apt to be very deficient in many things,
vet he is opnionated, and cannot bear
contradiction while the man who has a
great fund Of useful knowledge, will be
rendered meek by seeing how little he
does really know and feeling this, and
knowing the weakness of his opponent
he can well brook his conceited opin-
ions
Swannena, let me ask Of you your
views on one more subject; and when ]
have heard this, | will have finished that
which has appeared to me to be most in
dispensibe tor me to know, in order to
use my life and not to abuse it. That is
lessons that will enable me to follow the
narrow path where virtue leads, which me-
anders its course where frowniDg diff
culties threaten on every hand. The
question is, what course of education
promises the most elevatiug influence to
our race?
Bernardo, this is subject which has
engaged my thoughts for several years
| was first brought to it from the realiz
ing of my own feeble powers, for the i'm
provcment of which songht aid | will
give you as plainly and briefly as the sub
ject will allow, what my studies have
suggested to me on this subject.
The true nature of everything should
be sought which falls within the scope OF
| our Investigations BY true nature is
meant ludt WHICH Is tTtWu lTbul tulhS
as they are To do this the mind must
appreciate that there is no special p owl
dence that, no where in nature have we
any foundation for any such idea as the
interference of Gods will in changing
the laws of nature for special purpose
Whatever has taken place or may take
place in the course of nature, has been and
will be the Legitimate results Of the newt
able lawsof God, in His providence. The
mind imhu d with the truth OF these
principles will be free from the s'ultify
ing influence of superstition As proof
that these principles are in accordance
with the laws OF God, is shown in the
fact that this method is most favorable to
the development of the intellectual fac
ul,ies The students of nature have OUT
stripped all Others in accumulating treas
ures of knowledge for the advancement
of humanity in the most glorious attain
ments
Other facts to inculcate are that in our
earthly condition there is no good at
tanned in anything without labor, direct
lv or indirectly. Whatever good man
enjoys, has cost himself, or some other
one labor
That EVERY FACULTY AND PASSION OF