Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-15
COMMUNICATES.
SERMON ON THE HALF.SllELL.
Br DEACON DIoGHNEs-
GENIUS.

Potent power Of celestial birth.
Nature yields an homage unto thee,
Thine is the darkened depths Of earth,
The ether space and cayerns Of the sea.
Brethren--GenIus is \ very paying
accomplishment and one not generally
possessed.
When the great Architect Of the Uni,
verse finished man on the last day OF
creation, He endowed him with peculiar
attributes, among which, not the least
by any means, is geniu. So this ac-
cOmplishment is not acquired as many
are NOWADAYS, but is natural gift.
vouchsafed in the great benefccnce OF
the Creator, or in other words is "brrd
in the bone"
Genius was never confined to any
particular age or people, aud has been
displayed TO q greater or lesser extent
ever since man was given the oars ana
attempted to paddle his own canoe. II
illumined the early centuries, flashed
meath skies OF Pagan darkness; marched
onward with the great tide OF immigra''
ton; it shone on the plains Of Babylon
tsrried at Ninevch hbored IN Tyre
Jared al columns and temples ot
Thebes aud Car,hage;, made Rome mag.
nifcent and crowned the mistress ot
the world. Its footprints are yet DIS.
cern:ble amid the ruins Of departed
greatness its handiwork may be seen
on the plains of Egypt aud in the sep
ulchIes of Pompcli and He%culanenm.
BY its light the old world was intro
duccd to the new; and by its light our
country has become the first in the van.
guarG-in short it develops the world
and adds TO the comforts and convent
ences OF mankind 1t was tho genius
Of liberty that prompted our fathers TO
deeds Of glory on the cnsangulned helds
of the Revolution il was genius thai
inscribed in letters of living fire on tho
unsullied iame.roll o. our Country, the
great names OF our heroes, patriots and
sages. 1t was genius that scared aloit
amid the wild confusion OF the storm
clouds, captured and domesticaied tho
thunder-bolt and rendered il subservi.
ent to the will OF man.
1t has mpeled the electric current
on it's suspended way, till il flashes
meath the turbulent, storm-tossed bill.
lows OF the ocean. annihilated time and
makes the world household vi nations.
Genius gave us the printing press,t tho
terror of tyrants and shield Of the free.
Ii has bound our Continent in iron
bands OH which the steel-!endoned slecd
with the speed of the wind bears the
fruits OF nations wealth and industry.
The genius of Howe sienced tho
song Of shirt, and struck the needle
from the tired hands of ovcrworked
women and substituted the sewing ma
chine.
Genius gave us the reaper aud tho
sickle of other days is idly rusting, or
is converted into briar hooks.
Brethren, without genns our world
would relapse into its original state Of
chaos. We owe everything to il, aud
when we turn about and observe tho
vast benefits il has bestowed upon us ~
a people, We ara constrained to repeat
that beautiful sentiment found Ia tho
last stave of once popular song:
We're a mighty nation,
And 'twixt you aud
We beat all creation,
Root hog or die.
Brethren, we should ever proudly re.
peat the story Of the genius Of the sohs
of America. II is q theme which On
rehearsal, quickens The life current,
thrills our whole anatomy with patriotic
pride, and our hearts swell 10 the III.
mensions Of 4 well developed cabbage
head.
Look at the gcnius Of our New Eng.
land brothers-tbey broke the sun.dial
and honr.slass aud gave us yankee
clocks. To them are We indebted for
those triumphs Of genius wooden hams
and nutmegs. 10 them are We indebted
for paper shoe soles, cast iron scissors,
the cradle Of liberty, pewter knife sharp.
ners, Plymouth Rock and Ben Butler.
Brethren let us honor genius where
ever found; its struggles in many IT,
stances has been lily rewarded, though
il has ever fulfilled glorious mission
in every department Of life aud unfet-
tered and encouraged, il will yet, in the
years to come. lift our world to higher
station Of greatness. As il is compo-
nent Of man Immortality and was re.
ceiyed by the expiration Of tbs breath
of the Great Jehovah at creations
dawn, it will abide with man in the
flesh and after the dying ihroes Of =
world will return To Him who gave it.
brethren lvt us sino.