The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-06-21
LEHuGH UNIVERSITY cow
MENCENENT'.


morning, Rev. j. NJ. Leavitt, D. D., pres-
dent of Lehigh University, preached a mem
nrial sermon on the late Judge Asa Packer.
The attendance was large and the service
plain, but impressive. The chapel was in
state of the greatest simplicity. The music
was appropriate TO the solemn occasion, and
was furnished by the college choir. After
morning prayer, according to the Book OF
Common Prayer the president preached
the sermon, basng his remarks on the
words
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them. Mat. vii.,20.
Cause and effect are nowhere more visible
than in the vegetable world. The fruit is
an infallible token of the tree. No mortal
eye can discern the constituents Of those
subtitle and exquisitej juices in their mysteri-
Gus circulations, or follow the processes oi
their combinations ana their distributions,
but, when the leaves put forth, and the
blossoms brighten, and the autumn burdens
become golden and purple IN the sun, we
have palpable proof that can no longer be
mistaken.
And our Savior teaches in our text that
between man and his life there is a similar
Fxity of relation. The will is, indeed, ever
free; the personality is preserved; the moral
responsibility is never invaded; the nature
bestowed by creation is neither dsregarded
nor overwhelmed in Providence always
sacred in the soul is the fine and subtle
play of its varied powers behind all and
above all in the sovereignty ola divine and
eternal purpose, and yet it remains an uni
yersal law, that as tree is known by its
fault, so soindividually, socially and religious
lv, every human being, for this world and
for that beyond the grave, can be inlallibly
judged by his deeds. propose this morn
ing to apply the practical test of our Savior
to the business enterprises, the educational
schemes, and the Christian character OF the
founder of our University.
JUDGE PACKERS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Nearly sixty years since, youth ola sub
stantal New England family could have
been seen crossing the Delaware and plod-
ding his way along our beautiful river. The
forests were yet dense in their primal gloom.
Farms had been opened, but were rude and
primitive in their culture. Only villages
smiled over the valleys and adorned the
hills. Indeed, the smoke of the wig-wam
and the war-cry of the savage had not long
p't'N
fully through the waters Bethlehem was
small Moravan town. This region ofun-
surpassed wealth and loveiness remained a
land of promise. Our youth had not much
in the prospect to please his eye, excite his
fancy, or animate his heart. See him, tall,
noble in feature and lofty in brow, with a
bright glance and brave soul, having in him
all those native elements after wards to be
developed into such kingly grandeur! He
pushes his way among our mountains into
the magnificent region of the Susquehanna.
lie JOINS himself to a relative TO follow the
trade OF a carpenter He works Industrious
ly, and even goes to our metropolis for i'm
provement. lie marries wisely, suitably
and happily. Even when dgnifed by a
wife, he studies in night school. Aiterward
he becomes laborious and faithful, but by
no means an enthusiastic or unusually sue
cesslul farmer We find him at the age oil
twenty-eight in the village Of Mauch Chunk
with his wife and two children, yet pool
and nothing to distinguish him from thou
sands Of other sturdy and industrious young
men. He becomes captain on canal, an
owner and Il builder Of boats, a contractor
in the erection of locks, and a merchant
shrewd, enterprising, interchangeable, sue
cessiul.
Thus far we see in him no certain toker
Of his coming greatness. Yet an ordinary
man would have been satisfied with hi
achievements and settled down for life int
comfortable and respectable village mag
nate. Not so with our founder! lie had {
work in the world. His past was but al
education for his future.
True men have one prime object of their lives
Which Heaven helps ON, anu all below arr
steps,
Like climbing stairs that circle round tower
To gam It's top and give us prospect wide.
Here we begin TO separate the subject 0
our sketch from those personages who hav,
no aspirations beyond the dull and mOnOt
onous responsibilities of common career
This man, after ALL has genius in him
lie is slow of speech but quick of soul. Hi
mind, like his eye, has the fire of the eagle
To HIM belong the gift of foresight, tn
power To look beyond the ordinary vision
the ability to see speedily and sharply, I,
mature slowly and wisely, TO grasp laTg
plans, to organize great enterprises, and L
execute energetically what he has elaborate,
deliberately.
AT Mauch Chunk the mind of our foun
der received new impulse aud its tru
inspiration See towering above the gorg
of the flashing Lehigh the precipices o
those lofty and mysterious mountains who's
bosoms of rock contain secrets not yet dis
vegetable growth of centuries had flour
ished around the. luXuriant margins of lake
and rivers, TO be afterwards buried, an
then burned by volcanic fires beneath tn
weight of the everlasting hills The chem
istres 0l cycles hadprepared those exhaust
less coaltelds. Deep below the rough noun
talns sleep undisturbed IN their dark bed
the fuses that are to warm homes. illum
nate cities, propel manufactures, promot
the navigation of oceans, advance the civi
ization of our race and introduce new err
destined to bind our humanity into one VA
and universal fellowship.
Beyond the opening OF those blue bount
ing ranges, standing like silent seutiuc
over the landscape, are the multiplying II
dcations of busy land, and dcvciupIn
age. Fulton has made the steamboat a
accomplished fact; Stephenson has demon
strated the power aud the possibilities
the locomotive as the future agency OF lau
transportation; Morse is experimenting
complete his telegraph; New York an
Philadelphia are expanding to gigantic pr
portions the ocean is soon to be crossed |
IA steamship; every branch OF commerce an
manufacture over the world has been stim
lated iuto Unprecedented activity. A ne
era hasalready commenced To he symbolic,
by the speed oi the locomotive and the fla
VI Nilt NtlNEldlls nc lAtl - III AllhoN lllbu
tains and tue world beyond is ready for ii
fuel, Who shall bring the fuel to the worlC
That is the problem TO lie solved. Here '
have the work, but where is the mar
Who has the foresight, the patience, the e
ergy, the determination, the heroism OF 50
ritce, the ability to plan and risk and Il
umph? Shall New York produce the moI
Shall Philadelphia produce the man? Sh'
Ireland or scotland or France, or German
or England produce the man? Shall
come from cabin or mansion, or mine
workshop college? When? Where? Ho
Who? The land waits The age is ripe. 7
hour has struck. Who is the man2 \
Paokeri BY birth he isa Yankee by ado
tion he Isl Pennsylvania. In every ner
of his soul aud fibre of his body he is
American, More than all, he is a man
man fitted among those mountains for
work, and soon tu be called out from tn,
before the world by the Almighty to do
work.
Our valley had been agitated by the qu
tioh, "Shall our coal be carried 10 market
the canal or 10y the railway? ?" Plausi
arguments Were urged ON both sides I