The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-19

$50 WILL Wo yet. AGAIN, IN Uonnat VI
the Glass of 10, we welcome you this
afternoon.
JOHNSTON.
To any thing but tho narrow vision Of
utilitarianism, the blinded eyes Of the
sensualist, the universe appears as vol.
umc of infinite wisdom and suggestion.
Every season has its mission, and every
object its manifold teaching, and what
ever our position, We may study it with
interest and with reverence, and thus be
contented. And, as at the present sea
son of the year, We find peculiar illus.
tration of the truth that steady plan.a
central design is carried out through oil
its changes of forms and of periods. In
these, the aspects Of the natural world,
we also detect purpose higher than
any material result. Behind those chang
ing phenomena, there are better appel
latlons besides tho OutpOured bOunties
of Autumn. In one word, the material
universe has lOftier function than the
support of the animal being. The on.
going of nature; does it teach no lessons
for the heart develop within us no al.
fsctions, and kindle no moral sentiments!
and if it docs this, or has tendency TO
do this, then in the ordinance by which
seed time and harvest, summer and win.
ter, fulfill their appointed cOWrses, we
detect great spiritual purpose. But
We have no right to assume that man
alone is the absolute centre Of nature, in
other words, that the laws and the phe-
nomena of the material universe find
their highest explanation in him above.
He is involved in it as network Of facts
and forces which are not only adapted
to him, but to which he is adapted. Still
the physical world evidently is fitted to
his welfare; plant and animal, atmos-
phere and mineral, have a wonderful
relation to his individual and social ad-
vancement. And should We ask in what
does this advancement essentially con-
sist-we arc led at Onco to the conception
of moral and spiritual purpose in the
material world, and though it may not
be the absolute end for which the uni
verso of nature around us exists, at least
ono of tn highest conceivable ends
which it serves, as platform or theatre
Of spiritual development, field for the
and education OF the profound
est elements Of our being. This mech
anism of seed-time and harvest assumes
q grand significance whom considered in
its relations to such q purpose. 1t does
so in the first place in the forms of beau
ty which arc IN Autumn 80 rife. True it
is the period of decay, and there arc
associations in tho land
scape. Yet where is mutability linked
with 80 much loneliness, and when has
decay such a gorgeous death-chamber
as amidst tho scenery spread around rs?
Why is there such an abundance Of
beauty We can conceive world desti-
tute Of it. We can argue no need why
The leaves before th0y die should take
the hues OF tho rainbow. They might
shrink at once into their yellow shrouds,
and fall. We find no reason in the no
costly of things, why our atmosphere
should be thrOngod with such gorgeous
tints as those which gather at the gates
Of sunset. We will rear flowers because
they are beautiful, and gaze long upon
. landscape because it thrills US with
delight. And Autumn illustrates such
> purpose, also, in its suggestions of hu-
man frsilty. Beautiful as nature then
is, its beauty is mixed with decay. This
always referred to as emblem
Aticsl Of our mortality and mono of these
trueisms have lost their solemn peni-
.encc. Go forth into the woods and
folds; whore, with o strange stiffness,
nature is passing through glory to do
,ay, and think Of tho Autumn seasons of
his world and all that pertains to it,
rom tho cycles of the ancient Garth to tho |
stubblc, and tho dying leaf. |
Think Of tho forms Of beauty tho express
ion of lOvo, tho symbols Of flowers that
rave budded and ripened, and gathered
o themselves attractivoncss and splen-
lor, and sunk away. But what Of our
Tho spring leaves take
he place OF those which dropped in Au-
umn, but the identical leaf that now
alls quivering to tho ground raturns no
moro. We are a. the leaf in all that
pertains to us, but wo possess o spiritual
onciousness and capacity which these
forms Of matter do not have.
sut still further the material universe
> only vehicle Of q moro essential
ife. Tie moral work that COOS on in it,
he moral results that arc developed,
hese are the chief facts. And il every
hing is not rs clear in tho material uni
erse, lot us remember that tho moral
,orld has wider sweep, and runs out
a other relations. And while We must
OF forget the elements Of free will that
lay in it for our consolation and our
nth, we may remember that the world
{ humanity, no less than the world OF
hysical scicnce,is governed, and that u
ivine power conducts our individual
1t as we'll as the process of seed, or
ne cycles of leaf. So we need never
elieve that our affections and endeavors
70 sown In vain, they live under our
lortal infirmatics, under disease and
cath, to ripen in the season Of immor- 9
Ility. But surely We shall discover
lat . great spiritual purpose is carried
,rward in the processes Of the physical
'orld, If, Is We stand among these sy mbols
the dying year, We feel moro intense
, the value OF our existence and tho
eight of our responsibility; If in its
Of earthly frailty it quickens
) 70 prepare for mortal vicissitude. and Z
? its shadowy tints leads rs with .
eencr sense Of need, and . moro hearty {
18th, to that revealed truth Of Ono who 9