South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-06-25
Communication.
Fer the South Branch Iutcllisencer

Mr.. HARPER Having been called
away, l missed my weekly connection,
but will now resume my subject -Ignor-
ance-Knowledge Wisdom. 1t is a sc.
cond law of mind. that when faculty is
fully supplied, the demand for while
ceases, AID rest follows, till another sap
ply is needed; and then the faculty is
ready for action again, but with renew.
ed energy. Just as the body, after n
days fatiguing and exhausting labor,
needs rest and sleep at night; 50 each
power of the mind. after. vigorous and
continued acton, neels rest and sleep, in
order that it may regain what nervous
waste there may have been during that
time; and as after sleep the body is
fresh and vigorous, so after rest the
mental faculties are again ready for the
work which they undertake with renew.
ed energy. Hence the necessity OF two
on three widely different kinds of study
per dty, AMI of sufficient exercise, not
only 10 strengthen the body. but also to
rest and give variety to the operations of
the intellect. A third Inv is, that the
pleasures arising from the exercise Of onr
selfish and inferior faculties are at best
exceedingly short-livcd, and that their
action, unsanctioncd by higher scnti-
ments, always leaves sting behind, and
lowers the actor not only in his own es.
| timation, but also III the scale Of moral
T; being; while the normal action of the
intellectual and moral faculties satisfies
longer, aids the soul in its true develop.
ment, and tends to fit it for higher and
IL better world. " lille our animal facul-
ties, therefore, ally us to the inferior Or
der of the animal creation, and strongly
remind us of an affinity with the mean
est reptile that cr1wls in its Shiny course
beneath our feet, our superior sentiments
firmly bind us to angels and TO God, and
are III themselves sure and certain proof
Of our Immortality and.after our worn
out and clumsy bodies, having served
useful and indispensable purpose in in
dlyiduallzlng the spirits, have been left
forever behind, they shall, by kind of
moral specifi: gravity, usher those who
arc worthy, into the untold glories of an
eternal life of pure and elevated Joys,
and as the circling ages of eternity in all
their sublime grandeur roll by, they only
open up before our gaze purer ard purcr
delights, and swell the inmost spirit with
more holy AM expanded thoughts till
at last the mind bathes itsc.f in tho un
utterable projections that surround the
loving Father himself, and drinks i'm
from the pure and exhaustless fountains
of truth, those. draughts of intelligence.
spirituality and glory which are beyond
the power Of The highest earthly genius
TO comprehend, the most brilliant fancy
TO paiut ideally in its most active mo
ments, or the highest seraph in the re.
gions OF eternal day to experience. Such
then IS the nature Of the being to be ed.
ucated. How deeply important. that
every step of tue teacher and educator
be in the right direction Every human
being commences the Journey of life in
total ignorance of every thing in the uni.
verse. Man, intellectually and morally.
begins at zero, but in his subsequent
Journey through life, hc must arise 20
some height in tbC scale OF knowlcdge
and comparative morality. The yeriest
Savage has some positive knowledge. and
forms some moral standard by which he
measures actions and pronolnces them
good or bad, right or wrong. In It's very
nature, ignorance is rather negative than
positive; IL is ever fousd in its own
wrotched abodes of degradation, sorrow
aud criminality. Long and gloomy ages
of darkness, bigotry, error aud misery,
OF tho deepest dye, are past. never again,
We would fondly hope, TO return with
their blasting, cursing and withcrip1 ia.
huenccs. The worlds history cbeckercd.
varied, aud extensive though IL be. is on.
~ the record Of ignorance, misconception.
superstition and bloo1shed, here & there
illumined by the bright n,shss and plo
rious corruscations Of mental moral aud
hcaven.sent genius rising In lofty, tow
ermg aud superior grandeur amid The
surrounding aud almost overwhelming
gloom and. darkness, and on whose egai-
ted bead play, III perpetual succession,
golden and soul-re1ning beams Of tho
Purest celestial wisdom, emanatlng from
tho very centre Of all Intelligence, tho di.
vino mind itself. On every PAGE. man
has left IN legible aud flaming lines the
sd rcc0.d y! his misdoings too often