The Worthington advance., 1880-09-02
THOUGHTS ON MAN.
By J. B. HOAG, II. d.

-Obse,vvr.
THOUGHTS ON MAN.
By J. B. HoAG, II. D.
Man is essentially an animal. He be.
longs to that class Of the works Of crea-
ton that possess an animated existence.
Vegetables have life as well as animals,
but they possess no consciousness, nor
sensation or the powers Of locomotion.
The human race possess many faculties
and characteristics in common with ami
mails that are below 1t in the scale Of
Icing. When man eats, sleeps, rests,
defends himself or his progeny and
propagates his kind, he accomp]ishes
what all animals do.
The faculties that impel him to the
acts enumerated are essential to his being
and his wen-being and to the perpetuity
of his race. They are termed "animal
faculties" from the fact that they arc
possessed by animals of the lower order
Of creation. While they form the entire
character and nature of the brute that
perishes," they form but small part of
the character Of man.
He possesses in addition to these
others higher and nobler, that elevate
him in the scale of being and invest him
with superiority over all other animated
beings that find habitation on this
mundane globe.
Man possesses an intellect-taculties
that enable him to think, reason, study,
and investigate the laws that govern the
universe and to make achievements that
result in the happiness and welfare of
his race: By the use Of these powers,
which distinguish him from the animals
below him, he is capable Of making I'M.
provements. We cannot but look with
wonder and admiration on many of the
mechanical contrivances of tho lower
races Of animals. The construction of
the nest of the bird, the dam of the
beaver, the cell of the bee, and many
other results Of constructive animal in
stinct are specimens of skill that excite
our admiration but if we compare
those made in the nineteenth century
with those constructed in the remote
ages Of the past we shall find no change
no improvement. They were as per
feet In their construction, answered the
design for which they were formed
thousands Of years ago as completely as
do those made at the present time. The
law Of progress, of advancement and
improvement. is unknown to them.
On the other hand, we have but to
compare the primeval habitations of
our race and those still used by the peo-
pie whom, as yet, the elevating, refining
hand Of civilization has not reached, who
have failed to exercise their intellectual
powers, but, like the brute, are satisfied
with supplying tho animal wants, with
the grand, magnificent architectural
achievements of Greece and Rome, the
pa'atial residences Of the inhabitants OF
beth hemispheres, to gain an idea of the
improvements Of which man, by e1er-
else Of his intellect, is capable. For an
other illustration, compare the simple
canoe Of the Indian, the only vessel with
which he essayed to travel on water,
with the magnificent steamer that plows
the crystal waters of the fathomless
ocean.
Within the memory Of not, indeed,
the oldest inhabitant," but within the
recollection Of all who have arrived at
maturity, there is scarcely an industry
but what in reference to which the in
genuity OF man has made Improvements
in the implements used for its opera
ton. In the business Of agriculture. in
the cuisine art, in almost all mechanical
arts, improvements have been made
which facilitate the processes, save man.
ual labor, and, in most instances, i'm.
prove the quality of the material manu-.
featured.
But the ability to make improvements
in what is already in use is far from be-
ing all that proves the superiority of
man, and the possession of high, noble
intellectual powers that are evidences OF
the grand design of his creation when
he came from the plastic hand of the
great Author Of his being.
Guided by reason, man is able to find
his way across the trackless ocean where
snow.capped pillows rear their foamy
heads in awful grandeur, to travel with
almost lightning speed over mountains
and through valleys, to bring the forked
lightning from the gold-fringed clouds
Of heaven, nor let it return to its thun-
der home, but make it his messenger
from shore to shore. He is able to un-
derstand the laws that govern the plan
cts that revolve in their respective or.
bits, and ascertain with certainty the
time required for their revolutions. He
has devised means by which surgical
operatons-the amputation Of limbs
and the reduction Of dislocations-can be
ehected without pain or conscious suf-
ter1ng-in fine, to accomplish much
that Is calculated to elevate, enhance
the happiness, mitigate the su&erings,
and essentially benefit his race.
10 the present state of civilization he
has come, through the lapse of ages, by
gradual but continual steps, and the
persistent exercise Of his intellectual
abilities, emerging from condition
equal in degradation aud simplicity to
that now occupied by those whom the
genial and elevating rays Of the lumin-
ary Of science have not reached-whose
unexercised powers of intellect have been
allowed to lie dormant.
But there is another, grander, higher,
nobler class Of faculties that man pos
sesses over aud in superiority to the
brute that elevates him to the position
but little lower than the angels" Il
il his moral faculties that lead him to
honor and adore the Author Of his exist
ence, that point him to his duty and his
destiny as responsible being and plain.
ly indicate his existence in another state
Of being when this earth shall no longer
be his home. It is the exercise and cul.
hvation Of these faculties that make him
God.ike in his character. and enable
hun to comprehend his duty to his God
and respect the rights of his fenowmen.
It IL to these that the teachings of di-
vine revelation appeal. and by his be-
lug guided in his acts by the sacred
oracles elevate him to that position in
which be glorifies his Maker, and is an
honor to his race.