The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-06-30

sublimity TO which society has attained, in the
melodious symphonies of Beethoven sounds the des-
| tiny of glorious future
The germs of social progress were planted in the
sterile soil of antiquity. That soil gave philosophy
its BIRTH it nourished science and literature which
for season. fourished with an unnatural growth and
finally pershed in the social storms that enveoped
| them. At that time promulgated those grand,
transient individual influences which, for centuries,
buried in the debris of social convulsion, and
which sprang forth at the beginning of social
order Then civilization sacrificed to reappear
| in and more stable form.
The short span of human life does not measure the
influences it has wrought. Man dwells in years,
his deeds live in ages. Death crowns his life, while
the living germs by his hand have yet been
developed. Observe how this is eXempliied in his
tory. In science, Copernicus Kepler, and Newton
asserted truths and laws that eternal and mper-
ishable; in philosophy Aristotle Decartes and Kant
have modified the course of universal thought. De-
mosthenes has long since been dead, but his passion
ate and eloquent appeals to the human heart inspire
a voice from the tomb. Socrates died compara-
lively unknown, but the truths he uttered and the
life he lived the first links of modern philosophy
and of modern morals. The doctrines of the school
men perpetuated in the customs and religious
dogmas of modern times, The Old Dispensation pre-
sents to example of the stern justice and reent
less wrath of Divine government but by the advent
of the ncarnate Son. that justice and wrath have been
superseded by the mediation of sacrifcial Offering
Thus has Jesus Christ proclaimed the meloraton of
the human race, and given new tinge, cardinal col
oring to morals and religion.
The Mosem creed has been the product of cycled
years. the blood spilled in its defense has been its
baptismal font How great is the result of individu
al endeavor! How far reaching the influence of hu-
man power! Mahomet still lives in the Islam faith.
See how the magic influence of the poet laureate of
Greece is wrought in the fate of the opulent, COM
mercia city of Tyre! See its tendency in the holo
caust of Persepolis whose ruins and columns still
visible on the plains of Persia. See, how through
fading centuries the spirit and inspiration of the
Iiad flashing out in the martial soul of Napoleon at
tested their strength and influence at Marengo and
AusterltZ.
Ossian and Merlin and the bards of Wales chanted
requiems over their cUultry's disasters and cele-
brated in song their nations fortunes. 1t
of these appeals to the emotions and passions of the
sturdy Welshman, that Wales so long maintained
her independence against Roman Consul and Saxon
King The Eisteddfod of Wales the song festivals
of America!
The spirit of the trainers of constitution engen
dered by the despotic tyranny of George III has
yielded the nearest approach to liberty in the annals
of worlds history. The odium that becouded its
purity has been forever banished, and the natures
and strength of the Union tried and tested by the
sword. Here is a precedent for futurity, which is
destined to be embodied in the unwritten law of
nation, and a prestige which will be imperishaby
wrought into the education of its people.
The civilization of antiquity, has, by those same
elements that kneled its DEATH given birth to present
society. Her temples. with their gods and dem1-
gods have yielded cathedras for universal worship
philosophy her transient splendor and magnifcence
determined the character of our institutions; her
hates and passions replaced by the temple of JUS
tce and the arbitrament of reason Her customs and
laws and Institutions the monuments of her former
grandeur and her former weakness looming up
dead, material emblems of ancient commoton and
progress possessed active that has survived
their fall and in forms, has contributed to the
of society.
Society has furnished the material for its own
growth. Like living sentent being, alive with fac
uties of taste and WILL it has secreted those elements
that adapted to its wants, and excreted those that
violated its nature 1t was nurtured and sustained
by individuals who erected that fragile foundation
which the greatest monument that shall attest the
character of man, was to be laid.
Thus society stands bridging the ages of mortality
babel of diverse elements, the only true and eternal
monument of mans degradation and of mans gran
deur. What 1t has been can be seen in the assures
that have rent its surface and in the riveted clamps
that hold it firmly together. What it will be- re-
mains with he it is who shall write the doom of
and the destiny of nations in the scroll of tme
which it is unfoded to the light of Heaven
and the eager gaze of angelic choirs, shall resound
the echoes of Earth there to be acclaimed throughout
all eternity. Human influenced Who has measured
its power? Who will limit its extent?
..In alcoves death, in the charnels of time,
here fit the gaqnt spectres of passion and crime
There are heroes yet silent to speak with its tongue
The human creature and the human SOUL The |
mortal and the immortal Theone crowned with the |
imprints of age and ending with the grave the other
crowned with the wreath immortelles and living in
eternity! 1t is the soul that eXcaims it the
triumph of time the material temple that shell
tered it, animated by its worthiest and noblest emo
tions and upheld by the tread of timethe past with
Its results the present with its joys and the future
with its hopes,-it is the soul that exclaims in such
exultant tones, 80, Death, where is thy sting. o |
Grave, where is thy yictory.'