Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-14

1t is an age of advancement and mem
tai activity. 1t is not time for mem
tai sluggishness or unstable characters.
| The freedom OF thought and activity of
mind OF the present often lead to seri-
GUS error, mental unrest, and unsettled
principles. SO called science too often
dethrones conscience. We study the
wonders OF nature and existence too
often without the uplifted eye, the rev.
erent mind, the consecrated heart
Too often we lose ourselves among
| the intricate mysteries of atoms and
protoplasm, and forget that the spear of
grass points upward, that ''the heavens
declare the glory of God; and the
hrmanent sheweth his handiwork.
Too often our eyes remain riveted
upon natures marvels and we fail to
allow them to gaze through nature up
to natures God
There was time when personal con-
/ tact, personal dangers, aud personal
responsibility were far more limited
than now. Men might drift then in the
| placid current of life or sleep in their DOR
mant conditions with but little danger.
But now error and evil are all about
us, and are thrust upon us by the my
Rad facilities of press, and telegraph,
and railroad, and machinery With all
the grand achievements and conyen-
fences of modern science and invention
there also come insidious dangers, far
more potent than we realize The
capacities of evil are vastly increased
| by the improvements of the present
century. We need to be particu-
/ To sxf flt., 4f
others aud the evil Influences upon our
selves.
1t is IN age when peeuniary excite
ment prevails. Impelled by the intlu-
ence of precedent and public opinion,
the young man enters business life feel
ing that his chief aim is to amass wealth.
He realizes that the public are watch
ing eagerly 10 see, not so much what
culture, or breadth Of intellect, or moral
worth he may attain, but what money
he may acquire. wonder, then, that
he is tempted to use dishonest means
to reach what he supposes to be the
goal of life; no wonder that he learns
with interest what the inventions and
discoveries of the age are doing to
facilitate dishonesty, how it abounds in
business, in society and in public life;
and his moral sense generally grows
duller until his life, perchanee, ends in
disgrace and moral ruin. Many ten
| denotes of the times conspire to degrade
conscience and destroy character; or, at
least, to dwarf the grand possibilities
of moral greatness that are the price.
less Inheritance of all. In view OF
these facts, can the friends of ''the Good,
the True and the Beautiful in human
lives be too diligent in sowing seeds
that may germinate into strong moral
| principles?
| Every instrumentality for Installing
such principles and developing pure
characters, should be carefully cherished
and jealousy guarded. The influence
of home circle and press should be
utilized rs they never have been for
the incubation of right motives of hui
man conduct. The public schools
should prove strong factor in the grand
work of morally uplifting the rising gen
Grafton. Valuable lessons may be de-
rived from the facts OF history, the beau
ties OF science, and the truths of philoso-
ply. The discipline of the school, the
social relations of its members, ''the
/
and the tone of its work, should be
helpful Ia the formation of good char
acter.
And, in this connection, / believe
that the highest moral Influences can
not be realized without recognition of
the fundamental verities of the Chris
tian religion. Sectarian instruction
should not be given; but neither
should the teacher ignore the two great
thoughts: The Infinite Excellence and
Moral Supremacy of the Creator, and
the Personal Freedom and Moral Re
sponsbility of Man.
Prof. Huxley, (who cannot be sup
posed to be be partial TO Christianity
after giving special attention to this
subject, thus expresses his convictions:
"My belief is that no human being,
and no society composed of human
beings, ever did, or ever will come to
much, unless, their conduct was govern
ed and guided by the love of some
ethical ideal. And il | were compelled
to choose for one of my own children,
between school in which religious in
struetion is given, and one without it,
| should prefer the former, even though
the child might have to take n good
deal of theology with it. ! have always
been strongly in favor Of secular educa-
ton, in the sense of education without
theology; but | must confess that
have been no less seriously perplexed
to know by what practical measures
the religious telling, which is the essen
tial basis of conduct, was to be kept up,
in the present utterly chaotic state OF
opinion on these matters, without the
use Of the bible.
Intimately related to the public
schools is the SABBATH Schools, winch
aims to 90 farther in the work of moral
and religious education 1t is fitting
that we celebrate to-day the clos
or union Of mental and moral edu.
cation that we acknowledge tho
intimate alliance of these two great
agents of human promotion There
can scarcely be too great diligence
in developing The powers of the
brain; but constant care is needed that
these powers do not become perverted,
and thereby instruments of evil, by the
prevalence of false and pernicious
opinions, and the neglect of moral
training.
: We can scarcely labor too zealously
in our Sabbath Schools for the inculca-
ton Of firm and satisfactory religious
faith; we can hardly direct our teaching
too practically and forcibly; but it is
well that onr zeal should be according
to knowledge, aud that we should al
ways recognize as an ally, and treat
with hearty cooperation and generous
support those instrumentalities of men
tai training which giycltolcharactcr inllu.
ence and potency against the powers
of evil.
"What Shall the Harvest Be- was
then rendered by the choir after which
, a history of the Sunday School was read
by the Superintendent, Mrs. w. Barlow
A well committed and pleasantly de.
liyercd recitation. ''The Changed
Gross, by Miss Flora Rothschild. fol
lowed, succeeding which came a Duet
by Mrs. and Miss Mitchell that formed
a pleasing variation to the programme
a dialogue, "Did Jesus Love Tnem?''
by Nellie Altizer and Cora Staplelor
followed, in which the two wee ones
acquitted themselves handsomely.
The next number was an extremely
pleasing address on The Sunday School
OF Today, by Mr.. Chas. j. Russell