The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-11

many present failed to carry with him
to his home those pleasing remembran-
ces which will always remain a part of
bis mental constitutional source of happi-
ness as in after years his mind leverts
To the scenes and associations of his
youth, mental gem more brilliant and
vivid than like impressions of later
years. These bright jewels of the
mind. these remembrances of an inno-
cent and happy past experience. embedd-
ed as 1t were in the very structure of the
mind. determine in Il great measure the
degree of happiness which that mind
will enjoy and also the character of its
moral development. The more abund-
ant these bright gems of memory,
the happier, the noblcr the man.
But what shall we say of that life. where
by false education, or unfortunate sur
roundings, these bright mental gems are
found wanting? where the mental store
house is filled only with the memory of
experiences of dark and somber hue.
with memories of a misspent life. or of
monllish penances which a false relg-
ion may have imposed? with memories
of the requirement of that false religious
educati IN which would repress, would
blot out rather than guide that youthful
vivacity, that joyous spirit which God has
implanted in the young of his creation,
and thus cripple and deform that germ
which its Maker designed should devel-
op into noble manhood and womanbood?
The horticulturist who places a heavy
weight upon the oaken tw @ in his nur-
sery, or unwisely and persistently prunes
away its natural growth. finds that it
soon becomes weak and shriveled de-
formity. Or.placing a weight only upon
it. it may by its inherent vitality shoot
of in tangent, pass the weight and de-
Velop. but only as vegetable deformi-
ty, an unsightly blemish upon the face.
of nature. And so. too those little germs
of humanity, which their Creator intrusts
to our care, may, by like depressing
process. be dwarfed and crippled in their
mental and moral growth, and in the
name and under the forms of religion
develop only into an unsightly, moral
blcmish upon the face of society Pure
ana unspottcd, bearing the mental image
of their Maker. they may by this unnat-N
ural process be developed into narrow.
bigotcd, hypocriti, al, sanctimonious.
cOnccitcd, pcnuriouS. untruthful. envious.
malicious human dcformtics. disgrace
to the society in which they live. Or. ms
germ is endowed with superior natural
force and ability it may break through
these unnatural barriers To its develop
ment. and shooting oil as it were in "A
tangent, becomes a swindlcr. Il thief or
even Jesse James. We trust that the
occasion described, with its pleasing So
cial features. is but one of many of its
kind which the future has in store for the
people of Whiting. There is cause for
in view of the bright So
clal and religious prospect before us. 1t
Is sincerely to be hoped that those intlu-
ences which in time past have SO citectu-
ally hlndered our religious, social and
even educational development are so far
removed that they cannot in future pre-
vent that united. harmonious effort so
essential To sue cess in any cause. The |
spirit OF harmony which now prevails |
mas IN a great measure been secured by
the efforts of the Rev. Wilmot Mayhew. |
pastor OF the Union society, who has
many reasons for encouragement in his |
work. IT, indeed, as the ministerial
council Just held in this place very sage
~ decided it is a sin to preach to mem
bcrs of other denominations and the
worlds people outside of a church dedi- |
Gated to their faith and order" then is |
r.Mayhew sinner above all others who !
have preceded him. because of the larg-
cr audience to which he breaches. He is
doing good work. and his services are
appreciated. His salary has been adj
he has fine church cdiilce at his
service, with parsonage, one of the best
choirs in the State aided by fine toned
pipe organ, one Of the largest Sabbath
schools ever organized in the community,
and, what is still more important, the
confidence and esteem of nearly the en-
tire community. May a well-mcritcd
success crown his labors. -+*