Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-12
EDUCATION.
Address Delivered Before the 1o'
tus Literary Society Of Bethel
Female College by Rev. A.
W. Meaoham,
April, 30.

has DCCll lllC W
the sage, the philosopher, the poet, and
the orator. 1t humanizes the savage,
elevates man above the brute, subli-
mates the soul, and makes the desert
of ignorance blossom as the rose.
Without it man would he a law
less, remorselcss savage, and while
standing on the verge of eternity,
he in all probability would embrace
the dreadful hope of annihilation.
Without education society would be
Invested OF its dearest charms and
brightest ornaments. 1t is the gold
en- chain which links virtue, friend
ship, honor and religion together.
and binds man fast to the throne of
God.
Look at that nation which is desti.
tute Of the moral refinement which
education creates! 1t is barbarous
aud inhuman and bound in the fet-
tiers of an uarelenting despOtism, and
its unhappy millions are incarcerat-
cd in the dungeon of ignorance.
They sit in solitude and silence
drinking the bitter dregs of sorrow
and listening to the music Of their
chains. They live like the beasts
that perish, and are doomed to drag
out an existence more intOlcrable
than the torments Of the rack, the
wheel and the cross.
Behold that nation upon whose
brow, Intelligence sits enthroued
Liberty walks in the robe of majesty,
and breaths defiance upon the tyranrs
head.
Society rises to almost angelic
perfection, purity and refinement, the
voice of kindness is music, the So
cial and christian circle is Heaven.
The cline of such a country be-
comes genial and luxuriant, the soils
generous and prolific, the atmosphere
fragrant, the Heavens smile, and the
mamma falls, and nature is prodigal
other gifts.
Such a country is patented by the
Deity to be the land of the free
the abode of the brave, the asylum Of
the oppressed, and the home of the
stranger.
HC hCuib Olldt NlOCo llOl lONC SuCll q
country must be as hard as adamant
Such country may be emphaticalI y
styled the mirror of fashion the
flower of the world, the land of re.
demptiOn, of song, and of science
where benevolence is as boundless a:
the universe, and virtue as cloudles,
as eternity.
Cast your eyes over the map of TIN,
ancient world, which was once radan
with the light of science, and gloweC
with the stars Of philosophy, wher,
literature held an imperial sway, anC
genius reigned omnipltent will
her golden wand.
Amid the fallen temples, broker
arches, and crumbled pyramids o
Greece, Alexandria and Rome, we cal
trace the first steps of the sage, tn,
historian, the philosopher, the poe
and the orator, whose minds wert
illuminated by the rays of the sun Of
science.
Palmyra, was once the wonder o
the world, the emporium of science
the envy of her neighbors, the them,
of the orator, and the song of TIL,
poet.
Amid her magnificent ruins, W,
can trace her former greatness ant
glory, from which the light of scienc,
boamed like the beautiful aurora bore
ais, which lights the northern sky.
Rome was once the imperial mis-
tress of the world she has sunk be
meath the oppression Of time, her lus
ter is furnished, her strength is ener
waited, her beauty is faded and he
glory departed, sine sits the lone wild
ow Of the seven hills, amid fallel
temples and ruined palaces, sur
rounded by widespread desolatior
and the eXpanse of ruin. The glor
Of science, like a beautiful diaden
hovers over the tomb of her depart
ed greatness.
Athens, the alma Mater of the lii
erary world, the city of the gods, til
nursery of philosophers, the cradle {
science, she lives in song, and glow
upon the page of history her rays c
light have broken in upon The worl
like the sun from a dark and cloude
day.
America, the blooming paradise {
the world, the abode of civilized an
christianized mani she is destined t
give character to the unknown mi
lions of other nations, she may civ
birth to another Washington who's
deeds an | moral achievements, an
god-like actions will immortalize hi
name, and reflect glory upon tn
annals of time. Here the temples {
christianity, and Of science rear thei
lofty submits amid the clouds. Frol
these shall flow streams that sha
christianize the heart, and fertili1
the mind.
The seeds of knowledge are germ
mating and when transplanted in ii
garden ofGOd shall flourish in fadelei
bloom imam without education is onl
grade higher than the brute, wit
it he is little less than the tallest scrap
that stands by the throne of God.
Without education the mind
man is developed in chaotic darkness
1t is like the wreck of some might
vessel drifting upon the returnle,
waves of time, with it man is ftte
for the highest circles of society, qua
flied for welding the destinies of
nation and plotting the ship of h
country through every storm.
Intelligence is the ornament an
center of the social world, it is Il
guard and bulwark of nations.
preserves untarnished the sacre
shrine of liberty, it protects Il
sanctuary from pollution an
abomination, it shields the alta
from unholy sacrifices, it defends IL
ark of the people from proclamation
and will stand as an unwasting MOI
ument amid the jars of nations an
the revolutions of time; the ligh
nings may entwine about ii, bl
around its summit the thunders wi
harmlessly play.
The mind must be cultivated {
the husbandman cultivates the field
it must be prepared for the receptio
of the seeds of knowledge. Tn
preparation is not the work of da
nor a week. The individual that a,