Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-06-26
Address of the Hon Clarke Lewis,
Ddirered at the StRqUoiak College
.TuRe LIST. 1886.
Young Loitcs cf the Phtfomdthe""
Society, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Society, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In an atmosphere of intellectual cul'
turc and moral development, II seems
not inappropriate that | should att
dress YOU on the subject of tho pro-
grcss OF intellectual ideas; lustltutlnS
a comparison between intellectual and
moral ideas, which bear m msepara'
BILE. though not always equal, relation
one TO the other.
The decalogue enumerated by inc
great al am" announced TO the world
a moral code, rs perfect rs the bcihs
who uttered it. Unchanged aud I'M
changeablc IA the source from whence
il cmanatcd, il should have borne
fruit in the heart OF humanity, III cv-
ery age and in every zone. But nci-
thcr the voice of God nor the thundcrs
of Sinai, penetrate minds darkened oy
ignorance and enthrallcd by snpersll-
ton. even commandments, divine ID
conception and matches in wisdom,
fall ~liiclcss upon the arid and sterile
waste. Though bearing the physical
image of their Creator, no evidence OF
that higher relationship can be traced
till civilization sheds IFS radiant llght
over the dark precincts OF unlutored
mind, While it cannot be tru'htulIv
asserted, that the moral Improvement
OF the world has advanced, "pari pas
su." with its intellectual ideas, yet tho
extent of the former is graduated i'll
no small degree by the advance OF the
latter, Intellectual advancement bears
an inscparablc relation TO knowledge,
and prepares the mind for those great
truths that undcrlic civilization, an"
upon which is reared the beautiful ia
brio of social government.
The knowledge Of our relations one
TO another, and to Him who created
Us is purely intellectual the willing
ness to discharge all the duties impll-
ed bv these relations is entirely moral.
The closer and more firmly. howcr-
cr, these two forces are bound togcth-
cr, the more harmonious Will be ON
lives with the great purposes Tor
which we were created, aud the more
certainly will we lay II tirm foundation
for the advancement OF ourselves, ana
those among whom our lives nave iaI'
len. The history of the World proves
that of these two forces, the lhteIlcctu'
nj has been the mort active the more
progressive. The acquisitions made
bv the intellect in every civilized
country have been carefully preserved,
Systematically formulated, ana hahu-
cd down from II generation to an
other. They thus influence rcmoleHl
postcrity, become the common lnlleri-
lance OF mankind, the immortal lega-
cy of the minds to which lhcy owe
their birth.
The principal dogmaS OF moral sys-
tens have undergone bat little change
in course of the past two thousand
year., and cycn from the time OF the
composition of the rcnlatclcll, the
rules of moral conduct have been but
little improved but, in the progress
of intellectual ideas, each succeeding
age has added something new to the
province OF knowledge, has discover
ed new principles of philosophy, Great.
ed new sciences and invented new
arts. The educators in intellectual
ideas have always enjoyed a irccr
scope and wider range than the teach
crs of moral ideas.
Although Calico was tortured on
account of his declaration that the
world was round and rcNo,ved on It's
axis, still the blood of nartyrdom was
not required TO stamp on this great
truth the badge of It's regal birth.
Scores and hundreds OF the DISSENT
nators of moral ideas have marched
to the stake freely, aye, joyously sui
Icring immolation TO advance inc
great principles OF when 'hey were
noble cXcmplars, rather IMAM seek rel
uge in an apostacy when 'hclr hearts
abhorrcd, 10 sue heroes OF the sun.
lime questions OF conscience the wore
has confessed n great dcbt OF grail
tudc, and.thclr memories nave pee
embalmcd in the hearts OF succeeding
generations. Their examples stn I'VE
to point the way to higher iiel9lts OF
moral greatness. anu demonstrate inc
power and courage oil moral coh'lc,
ton. There is, however another ana
still larger class, to whom the world
owes an equal, but unpaid, dcbt OF
homage. ! mean those brave ana pa
iicnt toilers IN intellectual llcldS, VINO
far in advance of the aye IN which
they lived, struggled on, not only un'
appreciated and nnrewardcd; but OF
ten m%altrCutpd and prosecuted. Even