Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-04-21
WORDS OF WISDOM.
Synopsis Of the Address Delivered by Faith.
or Callins Before the Institute.

BY request of superintendent, Rev. Father
Collins addressed the members Of the Institute
OH Friday afternoon during the institute on
knowledge is Power" The reverend gentle
man, to the evident satisfaction of the large au-
dience present, spoke subst antially as follows.
A celebrated French author Of the last centn-
~ said. give me the composing of the peoples
songs and / care not who makes their avs" In
cur day we can say with even greater force,
give us the education of the youth of the whole
world and we will not be solicitous who are the
law makers. For behind and above. -eyery law
worthy of the name, there should be the sane
ton OF the peoples Judgment founded on con-
science. justice and charity. AT present survey
the planet from China to Peru and everywhere
are found different systems of religion. In truth
the earth and sea combined are one vast grave
yard in which the Kingdoms and empires of the
past are buried. Human history from Nimrod
to Jefferson Davis is nothing but the rise and
fail of empires. Kingdoms and states. Underdi-
vine providence may We ask what has been the
occasional and efficient cause of all these chang
cs in the worlds history? From the wise Of all
nations comes the general answer. education or
knowledge is Power" Why are the II, 00O,0 600
of human beings, living at this moment on the
surface OF this planet, called jew or Gentle,
Catholic or Protestant, Mohammedan or hea-
then? Precisely because from their very tender
youth up the people are scl,ooled and taught to
be such.
At present there is going on throughout this
world, amongst all classes of the human race.
changes. religious, social and political. Wise
indeed are those nations which direct the cur
rents of those changes into the channels Of an
enlightened civilization aud a Christlike-christi-
anity. The time is most Opportune, therefore
the world over for people who are wise and prl-
dent to consider what are the sources Of this
knowledge that Will favor the pure cause OF God,
man and country. The foundation of this wis
dom may be called right reason. divine educa-
ton and accurate observation through the five
senses of the body: sight, taste. smell. hearing
and feeling. BY right reason we can i~nfallibly
assert 2N2 makes four. and not five or six. Even
by reason we caildemonstrate the existence of
a supreme, intelligent being by looking around
Oh this universe with all its harmony, grandeur
and magnifcence. All this world is an effect
which of necessity must have a proportionate
and efficient cause, as a building OF any kind
necessarily pres,iposes a builder or architect.
II is natural enough for us to love those who do
us good. 1t is required, however. some source
of knowledge above this natural reason to teach
and enforce the precept which commands to re-
turn good for evil and love your enemies. And
this is the pith and the marrow. the sum and the
substance of christian revelation. This whole
universe is the furnished mansions in which the
supreme being resides. Our yery'sOuls are made
partakers Of this divine nature and looks out
through the five windows Of the body on the
beauties Of the house OF the living God. Our
Knowledge thus obtained. to be a power must,
however. be arranged systematically on the four
corner stones OF christian truth, christian puri-
ty, christian justice and christian charity. On
~ this kind Of knowledge can be n real power III
the great cause Of God. man and country, for
time and eternity. At the conclusion Of the adj
dress, which last forty minutes, a very hearty
vote Of thanks was offered. to which the reycr-
end father responded in a happy manner.-Bliz-
card.