Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-16
Thoughts of a Day

The following extract has been hand
ed us for publication. 1t is worthy of
consideration us bringing out very
plainly the great contrast that exists
between the present condition of our
civilization and that which existed inthe
world but a thousand years ago, and
shows the progress which has been made
since that time. One thousand years
ago Not very long when viewed
from one standpoint Ten men living
eighty years each would almost span it,
if their lives were spent consecutively.
Yet what an abyss of more than
Egyptian darkness does ii bridge over !.
Within that time we as a race have
been raised from the condition of mere
savages to what we are pleased to con-
slider the highest grade of civilization
ever known. And what has done it +?
Innumerable ways and means have
been suggested by innumerable "men
of genius" but they nearly all have
hardly been of more effect than an
April shower III making the ocean.
There has been but one regenerating
and cultlvating influence at work, at
all times since upon the destiny of the
race, which could be said to have
brought all this about. That is Re-
ligion, and the Christian religion.
This instinct, for so it might be term
ed. exists as naturally in the natures
of people as does the instinct of self
preservation. Our race has been bless
ed with religion which has tended to
elevate us. 1t has done its work well.
Under its encouraging influence alone
could genius have worked untrammell-
ed. The making of paper was an art
more important than painting and soul
pture and supplied want, lnarticulate
yet struggling mute within the bosom of
the aggressive northern tribes as un-
deniable as that which prompted those
arts in Greece and Italy. After that
could follow printing with all its at.
tendant benefits. This alone raised us
from the Stygian ignorance described
in the following article:
I'm the year 900 after Christ what was
the state of Europe? The GOths, the
Vandals, the Franks, the Nuns, the Nor
mans, the Turks and other barbaric
hordeS had invaded and overthrown the
Roman empire, and had established
various Kingdoms upon its ruins. Read
inc. writing and ciphering were separate
and distinct trades. The masses of the
poor and rich alike were wholly unac-
uudllJSu WIFI LuC HiyolCllCo VI lIlt
alphabet and the pen. A few men
known as clerks" who belonged to the
priesthood. monopoliZed all learning and
set themselves up as special artists.
Kings did not know how to even sign
their names. When they wanted to
sign a written contract. law or treaty
which some "clerk" had drawn up for
them. they would smear the right hand
with ink, and slap it down on the parch-
ment. saying, witness my hand" At
later date some genius devised the
substitute of the seal, which was i'm
pressed instead of the hand, but often
er beside the hand; hence the law
phrase, Witness my hand and SEAL"
At the date of which we write every
gentleman had seal with peculiar
device thereon. There were no CHM
neys in use; the fire was built in the
centre of the house, the smoke escaping
through hole in the roof. Chairs
were unknown. knives and forks were
unknown. Even the nobility sat on
boxes and blocks and ate meat with
their fingers"