The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-06-08


King of four centuries ago.
The material comforts of the King
four centuries ago were fewer than
those of the common man of to-day.
His palace was usually frame of
massive timber, resembling the in
verted hull of a large ship. 1t had
no chimney or glass windows. The
home of the common man of to-day,
is a shapely structure decked with
the ornaments of architectural skill.
We find great difference in the
manner of communication in the
days of Columbus and in our day.
In place of a bottomless road called
the Kings highway, behold the
great network of railroads covering
the civilized lands of to-day.
Now turn to the intellectual adj
vantages he possesses. The King of
the 18th century was'steeped in su-
perstition and ignorance of his age.
But what has modern education
done for the mind? 1t has unveil-
ed the beauties and the sublimities
of nature with which the heavens
and the earth are adorned and pla.
ced before even the poorest the
book of nature in which all may
learn the lineaments o. Gods char
acter and the ways ofhis providence.
1t has exalted our ideas of the ON
impotence of Deity and unfolded to
us the riches of His beneficence and
the depths of His love. In the ex-
erclse of His powers upon such OBJ
jects the common man of to-day
may experience thousand delight
full emotions and enjoyments to
which the King was an entire stran-
ger.
Who is not lost in admiration as
he behOlds the beauty of Nature in
the works of Whittier, Holmes and
LongfellOw. But it is not alone,in
the realms of nature that we behold
the poets gracious art. See him as
he reveals to us the inner springs
of human life. How marvellous the
genius of the dramatist who gave
US the picture of Miranda, the gen.
tie child of nature so innocent and
pure. And how deep the insight
that could produce such character
as Lady McBeth.
What privilege it is to be the
heir of the works of such an artist
as Milton, who descending dips his
brush in the black mire of the pit
and paints that NEST terrible pic
ture Paradise Lost, and ascending
dips his brush in the brilliant hues
of the rainbow and paints that most
hopeful picture, Paradise Regained.
The browning distinction between
the King of 1892 and the Kisgs of
1892 is to be found in the difference
of their religious environments.
The church of 1892 took from the
people, the Bible, the Christians
only guide and comfort. 1t turned
him from the door Of mercy and
compelled him to speak to his
Heavenly Father by proxy.
The King was not allowed to
read the Bible, but to-day the pau
per may read it. TO the poor Lap
lander in his tent made of skins it
comes warning his frozen heart
TO the unfortunate inhabitant OF
the Tropics it comes with a refresh
ing influence.
The manifold, the incompatible
blessings of Protestant Christianity
have been received during the past
four centuries. AS we thus COM
pare the condition Of the King of
1852 with that of the common man
of to-day the stories of the changes
seem like Fairy Tales or dreams of
the Arabian Nights, or the fantas-
tic imaginings of the opium eater.
But they are simple history.
Cheered by the precious patrlmo-
ny to which we are the heirs let us
provide for those who shall follow
us even a,richer heritage to be the
cause of a .ju6iiee at the next quad
ricentenuial of the discovery of
America.
Freely have we receired. Freely
let us gice.
Essay-"God and Nature Met in
Light" by Miss Jennie McColloch.
She spoke first about physical
light, as being the first thing the
eye sees. at must be first because
it is necessary to the seeing of the
rest of nature" 1t is light that lifts
the darkness and reveals nature in
all its beauty and grandeur. Then
light as revealing method every
where in all the different forms OF
nature. Then light as color. A