Evening journal., 1892-10-24
WILSON ON COLUMBUS.
The ex-Presiding Elder Speaks
in Association Hall.
LESSONS FROM A LORDLY IIFE'

Dr. John A. Ii. Wilson Tells an Audience
of Mechanics and workmen OF the
PrayerfuI Diligence OF Columbus and
That He Was Directed by Gods Hand.
The American Mechanics we're as.
sembled at the hall Of the Young Mems
Christian association yesterday afternoon
on the occasion of the Columbian cele.
bration. After the various exercises and
music suitable for the occasion Rev.
John A. b. Wilson, ID. d., OF Eighteenth
street, New York, was introduced, who
said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN, appreciate the honor Of this in
vitation and trust you may not have oc-
cnsion TO regret the choice you have
made.
am glad TO be in the presence Of that
force which moves the world. Young
manhood as represented by this associa-
| tion. am glad to find before me this
hand Of brothers into whose fellowship
was admitted In the town Of North East.
Nd, in the year 1877 Though not
actively associated with its service since
| 1878. yet l have never forgotten the
pleasant associations of that delightful
period. IL is a great event we celebrate
and IL is uniting the occasion that we
thus meet. Anne lean working men as
the guests Of the young men, represent
ing the INSTRUMENTATION Christianity
Of this continents addressed by one OF
your own number whose early years
were spent in the same pursuit as that Of
the great sailor whose achievements we
recount
The Fifteenth century was pivotal
period In the life OF the world. The
polarity Of the magnet discovered In the
Middle Ages was for the first time practi-
cally applied in 1903 and this opened the
way TO the maritime enterprise, which is
80 conspicuous feature Of this century.
Art and architecture in all their depart
ments were everywhere reviewed.
Houses were made better and more com
Portable, churches more magnificent,
linen and wooden manufactures took the
plnce Of the coarse fabrics Of the Dark
Ages, utensils Of all kinds were improved.
music became elaborate as the present
system OF notation was adopted, sculp-
ture and painting arose TO a perfection
never since equalled and rivalling the
masterpieces Of Rome. Different schools
Of art made rival centers OF Florence.
Venice, Milan ard Rome Michael
Angelo, Correggio, the Canacci, and Raph-
ael are TO this day the worlds great
masters, while the Flemish artists, with
Rubens at their head, were scarcely in
ferior 30 the Italians.
Socially and politically the world was
astir The crusades had destroyed the
feudal system and the people, aroused 10
a consciousness Of their own powers,
were learning the principles Of combina-
tion. The discovery of the art Of print.
ing In 1440 furnished the facilities for
and gave a new impulse to learning.
While the taking Of Constantinople by
the Turks in 1853 and the complete over
throw OF the Christian empire OF the
East gave 90 Europe the schoolmasters
, she needed driven out from the schools
and libraries Of the East by the Aoham-
meden triumph were the great scholars
OF the world, who found a ready asylum
in the Western kingdoms and a welcome
TO their universities. Hence the revival
Of learning and the scholastic ambition
which appears in this period.
, There needed TO be a new arena upon
3 which the coming issues might be tried
I and the overshadowing problems Of civ
ilization be wrought upon without de-
4 traoting influence OF the old order OF
things The peace and safety Of the
b world demanded a new field Of opportun-
4 ity under new conditions, a safetyvalvs
4 for the unrest Of the race. A chance
I where new thoughts might gather mo-
10 mentum for continuous action without
too sudden arrest from under and over.
I mastering contact with the effete thi gs
y that we're.
e Whatever is necessary for human de-
g velopment appears always in the fullness
OF time and punctual to the hour arises
= the man, and when a continent was
S needed and new world wanted the hour
Z and the man arrived together. The man
y Columbus, from life Of discipline not
understood by himself, but every factor
d Of which was necessary TO ft his angular
being to some feature Of the responsi.
bility so that when ripened for this
J. work, his work was ripe for him. The
I world groaning TO give birth to a
new era he stood at the crossing Of the
. ages the man Of the period whose touch
should usher the era and turn the world
from medieval to modern times. How
wonderful the life Of him whose exist.
ence thus marks distinct epoch In the
life Of the globe,
,tf Who can study the life and labors OF
=, columbus WITHOUT unuluB new luuSlrd
? tion Of the words Of Mary before the
!, sacred advent. "He hath put down the
:, mighty from their seats and exalted
them of low degree" There was a litera
4 ful6lment Of this declaration the nobility
y Of Genoa, Of Venice, Of Portugal, OF
= Spain and Of the world against him, and
:, the high places occupied by those who
I, wrapped in self sufficiency even question
z ed his vanity. Yet this one Of low
= degree triumphed over them all, and
u though robbed Of the fruit Of his
=, triumph by their envy during life, YET
, the glory Of that achievement blaze'
this day across the abyss Of four centur
T., les like a central sun at the zenith; anC
~ the world does homage TO the memory Of
the man who dared to live a century be
fore his time.
, The history Of Columbus is before III
- and behind us and all about US, let NJ
n apply our minds to the lessons i
= teaches.
N Lessons OF Interest
ss gentlemen, to those like yoi
ID and me who have had our owl
i. way to make in life, and who must teacl
Il. !. 41.st..