The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-15
* ADDRESS. 81
THE EVOLUTION OF LEARNING
BY REV. R. N. JOHN.

day is Educational Sunday in our
denomination and Buchtel College
day in Ohio.
"The powers that be" have re-
quested all pastors to improve the
occasion by delivering an education
al discourse and calling particular
attention to the institutions of learn
ing that have been established under
our auspices. Having given the best
years of my life to the work OF pub
lie instruction, l feel that the call OF
my church is mandatory in its nature,
and therefore will ask your attention
for few moments to the theme have
chosen, namely: 'The Evolution of
Learning"
A cursory glance at the civilization
and literature of the principal ma
lions antedating the Christian era
would perhaps be the best way to in
troduce the discussion.
And right here let me call your
attention to the fact that while the
general trend of thought and learn
ing has ever been on an ascending
scale and the world is constantly
growing wiser and better, still there
have been seasons of darkness and
gloom, and apparent retrocession in
those virtues that work to the uplift-
ing of the human race.
Nations have their ups and downs,
their successes and reverses, as well
as individuals. Civilization seems to
advance at times with giant strides
and then come apparent lapses into
barbarism.
1t has taken thousands of years for
mankind to get away from the bond
age of petty superstitions and debas-
ing customs. Indeed, millions of the
human race existing today have not
risen above the servile condition of
those who built the Pyramids or con-
structed the Hanging Gardens of
Babylon.
The earliest people of whom we have
any authentic knowledge were the
ancient Aryans of Asia. "They dwelt
in houses, cultivated the soil, made
bread, had wheeled vehicles, worked
certain metals, had rudimentary
knowledge of mathematics, had fami-
ly ties, a government, and a religion"
In course of time these people spread
all over Europe, and southern and
western Asia.
This Aryan race is the only one
that has ever done anything worth
recording. 1t is the only historic
race, noted for intellectual vigor, re-
ligious fervor, and knowledge of
architecture. The more we study the
history of the Aryans the more we
are impressed with the fact that
knowledge is power"
From the beginning the educated
classes have been the ruling ones.-
The poet Kingsley says,
"a just experience shows In every soil,
That those who think, must govern those who
TOLL"
2,70O years before Christ the prin-
cipal thinkers of the world were the
Egyptian priests. Besides the knowl
edge pertaining to their sacred Office,
they were mathematician, scientists,
lawyers and physicians. They owned
one third of the land and were initi-
ated into all the wonderful mysteries
of the day. Their literature was
written in hieroglyphics or object
pictures, on papyrus rolls or carved
on rock. Some of the books or rolls
of the ancient Egyptians four thous-
and years old are still extant. These
books show that women were treated
with great dignity and respect and
shared the advantages of schooling
with the males.
The Assyrian Empire was founded
about 300 years after the Egyptian.
Their books were square clay tab
lets covered with wedge shaped char
actors.
These have been more perfectly de-
ciphered than the Egyptian hero
glyphics.
The careful student of the Old
Testament Scriptures will remember
the great renown of Babylon and the
important part it played in the civil
ization of the East. Compared with
Egypt we find great advance, but
owing to the depressing influence of
caste, women were not respected as in
the country of the Nile, and led Sc
cluded life.
Coming on down the highway of
time we notice next the development
of literature by the Phenicians.
This singular people, a nation with
out a country, and race without a
government, were the first navigators
and the orioinators of our alphabet.