Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-28

that which we see in matter-this is the
lowest form second, that which appears
in connection with plant life, one step
above the preceding; third, the force
that is manifest in animal life, which is
marked step in advance; fourth, intel
lectual force, and, lastly, spiritual or
moral force, which is the supreme pow
er. Within the spirit of man are found
the higher forces which prompt his ac-
tions and inspire his life. Intellect may
organize the State, but the spirit of man
inspires to patriotism; the mind of man
may rear magnificent cathedrals. but the
spirit of man prompts to the act that it
may worship there. 1t is the spirit of
man, that loves that worship, that pre-
sides above the reason or intellect. The
order is from spirit to intellect, not from
intellect to spirit
Every religion touches man upon his
spiritual, ethical side and develops him
there. The manifestations of ethical
force in any particular society depend
that society TO call out and develop the
force that is in humanity. The religion
that has brought and is bringing hui
manity into the highest and best civii-
cation is the one that is the most ethical
and spiritual, and so one that is of the
greatest force i'm the world.
Only religion can develop this moral
force. Commerce can never do this; ;
all history of all ages proclaims that it
has never been known that nation was
civilized and its morality developed by
trade alone. Internal development of Il
country connot accomplish 1t. \ rail-
road cannot eXalt the moral life of a
town in New England; neither can it
of a State in Africa. Education cannot
do it. There is no morality in pure in
tellect; it is cold and hard and spiritless.
Horatio Seymour says. acknowledge is
not a specific for immortality and vice.
The most dangerous criminals are the
educated" Philosophy and art cannot
accomplish it; they are soulless and
dead and cannot reach the spirit life of
man. Vain attempt! TO touch the
moral side of man moral means must be
employed. TO move upon the spirit of
man spirit must act. The great non
Christian religions in the world have
failed to do much for humanity. They
have utterly failed to develop and keep
alive the spirit life of man and to rear a
permanent moral society upon the ruins
of distorted human life.
Religion is faith, and faith produces
character. Christianity, in which spirit
ual and moral life center, is more than
a mere belief; it is faith that is vital
force. It is more than a creed; it is a
recognizing potency that brooks no ri
val in society or life.
In our institutions Of earning, in our
civic and national affairs. in our discus
sions regarding society and its reorganiza-
ton, in our plans plans for reform of
every kind we must leave large place
for the development of the spirit and the
moral life of man, knowing well that
this is the power that is regenerating
and reforming the world.
1t is no mean service to have part in
the training of the body of man; 1t is a
higher service to train intellects to
grapple with thought until they become
giants of mastery proportions. But it
is far higher and nobler service to have
part in the enlargement and develop
ment of the souls of men, to aid in the
laying of the foundation of all that is
highest AID best in all civil, commercial,
intellectual and social life, to develop a
strong spiritual and moral manhood.