The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-24

away.
The architects of the earth prided
themselves upon their talents and gem
ius for carving and constructing
churches, temples, palaces and homes
of lofty perfection. The old crafts
men of ancient days We're even more
skilled in workmanship and design
than their descendants, the great build
ers of modern times. But Hiram Abiff
and his Skilled workmen combined with
those of Egypt Greece and Persia, with
the art and science of the Roman,
French and English builders never sue
ceeded in building like the bees. Learn
ing, intelligence and architectural tall
ents are not known to the honey makers
of the present day, nor We're the an
cient bees of Asia and Palestine learn
ed in scientific lore. But they helped
to make the Promised Land flow with
milk and honey.
The bees build their habitations with
skill and perform operations superior
to the genius of man, and do their work
too, with all the precision of mathe-
NAUTICAL science. They display in the
construction of their habitation and
treasure chambers greater art and
beauty than did Hiram Abiff, when he
built the foundation Of the palaces of
Tyre and Judea for the reigning kings,
Instinct controls the bees and other
small creatures noted for their beauti-
full homes like the beavers, ants, and
honey bees. This creative power over
shadows the birds of the air. Natural
law protects the small things of earth.
Birds build their nests in cool and
pleasant places, selecting the swinging
branches of stately trees in the heart
of the forest, where their little ones are
rocked in cradles prepared by nature
and the quivering leaves and signing
winds lulI them to repose when the sun
goes down. The artistic skill and evil
dent love of beauty displayed in build
ing their summer homes, making choice
of lovely quiet places where running
brooks or the larger borders of lakes
and ponds are lying with blue waters
glittering in the sun, speak well for
the judgment and sound wisdom of
beauty loving creatures protected by
Him whose all seeing eye mote the
fall of the sparrow and has given His
| angels charge over the weak ones of
earth. 'Ee stood and measured the
earth, He beheld and drove asunder
| the nations" and yet He gives the III
sects food and shelter and protects
| them from human violence and the still
| more dangerous power of winds and
| tempests. There are no limits to the
| love and mercy of the creator of nat
ural law
| The birds and insects and all the
weak things of earth display more than
human wisdom. Looking at all those
remarkable facts connected with the
earth and it's inhabitants we are led to
believe that men are not the only in
| telligent thinking creatures known to
Diety Other classes or life, though
| smaller, may have just as much reason
for praising the over soul'' who con-
| trolls and protects all the works of His
hands. The bee works as if he knew
| the laws of mechanical invention and
4 the higher branches OF mathematics,
| and the agricultural chemist has, like
| Newton, learned to read the langua ge
of nature and understand what the
trees are saying when talking of the
sunshine and rain.
| An old man in the mountain regions
of Maine could read in the condition Of
the leaves the signs Of coming storms,
heat and cold, whether the season
would be wet or dry, or if the soil
would produce bountiful harvests Of
i fruit, hay and grain. He said he read
the mysterious language Of nature and
the trees were grand old prophets In
the heart of the forests.
| People who live near the mountains
are never at loss to read the signs
of the weather in the atmosphere. The
| clouds are sure prophets and never
fail. The mists are positive indications
and never fail to be true. The clouds
hang out their signals before the storm.
Farmers who are lovers Of the soil are
at home In their communications with
nature, and can read the signs of the
seasons in the clouds. They may not
be called scientific, but they know the
naeds of the soil and generally supply
the plant food required for abundant
crops. They are able to trace the toot-
steps of the Diety when He moves in
majesty over the hills and valleys and
can comprehend the silent language
impressed upon all the productions of
nature.
The temples of nature are His abid-
ing places and from them He issues
His commands of inscrutable wisdom,
and mercy, and extends His love and
care to all classes of animals, human
and vegetable life. The earth is but
one of the many mansions provided
for the dwelling places of men. The
windows of all others display lighted
lamps at evening to show humanity at
such hours that other worlds are
ablaze. That the Fathers house, the
vast universe, is inhabited, and their
starry windows make the divine face
visible through hours of earthly dark
ness. And they keep their lights burn
ing while silence reigns over our slum-
bering world The stars are windows
lighted by electricity. Earth is to the
inhabitants of those worlds only star
and single at that.
AMOS D. SMITH, Sd.
/ VIM yryA r,rD a