The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1901-08-17

remarks have an obvious bearing
on the subject under considera.
ton. 1t is clear that the better
we understand the true use, the
great benefits and the fearful
perils OF this principle, the bet
ter we shall be prepared to Judge
of associations offered to our pat
ronage.
But before passing to the con.
sideration of the principle by
which useful societies may be
distinguished from pernicious, and
by which we may be aided in dis
tributing among them our favor
and patronage, it might be we'll to
remark that we should beware of
confounding together, as of equal
Importance artificial associations
which man invents for particular
times and exigencies with those
associations which God has form
ed, which spring from our very
constitutions and which are in
separable from our very being.
Let us never place the contrv-
ances of man on a level with
the Divine arrangements. We
cannot over estimate the impor-
tance of association to the devel.
opment of human capabilities.
But when we speak thus OF asso-
Citations, we mean chiefly those
relations in which God has placed
man, the family, the neighbor-
hood, the country and the church,
and not those artificial societies
which men have contrived
While not to be named as of
equal Importance with those of
nature, artificial societies have
their uses and some accomplish
great good. We make these re-
MARKS because nothing is more
common than for men to forget
the value of what is familiar,
natural and universal, and to as
cribe undue Importance to what
Is extraordinary, forceful, rare,
and therefore striking. 1t is
therefore of these artificial asso.
Citations that we are TO seek to
discover principle, by which to
distinguish the useful and perni-
cious societies, that will aid us in
distributing among the multi
plicity of associations, claiming
our consideration, our favor and
patronage.
If force of thought means in.
tellectual greatness, and, if force
OF principle measures moral great
ness then the energy, freedom,
moral and religious activity which
they encourage and diffuse, meas
ure the value of associations. In
truth. is not the great object of
all benevolence to give energy,
freedom, moral and religious
activity to Others? Strictly speak
ing, We cannot make any being
happy. We can only give them
the means of happiness and in.
spire motives to the faithful use
of them. But on this faithfulness
III the full and free exercise of
their own powers their happiness
depends. There is thus fixed and
impossible limit to human be
nevolence. 1t makes men happy
through themselves, their own
freedom and energy. Has not,
God set the same limit to His
own benevolences He makes
men happy in no other sense
than that of giving him NEE ms,
power, motives and field for ex-
ertion. If this be true, then have
We not in it the great consideration
to guide US in Judging of associa-
tions! Those associations are
good which communicate the
means, inspire the motives to in
tellectual, moral and religious
activity, and furnish the oppor-
tunity and capacity for useful
efforts to the persons who form
them, or to the persons on whom
they act. Those which, to any
degree, impair or repress the free
and full energy of mems powers
are so far hurtful. Judged by
this principle The American Bible
Society of which yours Is branch,
must meet with our hearty and
unstinted appreciation. Its object