The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-20
(Oration)
PAUL DYESS WEATHERS

do not intend. fellow hearers, to
discuss idols with the relation to our
Divinity, but TO discuss them in such
a way as to demonstrate to you how a
few OF the really petty things in our
daily lives affect our minds and char
acters. Not only indeed, are there
chosen few who worship these idols.
but the daily life of our great and il
lustriOus nation is, more or less, affect
ed by them.
Man has always had an idol. Through
the old Stone Age, the Iron Age and
the Bronze Age, these old sturdy, prim-
tive men always looked to some high
er idol
This movement was carried on still
further during the ancient, medieval
and modern ages of history, and today,
in this twentieth century era, with all
its discoveries and inventions and re-
markable progress, we have idol
worshipping to a greater extent than
ever before From the dawn of history,
Obscured in darkness, this idol wor-
shipping has been transmitted through
the ages to the nations of today, which
in their zenith of power and glory,
have revealed it in it's worst defects.
The idols of Egypt, the mysterious
cradle of human nature, may be sum
med up in the one horticulture. OF
this, Egypt has given more than
any other ancient nation. 1t was in
her borders, along the banks of the
placid Nile. that many of our present
day sciences originated. 1t was Egypt
that invented a form of writing, knew
the value of medicine, developed the
Of n
the yearly overflow of the Nile, began
our science of mathematics. Egypt il
also remarkable for having given many
laws, which the Greeks regarded as an
expression of highest wisdom and
fountains of inspiration to their own
legislators.
The idol of the ancient Hebrew mon
archy was the one God. They did not
enrich the world by their contribu-
tions to art and science. Their mis-
sion was much grander and more
beautiful one-tO teach righteousness
1t is in this people that We find to q
more eminent degree than among any
other nations of antiquity, the germ OF
our modern civilization and Christian.
ity.
The highest idol of the Greeks wa!
beauty. Her creed was that of Keats
that: Beauty is truth, truth beauty
that is all ye know on earth, and al
ye need to know
The Greek beauty was worshipet
next to holiness, indeed they almos
made beauty and moral right the SAM
thing. This idol, along with many les
ser ones, made the Greeks a marvel
Gus people, yet of all their great work
we cherish only few ideals-ideals o
haa N
of truth in imperishable prose an
poetry.
The history of Rome is generally as
sociated with that of Greece, yet tn
ideals of these two nations were en-
tirely different. The idol of the Rom
ans was military glory and law Civ
ing. While the Greeks cherished a
that which was picturesque and aes
thetic. the Romans loved to an ex
hibition of military affairs-all tina
which represented the strength an
military genius of the country. Thei
military glory and power have neve
been surpassed. Her religions were in
vincible. her standards were carrie
into the remote corners of the cart
and great Caesar did the general cot
fers FILL"
Rome has succeeded in impressin
the world not alone by her gloriou
conquests. She has a most thorough
planned and satisfactory system
courts. She made hundreds of laws an
gave them to the new world and toda
in our own code of laws. are embode
some of the identical principles whic
the old Romans used to employ.
Among the present day nations, tt
idol Of Germany is, perhaps, most laut
able. Her idol is education. The Ions
ing and hope and desire of the boy
and girls-the men and women OF t
morrow-is to be educated.
The idol of the English nation of Il
day is somewhat similar to that of Il
old Romans. This idol is to have
large. ever ready. powerfully equipp'
navy. and, by this means gain lars
areas of territory for colonization pu
poses. Every Englishman has a desir
naturally imbued within him, to s
the English navy Outrank any 9th
national fleet. As a result, not on
has the English fleet been steadi
growing since the time of Alfred
the ninth century, until today, VIII
she has the most powerful navy Of al
country on the globe, but she has al
succeeded in securing and colonizil
more land than any other nation.
of America, we have idol worshipil
to a great extent. but under differe
form. Our greatest and most pote
idol is money. Numerous are the
stances of men and women whose ST
purpose is to get rich, TO hoard a p
of money, and make a lavish show Wi
il. Still this is not altogether u
natural. as the greatest test to whi
human nature can be subjected
prosperity and riches. The housekee
er of today likes to be lavish and {
travagant. and the man in his off
has similar desires. Freedom from
straint, the lack of any other purpC
than TO shine by a manifestation
display and luxurious living, are c.
tainly not conductive 10 charac
building. Many a mans character /
been weakened by subjecting hims
to the thought of what he could do
he only had the money, and is thus
to do things he might not otherwise
in order to accomplish his purpO
What a great change would come o.