The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-12

Turn the page Of history and see
how h turning points in the march
Of events have been initiated by the
rteht-minded minority. For centuries
the master mind Of Aristotle dominate
ed the thought life Of the civilized
world. The ancient Greek philoso-
pher had so cast his spell over man
Kind that to venture to contradict his
teaching was to the antago-
nism OF his devoted disciples. This
attitude was fatal to progress, vet a
day came when ~deliverance from in
tellectual serfdom vas accomplished.
In a university at Pisa there taught a
young professor whose name was Gal.
ileo. His FESTIVE mind and passion to
see things as they really are. disquiet-
ed his colleagues. To their amaze
ment the young professor of mathe-
mates. a youth not yet thirty years
OF age. dared to express his doubts as
to the validity of the A%ristotelian the
DRY of motion. Aristotle taught that
when two bodies fall through space
the heavier reaches the ground first.
This Calico denied. He ventured to
put Aristotle to the experimental test.
Accompanied by a few loyal friends,
Calico assembled the leaning tower Of
fasa. whence he dropped a number Of
reached the ground almost simu1tane,
ously. Behold of the most dra-
matte moments in history! Aristotle
received a staggering blow from
Wnlch ne never recovered. The right
minded minority represented by a
fearless and inquiring mind helped to
usher in the revival of learning which
unlocked new treasures for the race.
SUCH a one was Columbus. How
sadly in the minority he was! Re-
jected Of men and acquainted with
grief. he journeyed hither and thither
IN quest of those who might both be-
llieve In his dreams and materially as
sist In their realization: Finally. a
queen announces herself willing to
pledge her jewels If need be, to fit out
an expedition to test the mania Of the
Italian. Hoping to reach the wealth
of India by sailing west he embark
ed in these unseaworthy hulks. 1t
was he who claimed the fears of his
crew. armed them with courage, and
of meeting destruction in the jaws of
sea monsters where the generality of
men believed the ocean and the world
to come to an end. Columbus discov-
cred a continent. He had dreamed of
midas strand. but discovered a land
OF resources beyond his widest
dreams. Again the right-minded mi
stream of civilization is directed INTO a
new channel.
The Minded Minority.
What is true in science and discov-
cry is equally r in morals or re-
ligton. 1t is the high-minded minori-
ty woh let in an occasional flood of
light upon life's most p%erplexing NOR
al problems. AS long as it obtains, the
line of pophets has not become ex-
tinct. In a time of moral .stagnation
Jesus came and gave the history of
religion a new point of departure.
When the work of Jesus was in dam
ger Of being entirely undone Luther
appeared to declare h priesthood Of
the individual soul. Once more re-
ligion and morals suffer a decline.
Wesley begins. to preach experimental
religion. Not without opposition did
the right-minded minority make it's
contribution to the worlds stock of
morals. Even today the prophet who
dure persecution. The tranmels of
tradition hold in bondage the majori-
ty. Some years g a student was
arguing with his professor in regard
to a certain theological proposition.
The student was ultra-conservative
and his teacher advanced. They ar
gued till the sun went down. With
The ideas for which I contend my
father defended to the day OF his
death. and my mother lives by them
today. What was good enough for
father and mother is good enough for
me-" Fallacions argument. Many Of
the things good enough for our faith
ers are not good enough for us now.
Our fathers read by candle light. we
by gas and electric light. Our fathers
crossed the prairie ins wagons. we ride
in the parlor car. In times Of sick
ness our fathers went or sent for the
|physician; today we use the tele-
phone. There has been moral as we'll