Year: 1872

the brutes, and materially assist his reasoning
ability and his acquisition Of knowledge, whether
secular or religious, and ought therefore TO be en-
couraged, not repressed whatever q man mas
him, although 1t exist as long a. the hills and me
Information by which he Is made acquainted with
made by the great explorer Of Africa Is news to
u.s. although the places discoved may De older
than me most ancient Of nations; On t WoI,a tha
philosophy OF this common desire OF human nature
after news, and the best way to make use OF 1t for
kingcraft in the universe can put stop to It, be.
cause II belongs essentially 20 the nature or al
beeD SSne Esey % ns Ss
otherwise. As the health OF person is better In
the open air than within the walls OF dungeon
dulging it's spirit OF inquiry freely than while
chained In slavsh fear to the opinions or
philosophy Of the common desire for news~First,


It 10 the exercise of one OF the essential character
istlcs OF our nature. II man were mere machine,
or automat0n or II he possessed not reason, but
only instinct like the inferior animals; II he were
not moral agent responsible tor his choice of the
80 that he were not required to Improve or
to advance himself to a higher degree by
the proper use OF means to increase his
talents; II no were not intended to elevate
himself from being inhabltant OF earth to being
one OF those pure spirits who bask continually and
forever In the glorious presence and smiles OF Deity
In the celestial world, there might not he SO much
necessity for It; but 1t Is indispensable to his
8Ome
times perverted, 80 we fnd that men are fond OF
news from mere idle curiOsity or from motives OF
vanity Il they are made to figure therein; or to
aInuse themselves and kill time they say or to
crafty their malice, II they expect to hear OF injury
TO an enemy; or to please morbid taste for the
tragca or to inform themselves OF the success OF
the defeat OF their own or OF an opposite party, or
to qualify their interest In matters OF trade, CON-
merce or law, or to crafty their impatence. And
sometimes to discover something beneficial to
themselves or others, or calculated to promote
1t Is very important to know how to make use OF
this desire for news The Importance Is well un-
derstood by statesmen and politicians, and by wise
editors. but 1t cannot be denied BY any unpreju::
by the pulpiticians OF our day. The time was when
the pulpit controlled the State, and clergy were
the right arms OF kings. Now politics guide
ponarchs wipe their feet In the vestments OF eccle
siastica dgiltarles or Danish them from their es-
tates with slap In the face or kick out OF doors,
influence mightier than the sword, Is courted by
men everywhere 2nd Is printed pages
every person Of any intelligence and respected y
all as power Of inestmable value. Why this dif-


ferences Because editors know how to use the
spirit of inquiry and the pulpiticians do not. The
thrown aside among the waste paper, not even
thumbed. Yet the proper themes OF the pulpit are
such as, II properly selected and delivered at times
when public inquiry is awake, ought to be most
attractive and impressive and powerful for good.
Instead OF ignoring the prevalent spirit OF inquiry
those who have the charge OF souls should take ad-
paTesa2 panss S% s 2s s roSrs sasI9Ss
to guide and instruct 1t so that the themes which
cluster around the cross of Christ crucied will be
Illustrated and the doctrines Of Christian morality
enforced so that the spirit alluded to will not only
be gratined but edited and the services Of the
Church made attractive.