for, what would be the use or value of their possessions, what would be the spirit and law of their mansions and cottages, what would be the security for human life, what would be the foundation for human love and happiness, what, in a word, would become of them, and all that they call their own, if it were not for the conservative and improving power of the very concerns which they do so little to direct and sustain ?

Can it not be seen that the basis of all those advan- tages, privileges and enjoyments, of which we are so apt to boast, is composed of the very principles of wisdom and virtue, which these children of the world regard as only "airy nothings?" Cannot the weakest man perceive, that if it were not for the living and active influence of our common schools, colleges and churches, our higher civilization would go down, and we should fall, as a people, to the lowest depths of ignorance and sin? Yes, my friends, I know, and you know, that for what we do in the service of that potent spiritual influence, coming to us in a thousand forms, under the name of Wisdom, unfolding its lessons in all the images and changes of nature, imparting its instruction in all the voices of Science, and proclaiming its grandest, its sublimest truths, in the language of the Hebrew Prophets and of the Christian Apostles, that, for what we do in the service of this great Power, we receive a compensation, the measure of which no one can compute.

The outward eye does not see this Omnipotence from heaven, in little, silent words, written on a scroll

of parchment, or printed on the pages of a book. The outward ear does not hear this voice from the mouth of God, in the tones of the humble Teacher in the Hall of Learning, or in the Pulpit of the Christian Church. Yet it is a reality, and will be, when the mountains shall have melted, and run into the sea, when the heavens and the earth shall have passed away. It is the life, the health, the strength, the joy and peace, of the moral universe. Without it, our life is death. With it, we never die. It is the vitality of our souls. The spiritual vision discerns it in all things; the spiritual ear hears it in a voice, which is "as the sound of many waters.

It is a reality, and those of us who recognise it, feel it, live by it, and toil by it, will stand on a foundation firmer than adamant; will hold a possession more valuable than all the mines of gold, will inhale and breathe the air of peace and love; and will labor for the noblest, the happiest end.

I have been led to these reflections, by the presence of the large company of Teachers attending the meetings of the Teachers' Institute, held in our village* during the past week. As I watched the movements of that body of young men and young women, and saw how wisely and eloquently they were taught, and how attentively they listened, hour after hour, and day after day, to the words of instruction, I felt that their vocation was indeed a noble one, and that they were entitled to the respect and countenance of the people. Besides, it seemed to me that we, who here associate

*Waterville, Me.

together religiously, as the members of one of the Christian communions, help ourselves and our cause, by becoming identified with those who are engaged in promoting the interests of education, by generously and cheerfully showing in speech, in acts of courtesy, and in gifts from our bounty, that we are aware of the importance of these interests, that we know how much is added to the true wealth of life, to the force and beauty of character, how much to the influence and sweetness of manners, by the efforts of those in our midst, who attain a high degree of intellectual culture.

I do not suppose that you consider the expense incurred for the piece of ground in this vicinity, on which the displays of Agriculture are to be annually made, a waste. You understand the importance of this great interest. The whole community understand it; men, women, and children understand it. And so, in your opinion, no outlay of time or means can be too great in this direction. You would wonder, in decent weather, if the entire population, from village and country, should not spend the better part of a week, and considerable sums of money, in making up the greatness and the splendor of the yearly Show. In this idea of the matter, you attract attention to the utility and dignity of the farmer's labor; you teach the people the lessons of usefulness and taste, of convenience, comfort and beauty in rural life; you lead them to contemplate the nobleness and grace, the strength and fleetness of those animals of which we are the owners and masters, and the perfection of those productions of field, garden and orchard, which have

come forth from the secret cells of nature, under the busy, intelligent, skilful hand of man, and the warming sun, and nourishing rain of Providence.

But what would become of the greatness and beauty of the Agricultural Exhibition, if it were not for the influence of education? And why is it that the generality of men are not more earnest and enthusiastic in manifesting their appreciation of that wisdom which overspreads the world from the Church, the College, the Academy, and the Common School, like light from the sun, and from the larger and smaller planets.

We are forcibly reminded, that now as in the day of Solomon, the true wealth and support of the world do not consist in gold and gems, or in the broad estates for which they stand, but in the wisdom which God has poured out without measure upon the world, and which, in the noblest of our race, in their hearts, and in their lives, is shining forth to show those who are in darkness the way to holiness, and to gild the scenes, the forms and the concerns of the world, with celestial beauty.

Looking upon the maps of the world, we find in certain divisions, the pictures of the Bible and the Cross. These denote the bounds of Christian civilization, such as it is. I do not say that these symbols imply that one half of the world is redeemed from ignorance and sin, but that in so many countries the standards of the highest knowledge are raised. And in addition, I would ask these questions: Shall we be faithless to those standards? Shall we behold them, and not feel within our hearts the kindling or glowing

fires of Christian love and enthusiasm? Do we live in degenerate times, and have we now no chivalrous men, no courageous women, who are willing to go forth and join the great leaders from heaven in the battle of truth against error, of right against wrong? Cannot we, the children of this modern day, arise from low pursuits and ignoble occupations, and press forward in noble ranks to overcome and trample under foot, the hosts of evil which have so long ruled the world, and kept it piled and strown with the wounded and dead? Are we asleep at our posts? Are we content with our heaps of shining dust? Have we no Christian selfsacrifice? Do we put to God the question of Cain, and say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Do we trade in the bodies and souls of men? Do we withhold from the needy the pittance of relief? Do we say in our life, the wisdom of heaven is not better than rubies? that the worldly, or the selfish man is the wise man, the only successful man, and that the righteous man shall be forsaken, and that his seed shall beg for bread?

Oh, let us not be exposed to these imputations; but let us, in the spirit of our Master, who gave his life for the world let us, with the holiest aspirations, and the most benevolent aims, toil and strive, to promote the best interests of our kind.