t it is, and not the dead past that we
should learn, and of the things that affect us most nearly we should learn
first. What did the ancients know of steam, of electricity, of the
material elements of nature, of her forces? And little as we know, how
much of that little could be learned from a lifelong study of ancient
lore? If there be aught of value in the laws of ancient Rome which has not
been translated into our native tongue, let it be translated; but let not
our youth waste precious years in learning to play upon an instrument
(Greek or Latin) which when learned can give forth no sound. But if we
turn to Nature and to her grand volume, we there find all the knowledge
man can acquire. From her study, too, we can learn a lesson, not perhaps
among the least important, as to the limits fixed by nature to human
knowledge. To know of a surety what those things are which never can be
known to mortal man, is a knowledge, the want of which has driven many to
puerile and superstitious practices, and many more to madness and despair.

From the great book of Nature, God's book, is to be learned the principle
of justice, of love, of wisdom, of truth; and as the germ of justice is
developed in the mind, the mind is brought in contact with the Great
Fountain, absorbs a portion of its light, enlarges, develops, becomes
stronger, assimilates to itself the essence of the great Godhead, and
renders man godlike.

So with each of the other faculties of man; each draws its nourishment
from its special FOUNTAIN. Wisdom, love, justice, and truth should
preside; and if judgment, sympathy and conscientiousness be judiciously
trained and developed, they will help to develop harmoniously all the
other faculties. But to this end they, and each and all of man's
faculties, must be brought into a wholesome, natural contact, each with
its proper food; and by natural we mean not that contact which might
peradventure happen if left uncared for, but such as the nature of the
faculty demands for its development in due harmony, to produce the
greatest amount of happiness to its possessor. To supply this food, to
bring to each faculty its proper aliment, is the business of the true
teacher. If we desire a child to be truthful, we must bring it in contact
with truth, and bring it to love truth by causing its practice to inure to
the child's enjoyment. If we wish it to be wise, we must bring its mind in
contact with wisdom, exercise its analytical powe