THE STAR OF HOPE, PROGRESS OE CIVILIZATION.

"Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul."Paul.

Is Hope an anchor to the soul?

An earnest of expected rest? And will it guide us from the goal, Up to the mansions of the blest? Then fear with all its gloomy train, Shall never vex my soul again,

not always coincident. But man would have appropriate, full and harmonious develope. character, if he were entirely secluded from ment of the physical, mental, moral, and human association. Under these circum-cial powers of man. I say social, because stances his character would receive an im- although it is included in the moral, it is press from external nature, and he would be usually separated from it. fierce and terrible, or mild and bland, as he struggled with rough and rugged, or with soft and pleasant scenes. Hence arise chiefly the different characteristics which distinguish the various nations of the globe.

Whence came the varieties of the human race, if not from this cause? Therefore in estimating either the progress or degree of civilization, it cannot be determined by any particular polish of manners, inasmuch as this would not be a certain, but a movable standard. What to a Scotchman would be the height of polish, to the Frenchman would be perfect boorishness.

If there exists a defect in either of the

particulars entering into the definition, we have but partial civilization. Let this be remembered, as it will be of much use in determining its progress, as well as the most efficient cause for its promotion. Let us not mistake in estimating the necessary har. mony, which must exist. Harmony cannot be estimated unless we understand the relation of the various parts and the office each is designed to perform. Harmony and beauty are nearly synonimous terms,and may be used interchangeably, in this article, as they both have reference to the adaptation to the purposes designed. That is the most harmonious, which proceeds on with the greatest regularity and the least disturbance, to the purpose for which it is intended. Beauty

bulus,

one.

two

Brave and high minded men can not be produced amid scenes of luxury and debauchery. They, whose time is occupied with works of fiction, must receive a taint from them. Here are two relations that in like manner, is to be estimated from the need to be well understood. We also hold combination of regularity and adaptation.an intimate relation to the future, and as we It was on this principle, that Socrates, who consider that future, so will it have its im- had a very large and uncomely mouth, made press upon us. It is said, with much truth, out that he was more beautiful than Aristothat the people will not rise higher than who had a small and symmetrical The mouth, he said, was designed for their religion. An important ingredient in the religion of mankind, is their view of a purposes, to wit, as the receptacle of future state. If it is regarded as a state of food, and as the channel to communicate revelry and mirth, or of sport and hunting, words; his being so much larger than the or of purity and sacred joy, so will be their other was better adapted to these ends, and opinions of the highest bliss on earth, and therefore the most beautiful. I do not insist such also, will be their aspirations. upon this as being strictly accurate; but it answers my present purpose. The harmoni ous developement of the powers of the man, is dependent on two causes, organization and culture; and more on the latter than on the former. The crooked may be made straight by proper appliances, and the erect and har monious may become distorted, deformed, and rendered not only useless, but hurtful, by improper treatment. This holds good

In considering this question, we are not to inquire first what are men's opinions on this subject, but what they ought to be, and having formed the standard of truth, then to ascertain how nearly, these opinions come to it. If we are thoroughly convinced that our own actions have an impress, which is to be felt in another state for woal or woe, it will make us thoughtful in regard to them, but if otherwise, we shall be indifferent.- physically, intellectually, morally, and soHaving cleared the way, I will now give a a brief answer to the first question-What is civilization? The answer is this, a clear,

cially. It is the office of civilization, (using the term according to the definition above,) to unfold and draw out harmonious

PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION.

ly the capabilities of the entire man, and to correct and polish that which is rude and deformed, and to bring into action that which is dormant.

207

In a perfectly pure state of society, such as exists among the angels and purified in heaven, the study and desire of the individuals must be to promote to the fullest extent, the good and glory of the whole. These

and cannot duly appreciate the objects of life, and like the sensitive plant, wilt down at the slightest touch. The greatest mistake, in regard to sensation does not, however, What are the relations existing, an un- consist in being too sympathetic for others' derstanding of which is necessary to the woes, but in supposing, that life is given proper solution of the first question? T simply for sensations of gratification and human holds a relation to the human, and pleasure, and not for useful labor, which the Divine to the present and future, and will yield a rich harvest of substantial bliss. possesses a capacity for the fulfillment of Had it not been for the disorders and diseach relation. To the human as a sen- tortions of our original nature, which have tient and intellectual agent, and morally re- ' been introduced, life would indeed have been sponsible to a still higher authority-the one scene of unmingled bliss. "It is not all Creator of all. His sentient nature capaci- of life to live nor of death to die." The relatates him for joys and sorrows, for sympa- tions existing between ourselves and others, thies, for attachments and antipathies.- lay the foundation for mutual influence, and These various emotional states will manifest mutual developement. This mutuality is themselves according to the manner and cir- to be arranged and adapted so as to afford cumstances of their developement--the de- the greatest amount of good to each. gree of civilization. Timon of old, (the woman hater) is justly regarded as a social monster. Not because he had no capacity, originally for the love of woman, but because by some process connected with his developement, his moral nature became distorted relations, also are higher than the mere and the appropriate harmony was destroyed. physical or animal man; they are intellectBut Damon and Pythias are the admiration ual and spiritual. Still a harmonious maniof the whole world, because of the clear and festation of the latter cannot exist in conbeautiful developement of their sentient and nection with a diseased and deranged state social nature. of the former. Our intellectual and spiritNaturally we do not always present a per- ual biases are determined by the influences fectly symmetrical appearance; indeed, it is brought to bear upon us here. These influ seldom the case, in our organization. Some ences may not always be recognized even one thing predominates and forms, what is by ourselves or others, but still they exist termed a characteristic. It is the province and operate. The power of these applian of those to whom the office of rearing up ces may depend on the previous state of prethe social structure belongs, to correct this paration for them, or on the fact that no want of symmetry. Where deficiency ap contrary bias has been given on, or the skill pears, give the more diligence to supply it, with which they are brought to bear. There and where a surplusage restrain. In this may be such a want of ballance or equili way the harmony may be restored. A be- brium in the intellectual powers from an ing all sensation, is good for nothing in this erroneous education, as to unfit us for a corrough world, where deliberation and action rect judgment on any important question, are required, therefore all the powers the in- or such a perversion of the moral powers as tellectual as well as the sentient nature must that the passions may over ride the judgbe brought forth into active and vigorous ment and thereby prevent the reception of exercise. If the sympathies, which we owe important truth. These are thoughts which to others, are alone considered, we have a very deserve to be thoroughly considered by such inadequate apprehension of our relations as would be reformers of mankind.

The

mind may be so constantly occupied with estimate of the progress of civilization will mathematics as not to see the force of any depend on what we take as the basis of it, moral reasoning, however lucid it may be; as well as the kind of development to which hence every thing is rejected as false, which it is applied. The basis of physical civilicannot be reduced to a mathematical demon-zation is the state and value of labor,and the A savage stration. How unwittingly guardians of objects to which it is directed. youth often make skeptics of their wards! state is attended with toil-more toil with They exhibit a precocious aptitude for this less profit or pleasure than what is usually branch of study, and to it they must apply, considered a civilized state. It is not the and a hot-bed process is adopted to make performance of labor alone that is to be rethem mathematicians. Such are almost al-garded as the test, but what are its circumways skeptics in religion and all moral questions; not because the one is inconsistent with the other, but because the ballance of the mind is destroyed and they cannot reason correctly.

Or the mind may run rampant without a guide, and remain in an unsettled state forever-never certain of any thing-always doubting and yet ready to believe every new absurdity introduced. Such have no settled standard of truth, and cannot be settled themselves. That which makes the last ap

stances, attendants and results. The savage
roams the forest, pursues
his game, without
settled habitation or advancement and with-
out profit-destitute of any of the pleasures
or sweets of social life. Thus generation
after generation passes away and he is the
same. He is without arts, except of the
labors abundant, still the forest remains as
rudest kind and without letters. He is in

Under the

it was, no statues of marble rise, or other
evidences of skill and art. Let that labor
of society and the wealth of the individual
be skillfully directed to advance the comforts
and we call it by a new name.
guidance of a better developed mind, the
labor is both better directed and more suc-
cessful in the attainment of its end. The
greatest degree of skill in the direction of
the labor and the gratest facility in the at-
tainment of the results proposed, evinces the
highest state of physical civilization.

The

peal to their passions or wishes, is swallowed greedily as the truth, only to be dislodged by its successor. With these there is no proper understanding of the laws of /mind-of ratiocination or of the relations of mind to mind, or of the influences direct and reflex of mind on mind. Our man, civilized is to be perfectly ballanced-nothing lacking-nothing too much. Some are all heart. These are too sensitive for the cold-ox performs the toil imposed by the masters, but it is without skill or direction. But ness of this world. Others are all intellect feeble man by the appliances of art, with a and walk among the tombs as unconcerned mind to direct, will accomplish with ease as in the flower garden-indifferent alike to what the ox could not perform. the woes and joys of others. These are too heartless, to fill up the sphere for which they This kind and measure of civilization may were designed. The happy ballance of the exist where the greatest moral deformities two exists with the few. Our civilization is are found, as in the case of the ancient to correct and harmonize these discordant Greeks, and also the ancient Egytians and parts and restore the ballance of the soul. in modern times, in China, except that the The normal state of man is harmony among skill is only partial. Skill may be regarded all his powers;true civilization. The reverse as the basis of intellectual civilization. Skill of this is his abnormal state or savageism.-divides itself into two branches; the power Here we have the extremes, between which to devise and apply. This embraces the arts and sciences in all their varied forms.there are many degrees and shades.

As he approximates this primeval har-As these are manifested and cultivated, so mony he approaches true civilization. Our this kind of civilization progresses. These

PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION.

209

will serve as a perfect meter or measure of its Such is the influence in this respect, that growth in society. Neither the arts or sci- one very important writer has said that the ences ever carne full grown into the world, importation and use of soda may be made but each have had their infancy, youth and the standard of a nations civilization. He manhood, and are now enjoying a green old makes soda the basis of the amount of soap age, and like a firm,veteran warrior,destined manufactured and used, and this he makes to make still greater conquests. Here we the standard because, soap is regarded as an have distinctly marked one of the laws of indispensable article in all civilized commuhuman developement, to wit, the present nities. A very distinguishing characteristic forms the character of the future. The prin- of the present day is found in the applicaciples now planted and impressed will be tion of the sciences to practical purposes felt hereafter. That which is now begun is Great skill is now exhibited in the applica to be matured by our successors on the tion to some fanciful or useful object every theatre of active life. The germ of all that scientific discovery. Time and space are is now known of arts and sciences is found almost annihilated either by the Railroad in former times. There is in some persons car or the electric telegraph, and although naturally a greater aptitude for certain pur- Payne's hydro-gas light has as yet proved to suits, than in others, and these improve upon be rather a gassy affair, still we cannot say the skill and art of others and find their that some one taking the hint from him may starting point nearly to coincide with the not yet develope the very same thing. Time hight to which their predecessors had at- alone will settle this question. Thus far we tained. This would have been the constant have considered this matter with reference and unvarying result with the world, had no to our relation to the present state alonecauses of obscuration arisen; because this But there is a future which lies the other onward march is the philosophy of human side of the grave, upon which we must all developement. Various causes have arisen enter. Our relations to each other and the to arrest this regular progress of the world, endowments which we have, all have relaThe most effectual and distressing of these tion to that future. This leads to another is war. They who should have regarded form of civilization, to wit, moral and social, themselves as brothers, have fallen upon and the basis of which is love. We say love, bedevoured each other and often for the most cause it manifests itself in acts of affection, trivial causes. Another very potent cause is to the Creator and to the created. As the found in the avarice of men. Their desire Creator is an invisible and eternal spirit,love for the shining dust of earth has led them for him is exhibited in two forms, to wit, in to direct, in the most eager manner, all the the cheerful conformity of our affections and capacities and energies of their minds to its will to his law and the performance of acts acquisition, instead of devoting time to the of kindness to his creatures. Man in society investigation of the principles of science.- owes certain duties, which require necessariThe more universal the prevalence of these ly, the subjection of his affections and his principles of science among the people and will to certain rules. These rules can be the more common their application to the ascertained only as theCreator of all may be arts of life, the higher the degree of civiliza- pleased to communicate them. Affection tion. The facilities for acquiring a knowl- for the lawgiver is most clearly shown by a edge of the arts and sciences is a very dis- cheerful compliance with the law-giventinguishing feature in the history of the The standard for determining this love is present century. These things have a di- found in the Holy Bible. These three kinds rect and immediate bearing on the socialities of civilization are intimately connected with of life, as they bind communities together each other and must harmonize in the same and lead to greater neatness and cleanliness community to entitle it to the application of in attire and habitation. a civilized community. Christianity forms

Vol. 6, No. 5-14.