| Show IN THE associations EY PROF J I tallue at the yHU IIA general conference in salt lake city the first word of the title given to this ad dresp is capable of inspiring i degree of awe at times in the breasts of many it is thought by them to have for its dominion the realm of tin unknown if not indeed of the unknowable to deal with the strange the incomprehensible and the its very language is regarded as weilu and foreign intelligible only to itt ardent devotees ana its disciples in fact however the term science in its truest and fullest ap designates the exact appo sita to all of this it maans by its ven and truth such as ha been classified col fated and proved it has reference to those which are most t aljy known and an farthest removed from the borders 01 tho uncertain and the speculative such is the nature of pure unadulterated scientific knowledge anything other than this id but pseudo science to its name false to its nature and of necessity pernicious in its effects in a strictly technical then the domain of science is co with that of human attachment anc mental growth everything that is known may be brought within pale but in its more popular and ordinary acceptation it is understood tc signify knowledge relating to the objects and phenomena of nature ami the application of such knowledge ti practicable ends through human in it is this latter in which I 1 could speak of science thu evening in the pursuit of such in formation we traverse the field 0 croaked things are brought thereby in close comm aon with the results of the labors of the great jehovah and are taught to read in blind and imperfect a macnei the thoughts actuated hin in his almighty plans but I 1 am informed that the effect of such training are evil as scion tifai knowledge and an irreverence fo tho deity or perhaps a total disbolis dis bolie in the existence of a divine creator g hand in hand through the world tu day yes I 1 am assured that th scientist he whose life is devoted U spelling through laborious mazes tn wonderful sentences of the book aril ten by an omniscient linger learn by that very study to douba the bein of the author and to regard the voi ume itself wath all its truths as t thing of accident and of chance bucl a conclusion is nothing of an darkening of reason that lighted lump in man ve are willing to bestow our earth ly domago without stint upon ou choso whoso works deserve such praise am wo think ourselves just and n so doing wo estimate human capacity anc ability solely by its exercise and tin results pro bucud wo wander ditl delight alm ugh the corridors of som great milam of art and gaze rap ly upon the shapely clocks 0 carved mirble mi and sculptured ston exhibited there and our thoughts ar earned with something of adoration in their to mhd names of aphid aas and augelo thoa mighty masters of the chiaet and mai lot we know that but for skill as such wonders of art couk nevar have been wo look with ec beacy though but once in our lives upon mhd canvas that speaks of thi crucifixion or the transfiguration or as wo contemplate the beatific resignation expressed in the face OA madonna and over afterward th name of is defied in oui mind mhd rolling measures of paradise lost and the entrancing rhythm of the songs of patience andai or the affecting strains of atu talus of passion and of strife ex i our at the shrines of diw and of longfellow and of scott ang of shakespeare Shak speare child and others of that kin wb recline on seats of velvet and ara drawn by horses of iron and brass whose breath is steam whose food is firo and w reverently of tin genius of a stevenson or a watt tin electric glare carries with it admiration for the achievements of volta galvam brush and edison mackino bestons bestows its praises upon the deserving and yet asserted in ol 01 this trait of human character tha the study of the great results of i creators labors hia a tendency to ward an irreverence if not a positive denial of the masters hand what are our greatest human achievement but imitations and copies when would bu the labors of a sculptor or a painter if they were without a model the copy cannot surpass tho original alie execution cannot supersede the ideal the marble block under the artists skillful touch may bo made to take a semblance to a thing of life but is the likeness even skin deep beneath the surface of alio block tho stone is till uncut and unpolished and withal throughout it is but fi tone how far then is it below the living mould yet to assert that jhb study of a sculptured bust or a painted head would lead tho to a disbelief in the and ex arcise of an organizing power and a masters skill would be to argue for the absurd no no it is unreal il logical prosperous to say that a careful and proper study of the works of god can in any degree detract from his and glory to loam to walk through nature up to nature god is to come nearer though but a tricie to the bright effulgence of his presence and in ruih light no mind bat that of the fool choso whoso eyes are j closed to tho brilliancy of his surroundings can say in itsell there ib no god sano it properly taught in ou cannot fail to odd to th testimony annl demotion of tho mem oars if false science bo taught it wil end to lend A very prope leation i hov may success be ac luiree and danger avoided see tha clear ano of distinction be dradi between fact and theory truth is 0 origin theories aro man made I 1 donld urge that no discussion 0 1 he latter be introduced under the of science in our associations theories are invented to explain mysteries and they do so ofton time mysteriously and mysteries are not easily assimilated in the human mind to the members of tho associations I 1 would say for the present let us leave such matters alone and deal only with tho things about us to OP informed upon the things with wo are personally brought IL contact is tho characteristic of a useful education some day by experience taught the mind vi icorn not to know at large of things from abu and subtle aut anat beaure ua alea in dail life Is the prime wisdom it is natural for the human mind ro seek for a solution of the problem presented to it and the boot or na aro is failed with buch problems 0 problems so abstruse thac they canno je read aright dundur thu di i instruction ot ane heat h eat h rough his voice of inspiration anc none but the inspires can pick his way ay iy through the tangled f half discovered truth mixed auci jiing led with theory ana fancy as n is today to day in what wa call the lines of the poet can bo appreciated only by him who has some hing of tho poetic principle within ais soul the composers grandest el orts are without upon oara hat are closed so too the words of a prophet are comprehended in illness only by the assistance of the spirit of the prophets and the meaning of the great creator is understood by adoue upon whom the ight 0 his power is resting at ime of their investigation aud study again whenever the voice of tin law caver is headd let angues be forthwith silenced from ur minds let every idea be enacia chich is found to be in conflict with he words ot bod as spoken through revelation and it is clear th atthe teachings t revealed truth are ahead ot at human in all things then j a pretty atory told by navigators md ono with a broad rounda uon 01 it ib said that a little ansh stilled the pilot ansh is nearly always aund accompanying the iches of thu beb tho erml shark the little pilot gieh head ot its unwieldy follower tuu him into depths and ana rom treacherous or shallow ars it the two come to the mouth i a stream the remais at while the little guide es jores the region to discover if it it safe for the auge creaturo to ventura ji and as long us tho latter will fol ow the direction of its trustworthy eader it is comparatively secure from no dangers ot or running shore I 1 once saw a huge shark dy ug upon a shallow flat in the chasu eake bay through its endeavors tc orce its way ahead independently 0 he pilot guide to my mind humal morledge mow ledge or philosophy as we deight to call it is aptly comparable tc ud labh of monstrous bulk unable to fiovo bat ely among tho 0 purely human thought and action it conscientiously follows ilot of inspired truth let it bui forsake its guide and tho dan jers its course are man imes increased belore the prophet prop hei ilch his heaven given powers th philosopher hilo sopher cannot stand tho inspired words of tho prophet are truth hose of tho purely human thinker ire too often theory and fancy only ahe former are always to be accepted ho latter may bo right but beoula e held provisionally until substantiated and great havo been tho promises jf an all instructor that in duac ame the wisdom of kiy faithful laith ful pu jils shall be enlarged so as to encompass the unknown heights and depths jf space and all tho things of earth wise man is willing to wait for u answer to his enquiries rath nan be content with some hastily awn conclusion bearing with it the likelihood of wrong i thero are indeed many marked effects produced by scientific study up jn the mind ii puts the student in closer communion with the ejects 01 lature and teaches him to rend tho elsons essons of things and as with ah other knowledge this is of uso only so far as it teaches man to seek and 0 obtain higher things knowledge may bo shut up within the mind like oho misers wealth in bis vaults and ive to the mental and spiritual nature ao development but in the direction jf pride and arrogance scientific information will provo of permanent value only so far as it serves as oil to feed the name of thought within tho aafred shrine of tho human mind it is not enough that tho pupil leaah planta have roots steins leaves and nor that he studies the structures of each of thebe no must tho wonderful adaptation of purt to part and organ to organ and then ho will not fail to see that short of an almighty mind could have designed and executed such wondrous harmony of plan and purpose ho must learn thereby to moro clearly his position relative to tho rest cf gods great work that he has caro for the allies and tho sparrows the insects tild the beasts and that the hairs upon his own head ore numbered and known to such a one a flower is more than a flower it is an embodiment of providential providen care of surpassing wisdom of design ond of reason but to another who remains wilfully deaf to tho voice of nature such helps to his devotions are denied A on the rivers brim A allow ia to hun and it t nothing judicious instruction in science will the young with a never failing source of mental food and there y the mind iu be more fully mccu aed and this alone should be reason sufficient for its introduction into ur associations to be educated is 0 know how to think and the great sac hindrance to systematic and prop r thought is the practice of ng in frivolous fancy castle building ind idle in spare moments tho human mind thrives only by proper and judicious use is a firefly fire fly in the southern clime which chinetti shi netti only when upon the wing 0 o is it with the mind when once we fast we darken there is too much to be learned to justify indolence or thoughtlessness and the commonest object of ten imes the deepest lessons may be learned we are told to be in league the stones of the field and the beasts of the earth are yet to be at peace with us the field bearing scientific products jeoug so boundless in fact there is a very groat necessity of a careful selection of subjects for treatment in ho meetings of the associations chort lectures or essays can profitably ie prepared and delivered or read by he members on common and therefore necessarily interesting topics in giving such exercises an attempt should be madeko render the treat nent as intelligibly as possible by jie aid of natural objects pictures or aher illustrations and for this purpose the ordinary school text bookston book sto chich access is easy can be turned to bood service I 1 would respectfully suggest a list of subjects informally ir ranged for such study though without vit hout any recommendation that hey should be considered in the order presented berea wide range is given irom which selections can bo made to suit the special needs of any association I 1 OBJECTS these may bo considered under the natural divisions of 1 rocks 2 plants 3 animals and i man 1 brocks a common books b soils 2 plants v boots b flowers c leaves d how plants grow e how plants feed 3 animals a insects b reptiles c fishes d birds 0 mammals 4 man a bones b muscles and muscular exercise c skin and the care of the same d necessity of cleanliness oi the skin e why and bow we breathe impure air g how wo feel i how we hear and see 1 how we taste and smell i food good and bad k of alcoholic drinks on the system 1 effects of tobacco m the blood tt Tho Word of IL NATURAL L of the jaarth including 1 air 2 land 3 water 2 of the heavens 1 of earth 1 air a winds b clouds c earn hail and snow d thunder and lightning 2 land a contortions of the earths crust b mountain formations c volcanoes 3 water a bivers b lakes c waves and currents d springs 2 of the heavens a day and night b the seasons c uhe sun d the moon 0 eclipses nothing has been attempted in this classification further than to survey ho bield As to details it is under tood to be the intention of the general authorities of the improvement associations to furnish through the columns of the contributor notes ind suggestions as to the mode of tudy and references to works from the desired information can bo I 1 venture to repeat the earnest suggestion that whenever practicable lectures should be illustrated herein lies one great advantage of the study of nature the student learns to think independently of books ho discovers that books follow the knowledge of man as a result let these studies too bo pursued by the aid of uhe lamp of prayer and earnest en let us strive to become wise rather than simply learned of science it is strikingly true that knowledge and far from baing one have no connection knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men in minds attentive to their own knowledge is a rude unprofitable the mere materials with which wisdom builds till smoothed and squared and fitted to its place does ant encumber whom it seems to enrich knowledge is proud that he has learned so much wisdom is bumble that it knows no more in conclusion let it be that science is undoubtedly entitled to a place in the curriculum of association studies it should have its right but at tho expense of nothing else that is good among our young I 1 consider scientific knowledge us second in importance only to that knowledge that pertains to the church and kingdom of god such information is of greatest worth to us because of greatest uso it is superior to science to art to literature nature as wo sandy it is but the temple of the wonder fal imposing awe inspiring structure though it is and the science is to conduct us through portals and lead us to the altar where we will acknowledge with reverential sincerity in him we live and move and have our being |
