FARMER'S INSTITUTES. 113 



And in this relation of universal dependence, when applied to our race, we 

 recognize the foundation for the doctrine of the brotherhood of man, thau 

 which no truth is more strongly set forth in tlie volume of inspiration, or found 

 in more glowing lines on the no less divinely written pages of the great book of 

 nature. And as the individual man, unaided by his fellow man, is powerless 

 to promote his own welfare, a common desire, a common purpose, and a union 

 of action, become a necessity in promoting the greatest good of intelligent 

 existence. And in no way can sucli union of action be secured and such desires 

 and purposes be carried out but by the aid of organization. Civilization pro- 

 gresses, and the well being of society is attained just in proportion as the 

 organizations of such society are wise and well secured. 



In all ages of the world the first and most important organization of society 

 lias been civil government, which has been a blessing just in proportion as in 

 its fundamental principles and in its administration it has recognized and 

 respected the natural God-given rights of all classes alike, and opened wide the 

 door and made broad the field for human effort, either individual or collective, 

 to struggle for the development and building up of the great interests of society. 

 In promoting the social, the educational, the philanthropic and the religious, 

 as well as the business enterprises of society, men have not been slow to recog- 

 nize the fact that "in union is strength," and in all the past we find those of 

 like purpose and interest taking tlie advantage, to a greater or less extent, of 

 organized cooperation to carry out such purposes and promote such interests. 

 Let us look back for a moment over the past century. How stupendous — 

 almost bevond realization — have been the results of organized effort. Mission- 

 ary societies have unfurled the banner of the cross on ten thousand hilltops, 

 and through ten thousand heathen vales has echoed that angelic song that once 

 waked the starry midnight on Bethlehem's plains — "Peace on earth and good 

 will to men." 



Bible societies have translated God's sacred word into hundreds of languages 

 and are carrying it by millions of volumes to every quarter of the globe, and 

 millions of minds once benighted are to-day searching that book divine for a 

 more perfect knowledge of the true God and the glorious plan of salvation. 

 Tract societies have scattered their gems of moral light and truth, innumerable 

 almost as the leaves of the forest. From thousands of benevolent and philan- 

 thropic organizations have flowed streams of joy and plenty to innumerable 

 homes of wretchedness and want, and caused the vail of sadness to be lifted 

 from millions of hearts crushed and bleeding. The friends of science and 

 learning in many parts of the world, and especially in our own glorious free 

 country, are and have been doing much by organized effort to raise still higher 

 the standard of education, and to bring within the reach of the humblest of 

 American citizens the opportunities for intellectual culture. All the great 

 moral reforms of the day by which vice is combated and virtue encouraged 

 are being carried forward by the organized efforts of the friends of truth and 

 good order. Through organized cooperation the sails of commerce whiten 

 every sea, and the vast products of the earth are transported from land to land 

 and the wants of the nations supplied. Within the past half century in our 

 own country more than 70,000 miles of railroads have been built, opening 

 thoroughfares for transportation in every direction through our vast territory, 

 and spatniing the continent from ocean to ocean. A hundred thousand miles 

 of telegraph wire furnishes a track on wliich the lightning may bear our mes- 

 sages and do our errands. And in fact those engaged in everv department of 

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