THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF HORTICULTURE 291 



THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF HORTICULTURE. 

 C. S. HaiTison, York, Neb. 



As a class horticulturists have the highest ideals, lead the cleanest 

 lives and exert the strongest influences of any of the secular profes- 

 sions. I am called on to address thousands of people in the various 

 walks of life but never have I met a more responsive class. A public 

 speaker is extremely sensitive to the attitude and sympathies of his 

 audience. 



I am often called upon to open meetings with an invocation for 

 Divine aid and these men, many of whom are earnest christians, seem 

 to move on with me to the throne of grace with reverent and devout 

 spirit . If I touch the higher phases of our calling I am often deeply 

 moved and thrilled by their silent or uttered responses. When after 

 our great meeting at Cleveland people from Texas and California said 

 "your address richly repaid us for coming." I felt I was not living in 

 vain. I am always glad to touch those chords which respond to our 

 highest inspirations. 



Let me say, first we live nearest to nature and to God. We 

 belong to the firm of Heavenly Father and Sons. Our mission is to 

 make the world more beautiful and fruitful. 



Through the ages people blundered and stumbled in darkness. 

 Many of the most potent agencies were unknown. The savage trembled 

 when the mighty oak was shivered by the lightening's blinding Hash. 

 Little knew he that in that tremendous force there was the untrans- 

 lated lesson of Jehovahs love — a giant at play waiting for a harness 

 so that he could dive under an ocean, leap a continent, illuminate 

 our homes, drive vessels and cars and set in motion acres of machinery. 

 Only recently was the power of steam applied. The force by which 

 God "taketh up the isles as a very little thing." Coal and oil are only 

 recent discoveries. All these things reveal the far planning and 

 kindly providence of our Father. 



Alarmists predict the speedy disolution of all things. Never fear, 

 the World is just beginning to live. Though what a stupendous past 

 has this old globe of ours swung down to the present. Look forward, 

 and the ages through which we are to move are lying like sands along 

 the sea shores of eternity. I love to think of nature as the first born 

 daughter of God. Sometimes she seems like a person whose mother- 

 hood embraces the world — ever fresh and vigorous though the snows 

 of ages crown her head. On her cheeks are the tints of eternal youth. 

 How much she is doing for us. She takes us into her holy of holies 

 and reveals to us her mysteries and tells us of the wonderful things 

 yet to come out of the unknown. In the Arnold Arboretum are some 

 six primitive apples. She taught the horticulturists how to evolve 

 from these in the long processes the Jonathan, Grimes Golden and the 

 Wealthy. She has given us High Priests, who minister daily in her 

 temple. Our beloved Hansen, Patten, Wyman, Elliott who fell dead 



