HOME MISSIONARIES. 59 



in divinity, but we have come pretty near it — Ware, Woods, 

 Stearns, and others. It may not crop out in science, but we 

 have not tried it yet. Now, I propose that the brain-work of 

 Massachusetts should go at this business, and the same power 

 that has produced these distinguished men in other professions, 

 may possibly develop, in connection with the Agricultural Col- 

 lege, some natural historian who will do honor to his State and 

 shed light throughout the world. I do not despair. I am sure 

 that, if the farmers of Massachusetts will turn their attention 

 to the work, they may accomplish what I have already alluded 

 to — that fraternity of literature, intelligence and science, the 

 highest free-masonry on earth ; and they may bring forth for us 

 the men that we want in this profession. We can get them 

 in no other way. Now, I have taken that point. I think 

 it is worth toiling for and working for, and I am willing to do 

 what I can, in my small way, to accomplish it. 



One word in regard to another matter. Let no man suppose 

 that we are raising scholars, farmers or teachers for the West. 

 We want them here. This is the best missionary ground I know 

 of. For while our mills, shops, banks and all mechanic arts 

 have succeeded — while we have built cities from one end of the 

 State to the other — built railroads and bored through moun- 

 tains — filled up valleys and pulled down hills — we have all the 

 time been saying that agriculture was an inferior occupation, 

 and one in which the sons of Massachusetts must seek for wealth 

 abroad. Now, we have got at least one small agricultural 

 school already in Essex County ; it is not a large one ; there is 

 but one scholar and one teacher ; but he has studied and worked 

 until he knows all about it. He has been living in Illinois, on 

 the fat lands of the West, and he came home to Massachusetts, 

 disgusted with Western agriculture, to apply himself to the soil 

 of the old Bay State. He told me last Friday night that he 

 could raise better crops on a hill within two miles of Lawrence 

 than on what are called the rich, fat lands within two miles of 

 Chicago. He showed me his crops, and proved to a demonstra- 

 tion that a careful application of the principles of agriculture, 

 which he had reduced to a science, was of more value to him on 

 a pine barren, almost, than anything he had been able to accom- 

 plish within two miles of Chicago, with all the agricultural fame 

 of Illinois behind him. I ask the people of Massachusetts to 



