49 



human voice that, perhaps centuries before, gave it utter- 

 ance? 



The good Father again has left to the intelhgence and the 

 free-will of His creatures, under the guidance of His Provi- 

 dence, the working out of the social problems which harmonize 

 and organize the living of men together in human society. He 

 is therefore an agent of our Father's care, as well as a bene- 

 factor to his fellow-men, who makes clear any great social 

 principle that guides men in their social organization. Our 

 Declaration of Independence is not only our country's Magna 

 Charta, earning for its framers and signers our country's ever- 

 lasting love, but it is an enunciation of social principles, stand- 

 ing like a great beacon light on the pathway of man's social 

 advance, calling for the gratitude of mankind forever. 



Human action depends for its wisdom and its utility upon 

 its agreement with the great principles of truth and of duty 

 which are the bases of philosophy. Any brilliant genius who 

 Avould lead astray from those great principles is an ignis 

 fatuus^ who must lead men into the mire, whether it be social 

 or domestic, or political organization that is in question. They, 

 on the contrary, deserve all honor from God and from men 

 who have power to declare those great principles with a voice 

 that all must hear and heed, and who hold them up like a 

 torch to guide the advance of mankind in those paths of 

 morality and of religion in which alone, as our immortal 

 Washington has warned us, can our country's prosperity be 

 hoped for. 



All honor therefore to the men who, in any realm of scien- 

 tific, of philosophical, of ethical research, are doing something 

 to increase the store of human knowledge, and all honor to 

 this Association which gives to such men so efficient assist- 

 ance. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XXVII. 131. G. PRINTED JAN. 29, 1890. 



