AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 53 



this terribly disgraceful fault, that the world will come to America because 

 her ships never burn, blow up or sink, and none but accidents such as all 

 men and all law call " Actus Dei,''' acts of God, can occur. And while 

 driven by an irresistible impulse to go ahead, let us for Grod's sake and 

 his human beings, look ahead ! 



And, in the hurry of our multitudinous works, let us remember to do 

 nothing to impair the health of our bodies and souls. Whatever wealth 

 we make, whatever wonderful means we invest for bodily ease, flight or 

 rest ; if we could travel by telegram and rest on summer clouds, we must, 

 as men, have strong bodies, rendered so by due labor and temperance, 

 religious strength, and, with all, long and happy lives. And whatever we 

 print with lightning speed, no matter what it be, of science or of pleasure, 

 let every one that can read a newspaper read his Bible first , not as he 

 does the newspaper, but as he docs the book of his inoney and estate, so 

 that when he mixes in the maelstrom of human affairs he can no more 

 forget his Bible than his bank book, deeds and bo?ids. I say this as an 

 old man of some reading, especially in quest of religious truth. The 

 world may grow dim with age, but that book is eternal light, and may it 

 be yours forever. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, you will join us in the wish that our people may, 

 by their genius and power, always execute works worthy of palaces, and 

 always have palaces to put them in. 



