INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
627 
grows, covers itself with the pomp of flowers and leaves, 
which a bounteous nature has bestowed upon it, breathes 
away its soul in fragrance, and dies ; or renews itself in- 
definitely in its shoots, destined to the same life, the same 
florescence, reproduction and decay. The plant lives, for in 
the circulation of its sap, the respiratory functions of its 
leaves and flowers, and the reproductive power of its seeds, 
it fulfils all the conditions of the peculiar phase of life it has 
received from the creating hand of God. The animal moves, 
seeks its food ; whether, to supply these necessities, it roams 
the field, searches the thicket, or cleaves the air or flood; 
it has its peculiar habits, instincts, and generic conditions 
of organization, alimentation, reproduction, moving power, 
life. The animal lives, but it has no power of progress or 
indefinite perfection. It is enough for it to possess instinct, 
agility, strength. It lives, reproduces itself, and dies , in the 
fullest sense of the word. 
“ Not so man. Possessed of animal life, in a higher sense 
than any of the other living creatures — his heart a sponge, 
which absorbs and appropriates every sensation, and exact- 
ing from it service, whether for good or evil; he has, in 
addition, the power of indefinite advance, and of turning all 
to account in the attainment of this end. His knowledge is 
not that vague perception called instinct. He sees things 
clearly, has the faculty of foresight, can calculate and pro- 
vide for the future, has remembrance of the past, will, 
judgment, hope, in whatever situation he may be placed. 
“ Thus formed and endowed, man feels himself to be lord 
of the creation, and at once comprehends that all which sur- 
rounds him is destined to minister to the innumerable wants 
which attach to or arise from his peculiar organization, his 
compounded physical, moral, and intellectual nature. Hence 
his right to the unfettered enjoyment of life , and means to 
preserve it; the power of acquiring property; of moving 
whither he will ; of indefinite development of all the powers 
and faculties conferred upon him — in short, of liberty , with- 
out which it is impossible for him to exercise the faculties 
bestowed upon him, and fulfil the mission intrusted by God 
to the human race. Man is not an isolated being. Multi- 
plied in millions and millions of similar beings, he forms 
successively the family; the social circle; the wider circle of 
the district, the province, the nation ; the race ; humanity. 
It is to this congeries of beings, which is summed up in the 
general term society , that has been committed the task of the 
development of man, viewed as a sentient, earthly, perishing 
being. 
