4
4
FIFTY-SEVENTH YEAR
V
1
' 1
-3
852
i5
a)
FX
an of tlje $artk Carolina (ffonference
RALEIGH, N. C, JULi 13, 1911.
WISDOM
By ROBERT HALL
Every other quality besides is subordinate and inferior to wisdom, in the
same sense as the mason who lays the bricks and stones in a building is in
ferior to the architect who drew the plan and superintends the work. The
former executes only what the latter contrives and directs. Now, it is the pre
rogative of wisdom to preside over every inferior principle, to regulate the
exercise of every power, and limit the indulgence of every appetite, as shall
best conduce to one great end. . It being the province of wisdom to preside,
it sits as umpire on every difficulty, and so gives the final direction and con
trol to all the powers of our nature. Hence it is entitled to be considered as
the top and summit of perfection. It belongs to wisdom to determine when
to act and when to cease, when to reveal and when to conceal a matter when
to speak and when to keep silence when to give and when to receive ; in
short, to regulate the measure of all things, as well as to determine the end,
and provide the means of obtaining the end pursued in every deliberate course
of action. Every particular faculty or skill, besides, needs to derive direction
from this; they are all quite incapable of directing themselves. The art of
navigation, for instance, will teach us to steer a ship across the ocean, but it
will never teach us on what occasions it is proper to take a voyage. The art
of war will instruct us how to marshal an army, or to fight a battle to the
greatest advantage, but you must learn from a higher school when it is fitting,
just, and proper to wage war or to make peace. The art of the husbandman
is to sow and bring to maturity the precious fruits of the earth ; it belongs to
another skill to regulate their consumption by a regard to our health, fortune,
and other circumstances. In short, there is no faculty we can exert, no species
of skill we can apply, but requires a superintending hand but looks up, as it
were, to some higher principle, as a maid to her mistress for direction ; and
this universal superintendent is wisdom.
3
XUMI1EK 22.