FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>   >|  
with a traditional supply. Others ask for science because it will help them make, or work, and perchance _become_ machines, whereby they may earn bread: and oftentimes, says the writer, "does this mere irritability of the coating of the stomach pass itself off as the waking up the life of the soul, and the sublime and pure aspirations of the spirit, for high and ultimate truths, pure as itself." Then, it is the fashion to be learned, and the fops of literature, who must "follow the fashion," of course, get wisdom as quickly and easily as possible. These are the main features of that demand for science, which is now so clamorous. Mr. Pease divides the lectures of the day into three classes; first those of which the object is instruction, then those designed to amuse, and last, those which profess to serve both these purposes; and he thinks it may be said of all, that they have no _vital, form-giving, organific principle_, running through them, developing properly each separate part, and uniting them all by its own power. In these discourses he says: "The carpenter is the actual model; for like him the discourser cuts and fits his timber according to rules the grounds of which it concerns not him to understand, with little labor beyond that of hacking and hewing--materials being ever ready at his hand: for the world is full of books as the forest is of trees and the market of lumber. And this is done to instruct us; to build us up inwardly; to administer food to our intellect; to nourish our souls; to kindle the imagination and awaken to energetic action the living but slumbering world within. But, alas! this inner world cannot be kindled like a smouldering fire, by a basket of chips and a puff of wind! This inner world is a world of spirits, which feed on thoughts full of truth and living energy. And thought alone can kindle thought: and truth alone can waken truth: not veracity, not fact, but truth vital, 'Truth that wakes To perish never.' This is the bread for which the soul is pining, and such are the husks with which its calls are answered." There is in this statement of the predominant character of our popular lectures much that is true, as we could easily show by a definite examination of the most popular discourses to which our audiences listen. Every one can see that their aim is, not to announce great truths, which are essential to the well-being of society, and the instruction of the soul,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

instruction

 

science

 

thought

 
fashion
 
easily
 

living

 
discourses
 

kindle

 

truths

 

lectures


popular
 

administer

 

supply

 

listen

 

inwardly

 
audiences
 

intellect

 

nourish

 

imagination

 
awaken

instruct

 
action
 

energetic

 

lumber

 

society

 

materials

 

hacking

 
hewing
 

Others

 

market


announce

 

essential

 

forest

 

perish

 

veracity

 

pining

 

statement

 

predominant

 

answered

 

energy


traditional

 

kindled

 

definite

 

smouldering

 

examination

 

slumbering

 
character
 

basket

 

spirits

 

thoughts