The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-12
From the Boston Traveller.
AMERICAN LYCEUM.-No. g.


lis simplicity. A greater or more unfor-
tunate mistake has never been entertained
respecting the plan of the Lyceum, than
that 1t is some great machine, requiring
distinguished talents or learning to give it
motion-that learned and finished dis
courses or lectures must be given before its
benefits can be realized. 1t is true that
I the spirit of the institution requires it to
recognize, appreciate, and call to its aid,
when 1t can be had, talents and acquire
ments of the first order; but it utterly re-
fuses to depend upon them. 1t maintains
the mind is a self-moving machine, and ca
pable of achieving its own advancement ;
and that the principal object of all foreign
aid, is to enable it to feel, appreciate and
use Its own power, and to rise by it's own
strength.
1t does not decline the best accommoda-
tons IN buildings, apparatus and teachers,
but 1t maintains that, in the most obscure
village or neighborhood, a few persons who
wish for mutual or self-improvement. can
procure accommodations fitted, if not equal,
to their wants.
One of the most striking and important
features of the Lyceum, is its self-adaptinr
prlnciple-its power of fitting itself to the
wants and requirements Of any community
disposed to Introduce it. In some Lvce-
ums, papers have been read of the highest
character, for talents, learning and science
IN others, exercises of more humble, but
not less useful character, have been intro
duced fitted to minds not versed in the
sciences, and even to those but Just COM
menced in the great work of education. A
Lyceum which became permanent and ex-
tenslvely useful, commenced with the week
ly social meetings of few neighbors, for
the purpose OF reading conversations on
Chemistry, and for such inquiries and re-
marks as the subject would naturally sug-
gest. These unpretending meetings, COM
menced principally with a view of enabling
few friends to pass one evening a week
pleasantly in social intercourse, soon led to
the procuring of apparatus, and finally to
the establishment of a respectable, pefma-
nent, and extensively useful institution.
The Franklin Library of Philadelphia, prob
ably now the third in the United States,
had an origin scarcely less humble.
In two or three instances in the vicinity
of Boston, the doubtful efforts of some half
dozen individuals, soon led to the cree
ton OF buildings or halls, for the accommo-
dation large and respectable societies.
Several Lyccums, during the last winter,
admitted to their meetings the eldest pupils
of all the public schools in their towns, and
fitted a portion of the exercises to their
age and requirements. The interest, not
only among pupils, but among teachers and
parents, soon became universal, and was in
every instance exceedingly happy in its
roSuit- 1t throw a striking and salntary in
tiuence over the conversation and social in
tercourse of the whole community, when
ever this course was adopted.
The most simple, humble and familiar
exercises of Lyceums have almost uniform
ly been the most useful, because they have
induced a greater number to participate in
them; and it is the efforts of ones self, and
and not those of another, that result in the
advancement of mind.
We are led to the conclusion, then. from
numerous, and some of the most successful.
experiments, that in any village or neigh
borhood, where book, or even a tract on
some subject of useful knowledge can be
procured, and person found capable of
reading it, the social, intellectual and moral
entertainment and improvement contem-
plated by the Lyceum, may in some meas
ure, at least, be realized. The exercises,
even in this humble form, unless very stupid
ly conducted, must awaken some thought
furnish, to some extent, topics of conversa-
ton, and exert a favorable influence upon
social intercourse. and the whole success
and hopes of this institution is founded
upon the social principles Of our natures. It
does not expect or wish to dazzle the eyes of
the multitude by occasional splendid achev-
ments, conducted by costly and complicated
machinery, in the hands of few superior
spirits. The operations it contemplates are
silent, but constant-simple, but social
humble, but universal-unpretending in
their movements, but dignifed and exalted
in their tendency and'results.
! FRANKTIN