New-York tribune., 1841-11-09
n G-..on having concluded his Address,

Hsn.s.uug1L. SourHARp, of New.Jersey, ap-
pearsd as the Lecturer OF the evening, and was
welcomed with general enthusiasm. He remarked
that the appearances OF the audience before him led
him 70 fear that ne had bsen persuaded b. the
Committee TO undertake responsibility which ne
would Willingly have avoided. But ne had con-
sen,ed to deliver Lecture purely Introductory 10
Course. and that duty, in its simplest mode, ne
now appeared 10 perform. Many OF the susge.-
,ions he should now present ne had before 80,
dressed TO humber associations and 1s'S cFo"'eH
suditores. But ne should no, be s:inSnced to vary
The course of his remarks by the crowded and
brill:a-t auditory which he aow saw before h'H'-
What i Lyceu1l and what are lts oojects
The word Is of Greclan origin ne L!ceuh Oh
old was grove on the banks ot the iiissus heaE
Athens. where i was the custom TO tram you'"
for soldiers About thee hundred years eeio'e
Christ It fell into the hands oi Aristotle the ieSs
;.t,7r7nsbcd disc rle OF Plato who here instructed
hi. disciples in Phi!osophy-sivlng MS lessons
WALKING. whence his school obtained the naxe OF
peripG.e,ics Aristotle taught almost ali branches
of intellectual Science and produced four hundred
works. many of which nave persisted IN the revolu-
lions Of ag-s. bat SONS have como down 10 our day,
7
textbooks in Philosophy. The teachings OF Aris-
to,!. continued through twelve year, his scholars
xerc the most learned and the most celebrated IN
that age of light: and his works mas even now be
read with profit Bot Aristotle, wita all his great
meas. was in ono great point detectIve-he had not
the Eight OF Reyela ion and his lessons of duty are
oft-s imperfect We i've Ia happier era, and
are guided BY light which cannot lead asuay.
The name Lyceum acquired sacred and lofty
! character from the School OF Aristotle and was
transferred To other institutes of similar character
There are m7ny differences but tAe great object
of ancient and modern Lyceurls is the sa'ne-te
teach useful ard practical knowledge to men OF
every class and occupa,ion-to teach them how 10
best discharge their dutes in all relations OF life
Perfection in this aim is impossible but shall we
therefore attempt nothingl Because we cannot
ali be scholars, poets, PHILOSOPHERS. shall we be
nothing So mas not thought the New-l ork Ly-
ceum such is not the spirit of lis members I'M
provsment is their great aim
vas not aware till a few moments since, OF the
peculiar character OF the Lyceum; but under
stood and approved us general scope aud spirit. -
Let YOUR doors be thrown wide open TO your fel-
/ low-citzens There none among you too
learned none TOO ignorant, TO be prehicd by such
an interchange of ideas as your Institute iaclli-
,ates-none who NAV not be made wiser and bet
ter bv attention to the teachings which will here
! be afforded
Your Library will be great feature OF your as
sociation The learning of our age is practical;
there is no employment, condition, which may
not be benefited BY it. Practical treatises have
been written on every uhject and the Art OF
Printing has rendered them accessible to every in.
sti,utc like this The Press has widened its own
pathway, dcerened its own track, and established
its position as the right arm of knowledge and
Science Its works find their way to every closet
and every tirssde; and one of its great benefits II
that it furnishes the means of instruston TO those
whose youth has been unSlessed BY education
The Press has had its evils as well its beae-
fits The world cannot profit by many of the
books which have been thrown OUT for It's use u
wise and economical selection is demanded; and
this NAV be made adyantageously by sucl asso-
Citations tins;
Philosophical and Mechanical Apparatus are
desirable for such Institutes this The lever,
the puy, as well as the thermsmeter, the needle
and the telescope, admirably illustrate the nd-
vaucement of Science in our age. All have their
uses and ca h mas be made 10 illustrate iorciby
the blessings of knowledge.
The delivery of Lectures is prominent means
of tie diffusion of knowledge No greater tacil'-
ties can be afforded any where than IN this great
City, which has already outstripped all her original
competitors in the race 10 greatness, and now
aspires TO rivalry wiki the great cities OF the
world. Do not RELY too much Oh tae scholars or
great names; lectures designed to Impart
practical knowledge prac'ica! subjects, and
pain common. sense men best. The eXplana-
ton of tn method OF any useful art Is itself
lecture. beneficial to the lecturer we'll as his
hearers. The eff,rt TO communicate knowledge
Increases it. This Lyceum must have among It's
own members those abunlantly qualified for lee
turers
Free discussion and oral conversation ere also
proper means of diiusing knowledge through Ly-
ceums. The French philosopher Diderot mali'-
tanned that the best method Of educating child
wa. by telling it and encouraging 1t to tel
stories in return. The principle may BE- Prohtaby
observed here.
a Lyceum is emphatically Republican in'titu-
ton. Here all meet on one platform All cond-
tions. all empl5ymrnts meet here on IN equal foot
ing, and the wider tho basis, the more certain the
benefit.
A Lrceun does not confne its benefits to
sex Nhv ,heuld one half of people be de-
priyed ef self Improvement Women not less
capable than men of the cultivation OF the intel
ect and the Lyceum mas been admirably cacu-
lated TO favor their Improvement. Let me not be
mistaken. venld not have women become pub
lie lecturers or debaers but a, all the exercises OF
the Lyceurn they may properly be present, and
none have proved more capable OF profting BY
them ,h-n they. Let them hear and they will
learn and VIC and ali men viii profit BY heir in
structon.
The old and young, as well as those in mid
die life, may pr9it by the Lyceum, bur especially
the voung T.e .chool-ooy who is here taught the
expanauon of some phenomena in nature will
never forget it. but will apply the knowledge 50
gained TO other phenomena. He will learn that
the falling o; IA apple, the revolutions OF planet,