Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-28
The Enguircl
EDUCATION-[No. VI

|
rance, are twoiod first, the difficulty IN nculca-
ting nd setting forth proper principles; ana, Sc
condly, The difficulty of having these principles
carried out into practice
utlillle thought is necessary TO convince any
individual, that of the thousands OF sermons ana
moral lectures, delivered in The State OF Virginia
annually. there are very many that are mol at all
understood by large majority OF every audi
ence. The plainest language, divested OF all r.
cures, without any illusions 10 science ana me
great truths of science, is absolutely unnteiigbie
10 hundreds and thousands OF hearers. But snould
the discourse abound in illustrations from inc
great laws of nature and scientific discovery, IL
would be no less uninteligibIe, than il delivered
in the Hebrew language Some speakers presume
too much upon the intelligence Of the audience;
forgetting the very large number who are unable
TO read and write even, and that OF those VINO can
read and write, there are multudes mat cannot
understand the meaning OF words, out OF tHcr
common vocabulary, and who cannot understand
the connection in a chain of reasoning. This is
truly humiliatns picture, but II IS neverlhe-
less true, and every one who Will devote any
thought 10 the subject will be convinced OF lis
truth.
But lec,urng and sermonizing are not The only
means BY which morality and virtue are taught
There is plan still more Efficient mean read
ing and studying the Bible. This is the true
source OF all correct moral principles, The living
fountain OF all true religion, by which The rela-
tions between man and man are regulated, and
which points out the way 10 Heaven. But 10 un-
dersland The Bible, the same principles OF inter-
probation must direct Us that are regarded in in
Iarpreting any other book OF purely human origin.
No miracle is performed by the Almighty by
which one is made to understand The Bible, if he
be ignorant of the law of language, the power Of
words, and the conneXon in reasoning.
Now, without this knowledge, there is no book
OF any importance, or that treats on any subject
particularly, that can be understood by any indi-
vidual, who is barefy capable Of reading. Some
thing more is necessary; he must know something
OF words; he must understand something OF The
laws OF language. If This be necessary 10 clear
understanding OF an ordinary volume, how much
more necessary 10 understand the bihle-a book
Astounding in all sorts of writings, as history,
prophecy, didactic and episolary writings be-
sides many parallels. Toundersiand any history,
the reader must have some idea of chronology; to
understand prophecy, there must be an acquan-
lance with The prophetical STYLE the figures and
images used by such writer's 10 understand epis-
tolary writings, the reader must be acquainted
with the time Of writing and the circumstances OF
both the writer and those written 10; and 10 un
dersiand the parallels, some acquaintance with
the usages and customs OF the East, in which pa
rabolc language was so extensively used, IS alb
solulely necessary But il we were 10 leave out
these several classes OF writings, il might be
shown that something more is required than the
bare ability TO read, 10 understand ordinary bibli-
cal language. There are many of The finest spe-
cimens of reasoning in the bible, where such
phrases as ''seeine then, wherefore, and 'here
fore" are used, showing the connexion between
the premises and conclusion. The force ofthese,
the class alluded 10 cannot appreciate.
None Of these points can The eighty thousand
persons in Virginia, over 20 years of age, who
cannot read and write, possibly have any know
ledge of, nor can the same number under twenty,
who cannot read and write, nor can the larger
number, who are put down as capable OF reading
and writing but who can read with no more Ia
cility and pleasure than school boy just learn
ing TO read. Every one knows, that il is law OF
our depraved nature as exemplited in thousands
of instances in daily observation, that man de.
lights not in that which is 10 be carried on only by
labor and trouble. II such business be engaged
in, it is because OF the hope of reward. There Is
one circumstance which is applicable 10 The
point in hand which will be verified iii the case
OF every scholar-indeed, with every one at all
acquainted with ancient languages. 10 read
Latin or Greek, when it is first undertaken, a. |
provement and the reward held out 10 him who
will persevere and become master of these Ian
guages when the lexicon and grammar must be
referred 10 continually, 10 show The root, gender
tense, &c. But a little perseverance smooihs the |
difficult and loilsome path, and The farther The SUI
dent goes, he finds his efforts crowned with sue
cess ill., finally, what he attended 10 al iIrst as
laborous undertaking. becomes both easy and
PLEASANT, and is continual feast 10 his soul the
4 ha,tar W.T.
The ,rite verse so often quoted
"a little learning IL n dangerous thing,
Drink deep or touch not the Pierian Spring.
is peculiarly applicable in the case Of those who
are barely able 10 read, but have never read iaI |
enough TO make j! pleasure; so many OF whom
car be found in every community in Virginia.
Finding no pleasure in the very scaniy intel
leclual culture they have received, they resort
TO the grosser amusemenS OF sense, and mus |
take more pleasure in feeding the body and in |
dulging The gross appetes, than in improving |
the mind This is one grand reason why The bi-
BILE is so much neglected. and his IS also the rea-
son why SO lew newspapers are found IN many |
houses in Virginia-(I should have said ners-
papers)-even with those who were sent TO school,
and who have sent their children, perhaps, as
much as they ever went. There is no more IN
pleasant situation, in which one can be placed,
than TO be comp.l He'd 10 remain al some houses IN
Virginia for twenty four hours, though the fami-
Is be comfortably fixed, and have ample provi-
sion made Tor the body. In travelling over the |
Stale, on several occasions have been detained
at houses, Tor day and night by bad weather.
where there were no books, paper or ink! 10
expect the inmates Of such dwellings 10 be capa-
BILE of edifying conversation would be nnreason-
able and Rousseau's method Of passing lime, I'M
der certain circumstances, BY tying knots IN
strings and unyDg them again, would be lar
more ioerable.
Virgnans are by no means reading people;
RI speak of those in the country especiallyi) no
sex age nor class reads as much as il should
To begel taste for reading, 10 change The whole
lace of society in this particular, which viii
cause more intelligence and dihuse more know,
ledge we must begin at the lowest order, and
make provision for their elevation and improve
meD,. By law OF nature, no body which is
warm can remain warm in very cold amos'
nhere: nor can cold body remain so IN very
warm atmosphere. A similar law rervades The
moral world: hence "ev communication cor
rupls good manners" and hence the iule intel
lec,ual culture with many ViIgiDians who even
have il in their power to attend 10 literature. Inc
mass of grossest ignorance, by which they are
surrounded, is too great 10 enable them TO escape
irs baleful and hurlfll influences. But lei the
thousands upon thousands Of minds in Virginia,
now yelled by ignorance, become enlightened; let
them be visited by one ray Of moral ard in,eec-
,ual light and an impetus will be give 10 intel
lec,ual culture, with all orders and classes in the
State. Those which are now somewhat cultiva-
ted will become more SO; mind will come in con-
tact with mind, and intellect will compete with
intellect-the surest means OF ecitng truth on
All The important subjects connected with mans
destiny.
There was another difficulty. referred io-,he
resnlt or ignorance and want of education-ihat
opposed the progress Of virtue and morality,
There are men who are sincere in espouslng The
cause of religion, but alas! make shipwreek OF
the faith. would seriously ask every divine IN
Virginia, and every church officer OF every de-
nomination, who are those that cause most dilh-