Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-28
For the Freeman.
PHRENOLOGY.

.herSsrs. Editors Having noticed the re.
marks of your correspondent "S.a in regard to
Phrenolegy, and also yonr intention to insert ar
ticles relating to The same take the liberty to
send you few hints on the subject.
Phrenology processes to be a new system of
mental philosophy, and as such, merits at least
our careful examination That it has not at
tained high degree Of excellence, admit;
lbnt that lit is wholly false. and absurd it is
lreAlyths gross ih,postssfc repreaaraed BY s So,
do firmly believe to be untrue It's very success
iefutes the idea. Surely Its discovery was suf-
fcontly ancient to have its merits partially tes-
ted and yet it is gaining new advocates daily
and almost hourly. Its advance like most other
sciences is slow, but sure. And look forward
to the time, when it shall not only be generally
believed, but proved to be of the greatest prac
teal utility TO mankind
IS" admits his belief in the location of the
mind in the brain, but denies any outward mani
ifestaiions of it. Now, supposng this were the
case !; it would not In reality affect the truths Of
Phrenoogy, only its practical utility; for we
know that certain sentiments and propensties
do exist, whether there is really any outward ir-
dcations of them or not. We know that we
possess reasoning faculties, also Benevolence,
Cautiousness, &c.-together with an almost in
finite number of different shades of thought
and feelings, which do truly exist in the human
mind.
Admitting then for an instant, the existence
of outward organs, to be "humbug," still no
system of mental philosophy, has ever before
presented such clear and simple views of tie
mind; its various shades and different modes of
acting, as that presented by Phren3legy.
well know that it has ever met with the most
bitter opposition from all classes of society and
more especially, perhaps, from clergymen, and
professors of religion. Such generally con-
denim it with glance; bot not being able to
advance any reasonable objection, they harp
simultaneously upon this one strain, viz:-'it
leads to iuhdelity," how, they cannot clearly see
but wisely suppose, it must have such ten
dency.
IS" asks how Phrenology agrees with the
doctrines of mans apostacy, and recovery by
redemption" answer, clearly and beautifully.
1t not only does not contradict, but perfectly a.
grces with them, in every particular
"Saul of Tarsus was Tiger" man cele-
brated for his untirng persecution of Christians
: yet, in the Apostle Paul, you behold that same
bodness employed, not in persecution, but in
, preaching against it. Behold him at Athens al
| so before Agrippa; and there convince yourself
i that he has lost none of his leading traits of
: character In what then, consists the change,
Y simply in change Of the direction Of his mental
faculties, from prosecuting the Saints to convert
, ing their enemies.
/ But why does not as" boldly strike at the
7 root of the tree, he would demolish? and thus
destroy it forever, instead of trying to lop off its
branches, which only makes it grow stronger
Z Why does he admit the fundamental truths, thu
: great basis upon which it is founded; and thel
d attempt to deny its minor principles? strang
8 inconsistency,
d He expressed his firm belief in witchcran
g sorcery, &c. past and present, and of course j
J. the ten thousand whims of the day, relating t
e to the moon, the last Friday in the month 60,
d crniug the next month, and many others whic
forcibly remind me of the old lady, who had a
If ways noticed it to be fact, that when she ha
n lived through the month of march, she had a
$. ways lived through the year. But why do v
lie see less of witches, than people Of former timel
u? Has his Satanic majesty, to whom they are ge
r. orally imputed, grown weary Of his task or, h
he he removed the seat of his operations to sor
4? more favored cline? Surely, it must be one
he the other; which, leave superstition to dccit
nd And now while we believe there arc facts |
er under the cognizance of philosophy let us
RS ieye these which have been clearly, and CT
didly pointed out by the same, lest in trying
e- avoid one error, we fall into greater. NJ
p- Hardwick, June, lS49,