The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-01-10

DR.. CHANNING. Extract from the Mentor
by W. II. Channing.] And this leads to what
was his most vital experience in college. The
more his character and mind matured, the more
earnestly did he devote himself to aspirations at
ter moral greatness He read with delight the
Stoics, and was profoundly moved by the stern
purity which they inculcated. But the two au-
thors most served to guide his thoughts at this
period were Hutchinson and Ferguson. 1t was
while reading, one day, in the former, some of
the various passages in which he asserts mans
capacity for disinteresed affection, and CONSIDERS
virtue as the sacrifice of private interests and the
bearing OF private evils 10: the public good or as
self-devotion to absolute, universal good, that
there suddenly burst upon his mind that view OF
the dignity of human nature, which was ever at
ter to 'suPhold and cherish him, and thenceforth
to be sthe fountain light of all his day, the master
light of all his seeing" He was, at the time,
walking he read, beneath a clump of willows
yet standing in the meadow little to the north
OF Judge Dana's. This was his iavorite retreat
for study, being then quite uadisturbed and pri.
vate, and offering most serene and cheerful
prospect across green meadows and the glisten-
ing river to the Brookline hills. The place and
the hour were always sacred in his memory, and
he frequently referred to them with grateful ave.
1t seemed to him, that he then passed a new
spiritual birth, and entered upon the day of eter
nal peace and joy. The glory of the Divine dis
interestedness, the privilege OF existing i'll uni
verse OF progressive order and beauty, the posi-.
bties OF spiritual destiny, the sublimity of de-
votedness to the will OF the Infinite Love, pene-
trated his soul; and he was so born away 10 rap-
turous visions, that, to quote his own words as
spoken to friend in latter years,--"I longed TO
die, and felt as ii Heaven aloue could give room
for the exercise OF such emotions; but when |
found must live, cast abou. to do some thing
worthy OF these great thoughts; and my enthusi.
asm at that age, being then but fifteen, turning
strongly to the female sex, considered that thew
were powers which ruled the world, and that. If
they would bestow their favor ON the right cause
only, and never be diverted by caprice, all would
be fifty arranged, aud triumph was sure Ami.
mated with this view, which unfolded itself with
great rapidity and IN many bearings, sat down
and wrote to this ady,"-laying his hand upon
his wife's arm, who was listening by his side.
--"but never got courage to BEND the letter and
have it yet."--This holy hour was but the first
wind flower of the spring, however, the opening
OF long series of experiences by which he was
10 be led up to perfect conservation 1t isa sig
nIcant fact, that in this time of exaltat;on when
the young moral knight-errant took his vow Of
fidelity and was grt with the sword Of love, his
heart should have instincdyely sought the con-
cert in action OF woman. This faith in her pow
er OF disinterested virtue, SO early felt, grew al.
ways stronger; and II disappointment in the char.
acer and deeds OF men made him ever falter for
moment in his generous rims, he found his
hope and herosm renewed by woman's purity
and earnestness.