The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-19

"THR ExI6xKNcE or Con This Afhen1um t1cfure
room was wen filed on Tuesday evening. md with
Others We confess to experiencing high degree Of
qualification in listening to the address Of Professor
McGuf1ey We believe we but echo the sentiment
of every nearer, when we say that his discourse
was tissue of clear aud solid argument, clothed In
select language and illustrated by the most Apr opr
ate and beautiful imsgefy. The Professor Justly
ranks among the first Of the literary savans Of our
beloved country.
The beginning of things said the Rev. gentleman,
was necessarily very small, and this was emphat-
cay true in the element oftruth. The evidence OF
Creator was founded on truth Masonry was not
equal in its soidity the native rock and we might
derive the best material from this native source, for
building upon most scientific principles, but he
would be an unwise architect truly, who wouldsdg
| lower than the rock for a foundation. These few
preliminary remarks he trusted, would be his apo
ogy for stating some very simple propositions, and
| asking sumo questions which might perhaps, seem
| too simple to have any meaning.
| If we were asked how we knew our own exist
ence, it would seem almost an impertinent question
| for the prompt answer would be- that we were
quainted with our own existence very much in the
same way that we were acquainted with the exist
ence of anything else, and because knew our own
material structure to exist just as we knew the
structure of others, and other things around TO
| exist Yet this answer would not be entirely cor
rect because an intimate knowledge of our own cor
poreal existence did not have any regard to things
| external to ourselves. When the question was
| asked, how we knew we had mind. the answer would
be still more different from that which we would
| give if asked, how we knew others had minds. We
could not doubt our ideas existence. That
knowledge was almost intuitive. But when asked
how we knew others had mind the answer
entirely different We were not conscious of our
selves OF other minds thinking The proof of others
being intelligent beings, through our senses and
by becoming acquainted with them. This argu-
ment would not be questioned, and when admitted
all admitted that necessary to prove the ex-
istence and attributes of God.
The principle of casualty and the doctrine of final
causes constituted the pha and Omega of all phlos-
ophy Men gave evidence of their intelligence,
though they might differ in the extent of that which
| they possessed true inference then, was, that
intelligent men were made by an intelligent Crea-
tor And if the positions in which man was placed,
and the circumstances by which he was surrounded,
conduced to his happiness, then the Creator was
benevolent firstcause.
The lecturer then proceeded at length to illustrate
his positions. Modern science compelled to ad-
init, that blade of grass grain of sand
the leaf of tree, not the result of accident
Their formation and adaptation showed that they
were the product of mind of Infinite science, and
that they did not exist from eternity. Crystals and
organized substances proved this contrivauces as
well as the vegetables and to proceed step high
er, the proof of divine wisdom was found in the
/ physiology of animals. Here the new element of
sensabily was introduced Previously they had been
| looking at contrivances merely, now they survey
| ed contrivances for benevolent end. They were
| created to administer to mans happiness. Man was
| their Deity. Mans tone understood by all it's
members and they were subservient to his will. In
this adaptation of the earth and its contents to man
was seen the proof of intelligent and governing
frst-cause All nature evidenced the handwork and
intelligence of great and benevolent Creator, and
the heavens and moving spheres above US, fur
nished unmstakeable evidences of His wisdom
and power.
Human nature itself furnished this evidence in
the harmony and adaptation of the senses and fac
ulties to each other. The passions and selfish ex-
| ertons OF men carried out tie great schemes of a
Creatorof an Infinite intelgence Mans irascible
feelings in state of nature-the savage state-led
to cruelty-in civilized state to redress of wrong
and punishment Of crime and oppression. The teel-
ing ofelnulation spurred men onward to high posi-
tons in their respective professions-the increased
perfection of which, without their intending tide
veloped in proper form the great and harrnonizing
plans of the Creator for the government of the en-
tire world Human seishness thus turned to a
good accouut Twenty of Oueen Victori.,o rom,
missaries would fail in providing regularly for the
sustenance of the millions of London; yet they
were all regularly supplied with their requisite
| food, notwithstanding London was province COW
cred with houses, to which everything in the shape
offood must be brought The people were supplied
with food in its utmost perfection and at the cheap
est rates, by hucksters and provision merchants,
| who were influenced to the work from selfish de.
sires to make gain. These arrangements had all
been perfected for good by the great Creator
The eloquent lecturer then proceeded to speak of
the attributes of Deity which he said were involved
and proven in the argument he had already submit
ted, in regard to His existence aud concluded by en-.
forcing the duty of prayer incumbent upon US ALL as
the children of great and kind Father and Crea.
tor. The general liveliness and satisfaction which
prevailed at the end of the lecture, proved we
thought not only its interesting character but the
advantage of short and pointed lectures that do
eugender drowsness of brain, or resessness of the
! nervous system.
| SINGING ScHooL.-As win be seen by her adye1-
tsement, Miss H. NJ. Jones processes to open sing
ing school in the vestry Of the Presbyterian Church
on Church Hill, Monday evening next, at naH past
o'clock. Miss ]. also proposes to give private les
Sons on the Pianoforte, and in singing This lady
possesses avery high order of talent in the depart
ments of music, and the ample testimonials and
references which che furnish to her skill and
proficiency in this divine art fully vouch for her high
and proper publications TO impart to others the
compli .hments with which she is so thoroughly
conversant Under her tuition the voices Of our