New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-07
LECTURES.
THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN DESTINY.


The Fourth Lecture of this course, on
Thursday night, was en- the Human Soul, in refer
encc TO its capacities for spiritual culture. We have
already said Dr. Dewey, considered the physical or
gar zaiion OF man We come row 20 the soul Itself,
whcn distinct from that organization rs lift were
ady en'hroned in heavenly splendors Admitting
that the BODY in the present state, essential 70 The
operations ofthe SOUL are notthsfeore authorized
to assert their identity. They are essentially cis-
iilct in their nature, ard sophisiical adroitness
can make them ore. Bone. sinew and brain exist
in intimate connection with thought, feeling, and
co1science but say that they are the same is as
absurd as to maintain that because the eye cannot
see without light, the eye and light are identical.
Ncr 60 1 acknowledge any special obscurity in
TIE subject Indeed, We are more strictly cognlzant
ofihe existence and action of the mind than we are
oil the existence and action of matter. II we could
examine the consciousness of child, presume, We
should find that he regarded his body as no less ex
traneous 70 himself than if it belonged to another
plant He feels that his soul is his own, but that is
more than he knows in regard to his foot Philoso.
phers have denied the existence OF the material uni
verse bu. no one ia his senses has ever doubted his
own existence. We are better acquainted with the
action of our spiritual nature than with the
comprehension of the process by which, from the
comparison of two truths, deduce third, than l
have of the process by which combustion is pro-
duced Oh the application Of heat.
On any theory of the human soul, the problem of
its faculties and capacities is one Of extreme inter-
est. Even ii you suppose that it is inert helpless,
morally dead, prior to the exercise of divine nhu.
ence, by which sregenerated in beauty and power,
ha and N m n
upon which that influence operaes, and through
which the agency of celestial JUNCTION is manifest
But, for my own part, said Dr. d. cannot admit the
intrinsic evil of the human soul. As it comes from
the hands of the Creator i! is gifted with noble and
sublime endoymepts, an objec. of awe and adnira-
tion and born for high and holy destiny
The soul is presented in threefold aspect, that
is to say. possessing intellectual aesthetic, and
moral faculties. In each of these spheres we per-
ceive its celestial origin and its lofty end.
In The field of intellect, the soul has the power of
perceivng intuitise truths and deducing others by
process of reasoning. There are certain primary
nbon IDEAS, fixed and bedded in the very nature of
the SOUL like unity, identity, substance, cause and
effect, and the like, which need no demonstration
and are perceived by their own light. Others are
the fruit of consecutive and analytic ratiocination
"a faculty Of the richest results and most important
bearings. Then there is the vast domain Of science,
both mental and physical which presents such an
admirable illustration Of the greatness of the soul
We cannot even follow the researches Of great
Writers in this field without thrill OF emotion.
When ponder over the lucid pages OF Dugald Stew
art, that most sublime modern philosopher, to whom
such Just and eloquent tribute mas been pad by
Sir James Macintosh, Ifeel as II were head
taller and only give vent u my lneifaole feel
iDes by stfldIng ACROSS the room.
Nor should We coDhne the range Of knowledge
ltFttrFg of hon a
brazen clasps of a monklsh volume, or the purple
covers OF fashionable pfodu;toh OF the day, cam
not comprse the Intellectual treasures of the uni
verse. The common sense OF the people Is the
snortaheous utteTalce of the soul. II em5odies a
fund OF wisdom in terse ofacles. More pregnant
than the deductions of literature, the proverbs of
the multitude assert the best experience Of ages 1t
is IN vain search IN Libraries for maxims OF point
cd byeylty and massive wisdom like the old sayings,
Honesty is the best policy Handsome is thar
handsome does, " Time and tide wait for no man,"
and the Ike. The distinction between common
sense and philosophy has been striklngy illustrated
iy the celebrated French Eclectic Jouffroy. Com
non sense, he remarks, sees philosophy observes
Common seLse looks over the whole field OF kno al
e6e. uercelyes 1t diIny, but having no preJudces,
jueges correctly philosophy dwes on special
roli,,s advances its theories, which humanity re-
celyes OF REJECTS, IN proportion 10 tnelT agreenen,
or disagreement, With common sense.
the aesthetic faculties are those BY which we OBJ
tain tie perceptions of beauty They form an inte-
oral aIc most important portion OF the human soul
Odused over the vide expanseof the universe, IN
the lofty come OF the sky on the towering peak OF
tne mountain, in The gentle loneliness OF the valley
BY the river sloe, and IN the proPorions ana express
son CT the human form, beauty challenges prompt
admiration and exer.s a powerful influence Ia inc
sublime work of Sgiritua! cultivation Even In
red If flowers, or single oouques, %has an Wv.
peakabie charm is presented DY the exquisite
torr ard coloring OF the petals, expanding
the soUl with d glow OF sseet ana tenoet
emotions, and calling ior,h an oHehns Vi
worship from the heart, which ascenas with Us ira
grant incense to the highes. Heaven. Nor less De-
nJgn is the ministry OF mus!c-inusc on whose soar
ing wing to celestial eesiacies, JON In we
choral hymn of the unseen spheres, ana fofgel lne
misefifs ard meannesses OF earth nave neIu
music called vouptuous, but have never hedru 70,
luptuous music. No impure emotion can De eASLteu
by It's refining strains lis Irhuence Is sol, purify
ing end exsiiing. Hsppy The family N when me
love of music reigns IL erects an altar IN tue noss
Of The household, and summons angelic pfiessesses
10 lis ministry. -.
Under he remaining topic that OF the NOR Al fac
ult es % the SOUL DR. ID presented series OF Fivlo
pictures. illustrating the power OF conscieocs; 10
lot at this time propose any theory, sara me- WIN
gard 10 TIE origin and Development OF 'Ms power.
existence and terrible energy are not sci dslGs Oy
differences Of theory. We nay believe VIA na,.~
isy. that conscience is derived solely ron ssnsd.ion
aLd the association OF IDEAS, Win AGAIN oii'3i sa
II is the product of sympathy, or with Paey, tnaI
Is ,ounceo on the perception OF utility III esa s,
Gaze, the facts the same The olstncISn vi ii6'
sno wTong is acsnO wiedsed; and cclsc.ehce re-
mains - IN It's directive. authoritative ano execuise
power. Each OF these heads was treated az ienss1
by the lecturer in several interesting i emaiAs.
which we caAno. make room even Tor tue Susn'e''
sketch. ,..; -,
In conclusion, DR.. d replied to the oolechon va.
with all the eloowmepis OF humanity, "a " r,
accomplished nothing worthy oil tx hase.e. -
would seem to tbat man was cIeasso ~
multiply his race, without any we ~ LIE ~, de-
cultuse. But we must consider thai tne laos' ~,
siso ed nations not "1thous HeSe ~ s. -
ces,my and that ne must Judge BY me NOS s, sue
cess'ul specimens, and not oy evi-Sus =;
With sII ,ns ,hor,.comiues OF humanity, neil,ng ia
the whole range Of alton, SO glorious as the 10
best mspife.ta.ions of human character, goa
ard noble man is suolimer ooec! tnan Ine s.mrs s
heavens with ,heir blue infnitude OF spiendof more
refre ,hlre than the breath Of morn on the nfss a
prcarh OF returning light more fovely taan the m1S
ta.ut,fuI asnecfs Of The natural HANDICAPPED Dut