New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-27
Lecture oil Reform and Progress.

The Fourth Lecture before the Mercan-
tile Library Association, in Hope Chapel, deliy
cred last night in the presence of crowded audi
ence, by Rev DR.. Dewey. In opening the subject
of Human Progress and Modern Reform" DR.
Dewey stated the conditions TO which all progress
must be subjected, III order not to become pretense
or perveIsiOn. 1t IS essential TO wholesome pro
gress that 1t be gradual, experimental and IN accord
ance with the mutual dependencies Of society, or In
other We rds, that il violates law Of humanity, no
material conditions, nor the principle of solidarity,
which is now so frequently alluded to in writing and
discourse. This word solidarity, DR.. ID. remarked
by the way, is an excellent term, and one indeed
quite necessary to represent current modern ldea
Derived from the Latin word SoifUs, it denotes the
consolidation of interests, or the intimate and reel
rroca oction which binds together the brother
hood Of humanity.
shall now said DR.. D., proceed to the apphca-
ton Of these conditions to some Of the most prcmi-
nent schemes Of reform which are now agitated in
| our community. l speak for no sect, party, or
| co,e,ie do Mt s-rvv, an tnirgS 10 pieaSc my
! ,,unirurs and shall aim mainly to please myself
Let me speak freely and without disguise. No So
urety is more needed at this time than for the
| promotion of mems speaking their own minds. |
| am 10 ulIaist. Deep as | may sympathize with
the leading objects o. prevalent reform, blush at
the defects and inconsistencies which mar the char
| acter Of prominent IefoTmeTs. 1t was once said,
Physician, heal myself, | would say, Reformer,
form myself BRING not the burden OF your own I'M
| reflections upon the good cause, whose interests
| YOU profess to have at heart Nor can Join hands
with the stiff conservative, who tremoles at the very
idea Of change-clinging to the past with convul-
sive energy-and beseeching you to let everything
remain as tits, l reverence the past, but know
| that improvement is the law Of humanity.
! The lecturer then alluded to the movement in
behalf of Woman's Rights. | believe, said he, that
woman has been deeply wronged BY many customs
| of society. 1t is not only among the Indians and
Hotientots that the sacred privileges of womanhood
| have been grossly outraged. Woman was not born
| TO lose her own identity in the Will of another
| have never felt willing in performing the marriage
ceremony, TO the word obey in reference to the
wife True, the Apostle Paul said, Wives, OBEY
YOUR husbands but that was in an imperfect state
of society and in the present age OF light and re
fine menI, We Should not insist on the command OF
| the Apostle Wedlock is state OF entire Teclpro-
city, and difference of opinion should be settled by
mutual f0fbearance and love, not by arOhfary COM
pulsion. Nor should the earnings Of wife be left
| II the power oisslpated husband to squander
upon his wees. Let woman receive The benent OF
and complete educ alton lei her pecunary rights
| be respected although two independent property
| holders in the family may not be convenient ;
| 10 engage masculine pursuits. Some would wish
| 10 see women in our legislative assemblies But
Heaven US from that The leglsa ture is bad
| enough already. Introduce woman into that scene
OF turmoil and conflict, With all her cehcacy, sensi-
| tveness, and enthusiasm, and you would have a
| spectacle like that of house in flames fed by the
most volatile and infammable oils. Some would
have woman public teacher, judicial fUactlonary,
| and " by not captain or d commodore as well but
nature has destined her 10 the sphere of maternity
her peculiar charge is the rearing Of children and
hermdoor occupations induce that soisness OF nature
which units her for the ruder pursuits OF public life.
The next reform considered by Or. D., was de-
scrloed as the change OF the Family for the Phaan-
stery. For my own part. SAID ne, should not Ike
TO live IN Phalanstery. l should fear eDice mics,
both ply lcal and moral The freedom OF indi-
| yidual sciion would be lost! Tee great metIye 10
action derived FROM personal responsibility would
| be Ieuirslzed The plan OF the PhalanSsery is 10
guarantee livelihood, al least, To every member,
| whsteysT his character or capacity. This would
| be fatal TO industry. II a man were expelled for
| idlepess or vice, II would be the acknowledgment
of failure Hard necessity the nurse OF virtue.
Ifycu make all men comfortable, there is no know
ing what mis- chief weuld ensue Besides, the peo-
pie would lose all freshness and dssIncuveness OF
character. When was az the Andover theological
Seminary, sala DR. ID as soon as we heard the Gee
lsmaton Of student knew what College ne
came from The Phalanstery would produce SIM
liar monotony. Every thing would be cry le June,
nSlpio tame horribly dull and uninssreslins Ihere
would be no exCiement-I could not endure II.
DR. Dewey then touched on the Peace Reform and
the Abolition OF Capital punishment, wmcn ne IN
cllned 20 favor. although the sentiment OF justice
involved in the saying. Whose sneddeth mans
blood BY man shall his blood Ne shed" must remain
as the heart Of the penalty. whatever mlusatohs
may be introduced in obedience 10 the suggestions
OF mercy.
The lecturer then came to what he termed the
terrible question OF the day, that OF slavery. va
this point also, he was no ultralst lie would not
forget that The men Of the South his brethren,
though they were Shareholders. Nor could ne with
hold his sympsihles from the prevailing sentiment
on this SUBJECT at the North He had beea accused
OF being All advocate OF The present Fugitive Slave
Law on account Of certain statements made last
winter in q speech a, PIttsheld and lecture a.