New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-06
Substance md show.
BY REV. rHoaAs STARR KING.


On Tuesday evening very numerous audi
ence attended the fourth lecture the Peoples Course
which was delivered in the Tabernacle by Rev Tfos.
STARR KING, of Boston. The lecturer in commencing
observed that he proposed to speak upon the differ
erces between substance and show, the discrimna
ten we should make between the facts Of tho world
and life, and the forces that lay behind
or beneath them. No mind that comprehendod the
issue involved in this distinction could fail to
that the topic was vitality practicable for scept
cism on this point must degrade our whole theory
of life and render the region in which faith should
be in eonstac thin, dreaming and sceptical
The word substance he took to that which stood
under and upheld something else Whatever then
created upheld or modified anything which senses
beheld even though could not smell nortsste them
was more Substantial than the ding itself There had
been indeed philosophers who like Bishop Berkeley
maintained that everything Visible and tangible
in fact whatever our senses presented TO was
unfubstaptiaL Phyrro, the GrecisD, the first TO
breach that idea and indeed friend proposod TO but
his head against post In order to yebu bis philosophy
! Qauehter) Byron perhaps gave the best definition Of
BeIkley's doctrine extant. lie said
When Berkeley says il is matter, IL IL no matter
what Bishop Berkeley says" People talked Of the
world Of matter but in fact there such thing,
for oil abou, as but a mixture Of mstter and
spirit Were the world all matter, Il would be
no more than a vast heap of sand atoms-en Infinite
continent Of sagnant yapors But in the universe n Il
now was ors snizston met at every step, and organ
zston Piled spirit something that ruled disposed Pc
netrated and yiyihed matter What sermon atronomy
preached as visible things what could we suppose
of invisible mstter The Grecians Of old supposed
the universe to be upborne the brawny shoulders
Of Atlas. but the light of science showed that was
vsst power without shoulders musees ssnews that
upheld in It's appropriate sphere. Grvtaon was
a. the lever that Archinledes sighed fort the
cohesive power of nature and should that power ses
tired Is IL were uuclinch IL gra<p On matter our
whole earth would become what was called IN New
England one great slump" II we turned 70 the
vegetable Kingdom did we 70, perceive the revelation
srill more wonderful How did if happen that hydro
gen carbon oxygen and we're all worked up INTO
the different forms Of the lily the olive the orange or
the grspes Il was becansea certain force was WORK
evolving from matter forms Of clothing which that force
desired 10 assume Were there 40 such force At work
N. acorn could never become the majestic oak but must
remain forever mass Of inert stom. Thelccturer fol.
lowing ND the same train Of thought alluded water
usht electricity and magnedsm, all evidencnz the
force Of certain substantial power. Was thought q
substantial thing, INJURY very naturally &C.
curing in this connection Thought sabstantia,
something if his definition of substance a. sustain
ing force were true. The whole universe was thought
into order and beauty. The word orh LEI there
be light end there was light" So In fact nature wa the
result Of Divine thought row oftypes ses in place
BY the eomposito, not only presented certain forms
and colors but also idea once residing In human
brains 10 be spread before mankind BY the agency Of
the press- Thus in nature too, we perceived the i'm
press of great hea-the thousht Of the mercifui Gre
sor Not one of all the consolidated ehandeen that
burned in the dome Of Heavennot one Of the giosi-
bodies ths; spotted the robe Of space win fringe
of Light bat q stated conception or wish OF some
thing in the mind Of the Creator Jonathan Edwsrds
supposed hat God susoined and upheld nature In
similar manner 70 that Of reelection IN uirros-shss
the Universe was the reflection Of the actsa presence