The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-22
New England Course.

TIvK AND THE PgoGREsslvE.
The final lecture Of the New England Course was
last Tuesday delivered 10y the Rev. Henry Ward
Bcccher. At the Plymouth Church in Orange street,
Brooklyn, upon the above subject. The audience was
unusually large and very attentive
The lecturer stated that his subject would be on
The conservative and progressive, instead Of con-
sovatism and radicalism announced. His pur-
pose was to describe the roots Of character developed
under these clements. There we're many shades Of
conservatism. but the lowest in number was the radi
cal There were moderate reasoners and vulgar con
servatiycs and on the other hand there were des-
truotiye progressi,es aud vulgar progressives The
conservative who held that The circle OF inn
proycmcud vas limited-thd there were no new tools
- that philosophers we're all old, and that modern
philosophy only new graft upon Al old root.
Society was TO him full moon--nothing new to be
developed. The progressive regarded society
banyan tree, which constantly grows aud
takes new root and preserves itself by change:
instead Of the pyramid which rests for ages in
is original position. They believe that human
constitutions change to meet human wants; while
conservatism believes ptrmanence To be the law
Of things. Men endowed with full seli-estcem
are well disposed to be conservatives they are con-
teuted with things rs they are and in the MAN. if
'ncD are consenied what need they morey 1t is
IRON such Chat arstocracy springs and entertains
natural repugnauce To reiormers -con-ttutionally
conscious sud prudent, and With true Dutch phcgm
hold fast to the preseut-not like beavers, which
build houses, but like -nails which carry them on
their backs. Ii they statesmen, they will merely
follow preeedcnis not thinking that they who make
preceden- the really great men. All Sluggards,
the whole tribe Of loungers, and petty Hamets who
soloqu2e when they should strike, nervatises
rpfs.t .1e
irGm Incorporate hopes, and all idea, of human adj
vancemout troubles them. Progression j. easily mark
ed between man gnd man IL is not character, but
force. The volume Of blood which drives upon the
hriin, is very material element IN distinguishing
men. A large man with large head j. moi always
an able man IL takes more than large head to
make great man. large head upon small
trunk may very often show q man OF great force,
who win make himself felt IN the world, while. on
the other hand with small bullet head and large
body may make great noise, but will never do much
execution unless under proper rcstant-the direction
of a leading mind. These are the mere pilc-dryeIS
and capable OF doing much when properly directed
No advancing cause can do without them. Provide
them with something to do. and they cannot be put
down. When abuses long blocking up tue public
way, or any inquiries are 10 be led up to exc
cuton, these men with large combattiyeness are the
~ do IT, They dash ut it hecdlesly, regardless
% consequences. and execute the business set for
them TO do. Thou there the progrcssves BY force
of hope and hope and caution may be said ~ be the
Two prophets al the soul. nope pcfCcNcs the com
ing storm aud caution avoids it; while Of great
intellectual activity denotes thcorist who nsy know
the world by heart, and who3e life may be continu
ci,s dream making more comfort out Of the ideal
than the real. God has distributed his gifts ana il
takes score oil men u make one man-0nc supplies
general principles and another working plans. They
seldom come together their strong points BY
this distribution Of gifts, man il dependant
upon another When society S fun Of prccipitent
experiments conservatism break them. 1t il but as
"A fgt tDp nOr4p ftF 4 HDDf ia tIc b4fTc Censor
yatism iniers that all society j. a barrel, in which
men are 10 be- satcd down. BIT is there nothing
ia The energy Of the Gospel 10 inspire hone to
souls Yes 20 snrh ~ are in bondage who have
cried for ages. " How, long, oh how Iong!"--such
read the Gv-pe N a progressive light, and look
for the day OF liberation. Conservatism is not our
type Of man; II Is mere strap 10 fasten the
load Progrcs. !. that deyeloNment in Gods law Of
society which, although hempered and bindered acts
for the good Of an The man q progress will assured
~ succeed IN hi. operations. Nc knows he must
lsnnch bis bark IN the storm and presses onward
lie know that men are naturally depraved and he
dOcs not fore his opinions upon them. He has his
preferences, but Viii yield. II IL only principle and
ruth that Dc viii not compromise measures he accept,
Checriully, hut principles he holds fast TO- With i'm
perfection he has patience with wrong none sud
against those wrongs which fall upon the poor he
stands AZ dcD0nncing prophet and would rather
die than yield. such men never de-tncy walk hy
The side 81 God in heaven There il Il large class Of
men who desire PROCESS. and talk progress but al
way- practice conservatism They stand in suspicion
~ al'great reforms, and very often spend their life
scruIlv AZ fife Of detail but ~ Gu as progress is
concerned they Oppose il to the utermod. There
men who consider life as nothing but trcadmill,
and who ardcntly desire the millcucum. They would
climb mp Jacobs ladder but would stop before they
reached halfway M. aud think il wa too hard oD
10 climb. They wish for that time spoken of ii the
scripture. when each man shall sit under hi own
vine and III tree, md none shaL modest him. There
are Others both conservative aud progressive in
their ideas. Touch one side Of their minds
and They aTc entirely conservative = touch the
other, and they are thoroughly progressive. Then
there gre those Who arc thoroughly progressive in
every day life but are IL il perfect stand tin in Tic
cause ~ religion: aDd then there IRE others yho
cannot ~ driven with whip or spur, but when They
do 90 N ther = no stopping them III society there
IS social law which governs Tie whole, for ghru.
CNtF i vacuum IS madr u one part there !. ir.
preston u Ai1!bJ Which forms al cqaul 4...U 4n3