The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-06
PHRENoLoGY IN THE PULPIT.

TESTIMONY OF THE REV. HENRY WARD BEEOHER. :
II 10 very hard for minister Of the Gospel
standing before promiacuous audience, 10
deal with the facts Of their minds and their
inward lives. II Is melancholy fact that
men know less about that which Is the very
element Of their being thsn nbout anything
else in the world. suppose If were to 90
among the intelligent men in my congrega.
tion, could get every vsfiety of information
on subjects connected with the daily business
affairs Of ifs-upon questions Of political
economy, upon various questions Of com.
merce, facts concerning the structure vf ships,
steam ngines-I could collect any amount
Of information on nll these and thousand
other kindred subjects. But when nsk them
,chdt is inside Of themselvss, they can tell me
Of great manuiactory, End explain to me
the operation and use GAtstl the machinery in
IL; but upon the question q the machinery OF
their own minds, they cangot say word. In
regard t0 commercipi sr, etnd ens, ssa.,know nil
about them they hsses as ~ Esd En'sdi Their ideas
on these subjects, and have classified them.
They believe themselves to be immortal
creatures; that they have, throbbing within
them, a soul that shall live rs long MS God
himself shall live; yet when ask them any
questions in regard to their inward nature,
their only reply is, II don't know,,I don't
know" They do not know what their reason
is; they do not know what is the nature of
their moral po,oers; they do not definitely
understand the nnture or operation Of any one
faculty of their minds
They understand the nature of the soil Of
the earth; they know what it is capable of
producing; they know the use of the blow,
nnd all the implements of agriculture; they
know what to do with plant that is not
thriving; they are skilful 10 impart to Il a
fresh life and make it flourish But If any
plant that ought TO grow in the mind Is
stunted and does not thrive, they cannot tell
how to make that grow. They don't know
what to do to bring it forth.
1t is difficult for minister of the Gospel to
set forth the truth intelligibly in respect 70
its relation to the human mind. think it is
partly because men have not been curious in
respect TO themselves, and partly on account Of
the many bewildering systems of mental
philosophy that are in vogue in our day. For
1t there were none Of these systems exc. pt
the old schools of metaphysical philosophy,
would defy any mnn to obtain by means Of
them any clear idea ahout the soul; for at
best they nre of but little more value than so
many cobwebs. Men may study them, how.
ever, ii they have taste for them; il man
loves logic and discussion, let him take one
OF the old metaphysical mental philosophers
and he will have meahs Of busying his mind
until he grows tired of such business, But
man wishes to know practically what he IL
made up OF, If man wishes knowledge OF
human nature for definite practical purposes
there is no system which will aid him in nc.
curing that knowledge like the system oI
Phrenology; not interpreted too narrow OF
technically, but in its relations to physiology
nnd the structure of the whole body. And
may say here what have never said before
in the pulpit, that the views Of the human
mind as they are revealed by Phrenology, are
those views which have underlayed my Who'll,
ministry; and IL have had any success In
bringing the truths Of the Gospel to beaI
practically upon the minds of men, any sue
cess in the vigorous application of truths t.
the wants of the human soul, where they ar,
most needed, owe it to the clearness which
have gained from this science. And could
not ask for the members of my family, nor OF
church, any better preparation for religious
lndoctrinatlon than to put them in possession
OF such practical knowledge of the human
soul MS is given bv Prenology.
! have avoided the use of the nomenclature
OF Phrenology in the pulpit us far as possible
because did not wish to seem to be mere
teacher Of philosophical system while was
minister Of the truth, MS il is in Christ; bul
have now been 80 long with you that am
justified in making this statement.
may say, in regard to the objections
sometimes urged against Phrenology-its