New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-23
GRAFTON or TIE REV. HENRY WARD
BEECHER
BEFORE TIE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY OF HARVARD
COLLEGE JULY TO- 1855.

BEFORE TIE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY OF HARVARD
COLLEGE, JULY 10, 1855.
After the reading Of he Poem by The Rev. VIM. w.
Hurlbut the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher ora or OF the
day came forward and delivered an eloquent address
On the Importance of Choerfulness, which occupied
about an hour and quarter. The following abstract
of his remarks il from The Bost0R AHQs:
II empriosm, said be, be practice based upon
knowledge If facs rather Than principles, then the
grand empicism of the world is in the use OF the hui
man mind Itself. Ii is almost purely mater Of cx-
p.rieuce and routine. Little Il known Of the soul.
Those who have revealed the secrets OF the out yard
world have given little 10 our stock of knowledge re-
spectng the mind lie soul yet goes mu.sd. IL
locks out and ees, but Is Itself unseen undiscovered
Eydything else within the reach Of knowledge s sup
posed to CONFORM 20 exact laws. These laws beng
known We can calculate their life aud changes. The
mind itself IL supposed 10 be under law ooly so tar
H. eaits 10 the body; but in itself opens aud shuts
daikeus ana fGshCs ike the clouds that cloihe the
sumner air. Education II therefore simply key %
iho memory. q catalogue OF sense. Education IA IT.
self IL mosily piece of pure emplrlcsn. We do not
learn tie scale OF tie mind; we DO not know asd
master n e instrument: learn only catalogue OF
tunes which We play by roe. Tho reverence for
nan umor.1lit, and the dread Of reducing the soul
TO Ii a riali-m have msde scen lie arch slow; aud
vct until the subject shall BE- submitted TO the mOst
rigorous research shall not know the law OF mud
lie REGARDED il az sug ular that men should submit
their eu,ulovuents their ornaments and everything
ard vet should hesitate 10 analyZe The immortal SOUL
A. II low H. certain faculties of the mind grow vener
able urfashonablc and even vulgar. One s-e fol-
lows reason and another pur-ues fancy having
core out Of date. Another community destroys both
reason and imagination and yields ltscii supfenely 10
views ct faith. Ii happens sometimes unior unaely
that horizons Of the soul 70 &c regarded as su
lei 6nous and to De entirely shut up. The ina ylna-
lion Ike silver closet picture llory, Is rarely
visited 10y the sedaie and practical. Inc reverend
sometimes smile. but the realms OF fa1cy are apart
ments haunted by spectral leynes, and they do not
Ike {. utruCe upon them. Tie fact stands apparent
hat man the LuOver is himself unknown. tie has
power to fy with The birds and to know their abOdes
and seasons, but he hos no power 10 ave lnto me
nests Of his own heart. Man may diS INTO the bowels
OF the nnouI ains and apply tic microscope 20 minute
rsrtics of matter: the COURSES of the stars
uTed the currents OF light and electricity are explOret,
tie whole globe j. described but man, for whom the
whole wss made the GROWING glory OF The universe,
who shall hive when systems are 10 mOre-inan niul-
:. remains profound IN, -t-ry. He is leit 10 Whrl
down the stream OF lie II be were the meanest,
ost worthless burcn the stream carries. Ans Tor
man. Men WI Dc observed 20 be most afraid Of quail
ties in ind OF which they are least n danger and no-,
need. The frugal men Is wont 20 descant up0n the
evils of prof sion, II be were IN the slightest danger
Of debt; ard h. prOdga fories him-cli against -iin-
grcss. II iaolchtir are alarmed at ieyI.y' ana me
COY dread lie fiual vi sObneIy. The ln-usr Ou- ar
cue agaif 4zinsss and the mercurli SCI taeme.yas
sgaiI Il slopress 1bus all dread the very quaint
Which are impossible with hem. Is !, OF lntl'tl-
rcls 90 Cf :culmuIIe-i al are luu VI uleal Oh tle
ousliii.s thes lacs. II one were 70 warn the people
Of our commercial cites AGAINST materlGlsm, exhaust
g. ,otriey, or petty, sordd sellshness be would gam
fe eGrs but nor the hearts OF us hearers bAt iet
rim sleak OF The dangersDf unbrhed fancy ana nns-
tirGton and the wckedness OF eyy, and be viii have
tie sympathy OF lis audience, and cause 9 shrinking,
sluddeing terror L. j. because they need thess very
qualities, since all business men have a narrow view
IL inms.erisiy. IL i difficult commend the quail
Is OF cheruiutss III sober discourse, account VI tie
almost universal impression ofis logness, il not wick
edncss Non axe cis posed % view 20 lrety noees-
slry Ingredient Of rel -ion and 70 regar 1. 'lln IS
e. ieedless or at least 10 be spen1gJ iodG Ia.
It Is thus compelled b. be yagabOld-. JmJ la-cn
Of idleuess-begging It's bread from door 70 o1r. Il
must not sit with scholars est liz quips 1Olld dls ~
their teachers II must not b. found - the cunt
ing-rooni il must not GO military duty The Julses
CT The bench regard it as intruder and drive II
down anon the iasyers. lts appearance a. church
nc Is devotion ana awakels whole droissy rows 10
Indignation Driven from 81 places, 1t y obliged ~
consot vita men WHO viii take it, ard Il repays hen
NyihOlogiealy Il would be set down az the chld OF