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

standing OcIOre pTouilScuOuS 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 yery
element of their being than about ANYTHING
else in the world. suppose if were to 90
among the intelligent men in nv conpreGa-
ton, could get every variety of information
on subjects connectefwith the daily business
affairs of life-upon questions of political
economy, upon various questions of com.
merce, facts concerning the structure of ships,
steam EN- gines-I could collect anv amount
of information on all these and thousand
other kindred subjects. But when ask them
,ohat is inside ef themselves, they can tell me
of great manutactory, and explain to me
the operation and use of all the machinery in
it; but upon the question OF the machinery of
their own minds, they cannot say word. In
regard to commercial mltters they know all
about them: they have compared their ideas
on these subjects, and have classified them.
They believe themselves to be immortal
creatures; that they have, thrcbbing within
them, n soul that shall live MS long as God
himself shall live; yet when ask them any
questions in regard to their inward nature,
their only reply is, Il don't know, don't
know They do not know what their reason
is; they do not know what is the nature of
their moral pOUers; they do not definitely
understand the nature or operation of any one
faculty of their mindsl
They understand the nature If the soil of
the earth; they know what it is capable OF
producing; they know the use OF the pIow,
and all the implements of agriculture: they
know what to do with n plant that is not
thriving they are skilful to impat to it
fresh life and make it flourish But if any
plant that ought to grow in the mind is
stunted and does not thrive, they c;nnot tell
how to make that grow. They dol't know
what to do to bring it forth.
1t is difficult for Il minister of the Gospel to
set forth the truth inteligiby in respect to
its relation to the human mind. think it is
partly because men have not been curious in
respect 10 themselves, and partly on account of
the many bewilderng systems of mental
philosophy that are in vogue in our day. For
il there were none of these systems exc, pit
the old schools Of metaphysical philosophy,
would defy any man to obtain by means of
them any clear idea about tie soul; for at
best they are of but little more value than so
many cobwebs Men may study them, how
ever, if they have taste for them if man
loves logic and discussion, let him take one
of the old metaphysical mental PHILOSOPHERS,
and he will have means OF busyng his mind
until he grows tired of such business. But
n man wishes to know practically what he is
made up Of, if aman wishes knowledge of
human nature for definite practical purposes,
there is no system which will aid him in nc.
| thnt k,n 1nI. 10 Of
Phrenology; not interpreted too narrow or
technically, but in its relations to physiology
and 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 whole
ministry; and if have had any success in
bringing the truths of the Gospel to bear
practically upon the minds of men, any sue.
cess in the vigorous application of truths to
the wants of the human soul, where they are
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
II church, any better preparation for religious
indoctrinaton than to put them in possession
of such practical knowledge of the human
soul as is given bv PrenOlogy.
have avoided the use of the nomenclature
of Phrenology in the pulpit as far as possible,
because did not wish to seem to be mere
teacher of a philosophical system while was
minister of the truth, rs it is in Christ; but
have now been so long with you that | am
justified in making this statement.
may say, in regard to the objections
sometimes urged against Phrenology-its
tendency to Materialism and FataIism, that
the same objections may be made to any other
system Of mental philosophy. do not think
that such objections belong to Phrenology
any more than to any system of intellectual
science which you en- possibly construct
Mems mere logical and speculative reason
will always strand them upon the sands Of
Falasm or Materialisn and it is the practi-
cal scnse-the consciousness of actual liberty
that redecms us from belief of the one or
the other. Such doctrines dwell in the head,
but never in the hands.