Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-09-16
WHOLE No.s..sOe., :.
Self.Culture.L


Green Mountain Liberal Institute al-9a AGl ~
Selfculture is the developing and bring
ing into symmetrical and harmonious action,
all the powers of mind and heart with which
the infinite Father has entrusted us. He
has given us natures capable of making the
highest attainments in knowledge, truth and
the divine life; or of being led into the low
est depths of degradation and crime. A
high and responsible trust is imposed upon
us then, to which we must be faithful or the
great purpose of our existence will not be
accomplished. To make us faithful to this
high trust is the true object and mission of
lself-culture. iam byGW0i llFB hOOu ,Gi1G9 go
20 The faculties of our nature were given us
for cultivation and improvement, and unless
we endeavor to develope them by every
means in our power, we are recreant to duty,
and unworthy of the gifts which God has
bestowed upon us. This work devolves upon
ourselves alone--it cannot be left for another;
no one can help us in the work, if we refuse
to help ourselves. 1t is then fifty called self,
culture. 8 b1UoT a3rl GiiIw
| Its highest mission is the development of
the intellectual, social and religious elements
of our being. Each of these must receive
its appropriate share of attention, as no one
of them can be neglected without detriment
to all. II -e 'atasai Gl.lW 10
One thinks that to cultivate the intellect is
all that is necessary. To discipline the rea-
son-make it capable of investigating and
searching out the hidden lore of past ages
of understanding and originating the most
abtruse theories of the present; to be able
to appreciate the best thoughts of great
minds; to admire the noblest works of poe
try and art--this is enough to enable us to
attain to the highest degree of culture. The
social and religious powers of his nature are
deemed unworthy of his attention. Of the
sympathies and affections which bind heart
to heart in social life, he knows little and
cares less. He looks upon them as trihes Of
too little value to attract his attention. sj
Religion, he thinks, may do for the weak
and ignorant, but not for the man of keen
and cultivated intellect and enlightened rea-
son. Speculation and the truths of philoso-
ply are more precious than the truths Of
christianity or the informed life of christian
faith. But he who cultivates his intellect to
this extent and neglects his other faculties
which are just as much the gift Of God, and
just as much worthy of culture, "he has not
learned to live" His fearful intellect is
worthless gift, if it is not consecrated to the
benefit and improvement of humanity. 1t
is a fearful thing, if it is not guided and
subdued by religion. He may school his
heart in cold philosophy; he may bow be-
fore the altar of knowledge, sacrificing every
thing upon its shrine; he may trample under
his feet the duties and pleasures of social life,
and scorn the holy and sublime truths Of re-
ligion, but he leaves himself poor, weak and
ignorant at last When the hour Of weari-
ness comes-when the burden of life grows
too heavy, and speculations and theories tire
somewhere can he seek repose? He has
neglected the sympathy of human hearts
scorned that source of strength which never
fails, and in bitterness Of spirit he finds that
he has not yet learned the true idea Of self
culture. .ha i8 ~, 'il9m EJiol
Another, who cultivates the social facul.
ties only, is also left in no less deplorable
state of weakness. If he endeavors only to
make the passing hour pleasant depending
upon society and surrounding circumstances
alone, for his happiness-he, too, fails. Ev-
cry change in society effects him; the first
shadow Of affiction will unman him--the
first blast of misfortune overpower him. 'la
Again, the man who thinks that the cul-
ture of the religious faculties should exclude
all other culture, makes sad mistake. He
cannot with impunity neglect the social and
intellectual powers of his mind, even for re-
ligion; for unless both these faculties are de-
veloped he cannot receive a rational and
healthy religious culture, but will prove to be
an ignorant and superstitious bigot, or blind
worshipper of forms and ceremonies. If he
neglects the social to cultivate both the re-
ligious and intellectual nature, he is still un-
faithful to the high trust imposed upon him;
for to do this he must withdraw himself en-
tirely from society and the world. This our
Creator never designed us to do, for it is pre-
cisely in the world that all these faculties
should be exercised. The recluso has little
to call forth admiration, or merit our graft
tude; he may be ever SO great, if he does
not use them, and make them conducive TO
the welfare of his fellow men, he is not
worthy of them. Let him cultivate all the
faculties of his mind in their due proportion;
let the intellectual, the social, and the reli.
gious nature be brought to the highest state
Of perfection possible; let the intellect be