The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-16

Rev. DR. BCsHNELL's LEcTURE.--We
published few days since criticism upon
the lecture delivered by DR.. Bushnell, and
cheerfully give place to the following, which
may be deemed in the nature of reply
although it is clear statement Of another's
understanding of the tendency of the lecture.
1t is a high compliment to the lecturer
that he has fully interested the community
in his subject.
"UNCoNscIoUs IMITATION. This will
be recognized by this community as the
subject of an address before the Young
Mems Christian Association, Of st. Paul,
delivered by the Rev. DR.. Bushnell, late of
Hartford, Connecticut. The address was
given at the First Presbyterian Church, on
Sabbath evening last. The usual services
of many of the different congregations Of
the city, assigned for Sabbath evening, were
suspended, thus furnishing an opportunity
for all the citizens, and the different pastors
of the city to listen to man whose fame
had preceded him and excited high expecta.
tions. As a consequence, the house was
densely crowded with a mass of eager
listeners, prepared to catch every word
which should fall from his lips. There were
present, of the Pastors of the city, Rev. E.
D. Neil, of the House Of Hope, Rev. J. G..
Riheldafer, of the Central Presbyterian
Church, Rev. Mr.. Pope, Of the Baptist
Church, Rev. Mr.. Chaffee, and Egglestone
of the two Methodist Churches of the city,
aud the Rev. Mr.. Mattocks, of the First
Presbyterian Church, most of whom took
part in the services of the evening.
Rev. DR.. Bushnell opened his address, by
announcing and introducing as his subject,
Unconscious Imitation" drawn from John
81 3. The subject itself was eminently
appropriate to the occasion, and was elabo-
rated and illustrated, with the happy skill,
artistic taste, and beauty, and richness of
language and imagery so characteristic of
Mr.. Bushnell as writer and preacher, and
which have won for him a proud name
amongst the divines of our country.
His metaphysical augmentation, so sim
pie and compact, his reasoning, lucid and
irresistible, convincing and instructiDg, at
the same time propitiating the goodwill of
his hearers-Mr. Bushnell has the happy
art of expressing just the mind of bis hearers.
Each mind feels, as it listens, that the senti-
ments expressed are its own. 1t was just
thinking of them as he utters them. He
carries the mind of his hearers before him,
rather than drags it along after him. So he
startles and surprises men. There is no
aiming for, or accomplishing sensation"
and his hearers feel like men looking upon
an Apollo-not surprised-for that is just
as they should have carved the statue
Themselves eminently suggesting in his
style and treatment of his subject-thus not
only saying many things impressively, but
leaving many impressive things unsaid, so
that his hearers know what he would say,
had be space and time to extend and illus
trate further.
He dwelt at length upon the involuntary
impressibility of our social nature-the un-
conscious absorption going on in all our
associations law of the mind and
heart, by which they take impressions, SO
that we conform unto that which surrounds
us, not by our will to conform, but often in
spite of our will law or condition pow.
erful for good or evil, by which character is
greatly determined and destiny fixed.
Unconscious imitation rules both. <
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