Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-09
MANS sELF-HoOD:
A Lecture bY Rev. Jas. u. Wilson


burgh, delivered lecture last night in the
Fourth Street NJ. e. Church, on tMan's
Selfhood." The lecturers personal pOpu-
larity, acquired during his able ministry
here, together with his known ability to
properly treat the subject chosen, drew to-
gether q large and intelligent audience.
The lecture was an able and interesting
one. We are able to give but meagre
sketch oft. Mr., Wilson commenced by
saying: Contraryto the dogmas ofthoseac-
cusers of mankind, who regard our race
as dreamers and Missionaries, would pro-
nounce them earnest seekers after Rcdtiza-
lion. 1t has been truly affirmed that the
mightiest resolution was once thought.
But thought itself is unseen; and the
brooding pleasure over happy concep-
ton, never reaches its high-tide mark un-
til the bosom swells with unutterablc bliss
at the sight of that idea fully embodied in
tangible materialism.
The speaker then, after showing the
capabilities of our nature, exclaimed: New
err. in the Hottest soaring of ambitions
giddiest reach, can it be affirmed that his
wing is now powcrless, or his career for
ever impeded. The most unthinking pa
rent naturally expects his child to achieve
new victories over the difficulties of the
school; or, in ripper manoood, by every strug-
gle in life, to excel his former trials; never
stopping to suggest goal, or to hint at
the possibility of wasting his powers by
displaying them. Whatever similarity
may exist between q mere animal and
man, the grand distinction is, that the hu-
man being, conscious of its royalty, sub
jects the body to the mental mandate
which no other being can do, &c.
LABOR AND ATTENTION.
Quoting Mr. Wirfs declaration, that
there is ''no excellence without great la
bor," Mr.. w. said he would add, there is
no happiness without great labor. Indo-
lence is always unhappy. Activity is pro-
verbally cheerful. Bonaparte crossing
the Alps by slow and laborious marches,
or slumbcring upon the SHOWS while esca-
ping from Moscow, felt more real delight
in the excitement of his powers, than if he
idly snuntered away his days amid the
luxurious saloons of Paris. Standing still
is an intolerable mOnotony. But our self
confidence must be active, not audacious-
bright, not Boosting, &c. The difficulties in
the way Of obtaining knowledge, said the
lecturer, are immeasureably enhanced
by dissipation of mind; and the pleasure of
ness of the cndcayor. In oratory, atten-
ton to your theme is. the only mode of
winning the attention of the hearer-in
your private studies, without it, you rise
from your task with confused conception
of signs and sounds, and q marvellous
mist yelling your eyes and chilling your
Ardor. Open your eyes, thcrefore-Stretch
every nerve to its utmost tension-concen-
tratc every mental power to the business
in hand-collcct the scattered rays of the
bnrning orb within you, and pour their TO-
cal power With melting heat, upon the
very centre of attack. Care not what is
transpiring around you-if it thunders, let
it thunder-that is the business of Jupiter
Tonans-if the sea roars, let it roar-Nep-
tune Will attend to it-or if the earth shall
alarmingly quake beneath your trembling
feet, and swallow you alive, the Divine Mas
ter of the elements will be pleased that
he found you $50 doing" When SYRIA
cuse was bcseiged and taken, with almost
unparalleled tumult and slaughter, Archim-
edes was in his closet so intent in studying
a gcometrical figure, that he did not know
soldier burst into his room, and basclv
slew him with Il sword. After enforcing
this part of his subject still further by ar
gument and illustration, he remarked, that
another part of self-hood, was to
THINK FOR YOURSELF.
There will always be grades and distinc-
tions of some sort among men. We are
all cast upon the theatre of busy life
land the comprehensive mind, the brilliant
wit, and the flaming fancy, will ever leave
the dull plOdder and sluggish thinker far
in their wake. All men have minds-but
all men do not think. To compare right
and wrong-to balance good and cvil-to
seize upon abstract principles, and carry
out principles in detail, and truce cause to
effect and from an effect deduce the cause,
how sadly are these high functions of an
immortal mind referred to those who have
the courage and the patience to think, &c.
KNOWLEDGE MUST BE EXPERIENCED.
We speak of knowledge, or mental pow
er, much as we often speak of religion
| subject with which we have an outward ac-
quaiptance, can readily recognize it-appre
ciate its beauties, and enforce it's teachings.
But, like religion, nothing but the inner
Baptism can transmit it into an identity
with the soul. There must, even here, be
a kedron aud a Gross, a Gethsemane and a
! Golgotha, ere we may find q Tabor or an
Olivet: "Who tells the price of wisdom 3
costly merchantmen Read all history
] familiariZe your maids with more than Ba-
con knew, or Newton taught-know the
origin of every mighty truth, and every
mighty error it demolished-and what have
yon done? The silent books, your library,
are more valuable to mankind, than the
possessions of your mind. How often do
you find the graduate of Il college made the
easy prey of a schoolless thinker? how Of
ten has he a diploma in his band and a
ducnceap on his head-a parchment certI-
flying his proficiency in The sciences, with
an absolute ignorance of the application of
their very elementsl This starved state of
the intellect, after so much aliment, does
not arise from the disordered condition of
the mental system, or because the Great
Creator has cramped and dwarfed the soul.
| until tho LAST fnrcln TINT iIl,n,innA0a ~ =