Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-16


| PHRENoLOGY IN THE PULPIT.-The following
remarks by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher may,
perhaps, meet the objections raised by many to
PhTenology, as tending to materalism and fatal
ism As there is at the present moment consider
able excitement on the subject in our city, the
subjoined reflections will be read with ayidty
II ia very hard for a minister of the gospel stand.
lug before promiscuous audience, to deal with the
facts of their minds, and their inward lives. II is
q melancholy fact, that men know less about that
which Is the very element OF their being then about
ANYTHING else in the world. IsuppOse ii | were to
20 among the intelligent men of my congregation,
could get every variety Of information on sub
ieets connected with the daily business affairs o (
life-upon questions OF political economy, upon
various questions Of commerce, facts concern
ing the structure Of ships, steam engines could
collect any amount OF information on all these,
and a thousand other kindred subjects. But
when l ask them iohGt as inside Of henIselDes,
they can tell me OF great manuiactory, aud ex'
plain to me the operation and use OF all the ma
chinery in IL; but upon the question of the ma
chinery of their own minds, they cannot say q
word. In regard to their commercial matters, 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 throhbng within them soul that
shall live as long as God himself shall live; yet,
when ask them auy questions in regard to their
inward nature their only reply Is, 81 don't know,
Is; they do not know what Is the nature OF their
, moral powers; they do not definitely understand
the nature or operation of any one faculty OF their
minds
They understand the nature Of the soil OF the
i earth they know what it is capable Of producing
they know the use OF the plOw, and all the imple
ments Of agriculture they know what TO do with
plant that Is NOS thriving, they are skilul TO i'm
| part 10 Il fresh life, and make 1t flourish. Bat
Il any plant that ought to grow In the mind is
stunted aud does not thrive, they cannot tell how
10 make that grow. They don't know what TO dc
10 bring Il forth.
tits difficult for minister Of the gospel 30 Sci
forth the truth intelgbly IN respect to its relation
to the human mind. think II is partly because
men have not been curious IN respect 10 themselves
a. aud partly on account OF the many beWilderng sys
tens Of mental philosophy that are In vogue In oa
day. For il there were none OF these systems eX
- cept the old schools Of metaphysical philosophy,
would defy any man TO obtain by meaus OF then
any clear idea about the soul for at best they are
m but little more value than 30 many eobwebs. Me-
~ may study them, however, If they have taste 10
81 them II man loves logic and discussion, let hil
take one Of the old metaphysical mental philoso
'f plies, and he will have means OF busying bis MN
80 until be grows tired Of such business. But II
3D. man wishes 10 know practically what be Is mad
1r- up Of If a man wishes a knowledge OF human nc
ture for definite practical purposes, there Is u
'ig system which will aid him iD acquiring that know
edge like the system Of Phrenologyj not interpT'
s- te6 too narrowly or technically, but 10 its Te
| tAvnpNN FhgeloAvkg hAN wy NF' 80
eel body And may say here what have neY'
said before in the pulpit that the views OF the ht
man mind, as they are revealed by Phrenology, a.
z. those which have underlayed my whole ministr
and If | have rad any success In bringing u
ou truths OF the gospel to bear practically upon u
IN minds OF men, any success Ia tue vigorous app
our cation OF truths 10 the wants of the human
the where they are most needed, owe II to the ceG
aud ness which have gained ffOn this science Al
the could not ask sor the members OF my family q
RED Of church, any better preparation for roigiO
lndoctrinaton, than 10 put them in possession
- such practical knowledge OF the human soul
Is given by PhTenOlOgy.
I'd s-s-----r