Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-12-27

PRES. ASGELL's LECTURE,-In spite Of the
weather which was exceedingly stormy and
unpropiti ous, full audience greeted Pres.
Angel, last Friday, with hearty welcome,
as be came forward to deliver the second lee
ture Of the Young Men's Coorse. His sub
ject was " Alone or with the Majority or
Iudiyidualism and Conformity. These con-
fictiDg principles, are Of all time. As our
people divide into Young America and
the IS Old Fcgios,' 50 there was young
Greece ard an old one young Rome and
an old one. There is to-day an old Japan,
and young one an old China holding
fast to its ancient traditions, and a new one
which is translating Wheaton's lnterna-
tional Law. establishing - -es aal using
yankee inventions. The rable conflict
between these centriretal and centrifugal
forces, and their bearing cur social lite,
on cur Politics, and on our Literature, form
Cd the burden Of the discourse.
Mr.. Angel showed that the constant agi-
tation and war between conservative and the
radical ideas is not to be teTlored, but is cs-
sential to healthy progress. In our coun-
try he considered the Tirit Of conformity to |
be the prevailing ore. In no other country, |
except IerhaIs Great Britain, has public |
opinion and usage such absolute control. |
The social domination to which every man Is
subject is as positive as the law against
counterleI;ing. In our politics We leave our
nominations to the caucuscs and the eau
cuses to the wire puller- We let our party
organs shape our political belief Til the
war broke up tie old ways, our people
studied but little the principles Of govern
ment, ard as q whole dId hut little inteili.
gent and independent I'll; king On political
subjects. So IN our Literature the spirit Of
conformity has been a damaging one. Yet
in all these departments, this spirit has its
uses. The walls Of society save US from
many overt sins. The spirit Of ccuserva-
tism gives permanence to the good in our in
stItutions. And adherence to the great
models Of style and thought, the Dan,es,
Millions, Burkcs, and shakesTeares, is Of in
calculable service in our Literature.
On the other hand, the service d 1ne By ro-
!lruers, the men of high indiyiduallsm. Of
arge hearts, of deep convictions, Of intell,c-
.lal and moral power and true courage. was
,icquenily set forth. Is the mos, striking
lyins embodiment of this lofty Individual
I'm, the lecturer ins.anccd Garibalii, whose
single tread when he leaves bis island home
shakes Europe TO the centre, and who has
agaln and again proved himselfthe match Of
armies and Of thrones.
The evils OF excessive indiviiualism were
'lso noted, and The sham reformers "
shown Up with scatling denunciation. The
. lace which each man occupies under this
universal classification into coniormists and
4. .n-conioImists, Mr.. Angel considered to he
lue mainly to temperament Some are horn
.oniormis's. some born iconcclas,s The
iFo classes caun0. unite. Hcratio Seymour
and Wendell Philips cannot he welded or
work in unison. Again, conformity IL not
always Conservatism OF indiyidualism rali-
cal. When ;he majority is radical it-e-
luires indiviius!ism TO h c.ns. ryativc.
The final lesson Of the lecture was the duty
of charity tavards those opposed TO Us in
pinion and action, and an ezhor.ation TO
TX al around she subjects oi our th ught,
discover the good on the other side, and
ID avoid ;be one sided dsvclopmen; which
makes a man either a fanatic or q fool
The lecture was sensible and excellent
presentation Of valuable truth. cnliyencd by
apt illustration, and frequent touches of Lu-
NOR, delivered with easy grace. and listened
with close ard cTatifrd attention and fro-
b.. .ent applause.