The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-01
"iBE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS,

Lecture by Rev. DIR. McCosl, President Of
Princeton College.
A lecture was delivered last night at the Second
Presbyterian church, corner OF Fulton and Clinton
streets. Brooklyn, by Rev. James McCosh, ID. d.,
President OF Princeton College. There was large
audience present. The speaker was introduced by
Rev. I. Dewitt Talmage, OF the Central Presbyterian
church. DR.. McCosh said that his lecture would be
on Association OF Ideas ana It's Lessons in Training
the Mind" lie SAID that our experience gave rise
to the impression very generally held that ideas
come and go at random, subject to no law; but, in
fact they are as much subject to law any OF the
seemingly working agents OF The physical world.
First, there is the law OF repetition. Our thoughts
follow each other according to the law OF
repetition. For instance, when a child learns
the lines commencing 'John Giipm was
citizen OF credit and renoYn,n he repeats them
until the lirst words suggest the others. Thus In
other things often associated together one is apt to
recall another. So places become associated with
what has been experienced In them. woman in
passing certain place may be reminded OF her boy
with whom she parted there ~ he went TO seek his
fortune some distant city, IL is by tins law that
Is to be furnished an explanation OF Character The
got At ao and ws eveT after aag
OF dogs. IL Is this law that gives power habit.
Habit gives facility In doing that which we have
often performed. AT frSt WORK can only be done
by effort bat after repeated repeti0ns Is done VI
ITSELF The next law Ia the association o! ideas thar
OF co-eXlStence. Things that have been i'll the MIND
at the same time recall each other This law so like
she other that both might be expressed by one
name. Not more than four five objects
can he taken into the mind at time. When
any one OF four or five OBJECTS associated together
come up the others Will follow. In order to take
full advantage OF this law Knowledge Is necessary
knowledge gained by travelling, by reading anu by
experience. 1t is by taking advantage OF This law
that various artificial aids 10 memory have been
vlsed BY lar the most useful aid to memory IL that
which comes from proper arrangement Of time.
Let ones time be 80 appOrtOned that each honf
shall have Its duty aud the recurrence OF the hour
Will remind one OF the duty and bring with it the
inclination TO perform II. The next law IL the
law Of coTreation-like suggests like Sunshine sug.
gests prosperity and night adversely. The same
place suggests by this law diierenC thoughts to per-
SONS whose minds nave diierenL bias. Memory
that proceeds by the law OF correlation Is much
higher than that which comes Of repetition. good
memory Is not always associated with sound judg-
ment The memory that can repeat q sermon q
poem once hearing 1t is child's memory. 1t Is not
the mark OF high intellectual power. Memory VIII
not follow one straight line In mind OF the highest
order, because there are several other lines.
There Is one other law. which Ii tle most
important OF ail-thc law OF preference. There are
Two reasons why the thought follows one course
rather than the O.ner; the rs Is the law Of mental
energy; 1t may be energy Of feeling, or energy OF
intellect or energy OF VIII. Those IDEAS that have
been attended with deep feelings are brought VI
by deep feeling. Children forget those things whcn
they have learned easily; but those obtained with
great effort are long retained. There Is but ttls
faith, therefore, TO be put in q knowledge Ut
languages gained In three months, or any NUMBER
OF "easyo CSsOua.