New-York tribune., 1869-06-28
COLLEGE CoMMENCEMENTs.
UNION COLLEGE.


! ADDRESS BEFORE THE THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
SCHENECTADY, June o. - The Sixty fifth
Annual Commencement OF Union College was in
augurated here this evening, with an address
in the Presbyterian Church before the Theological
| Society and large audience by the Rev. David
McAster of Walton, N. Y, upon the Relation OF the
Study OF Theology Mental Culture theme suggested
by the fact that this College accords place in its train
ing TO the study Of theology In discussing this theme
| Mr.. McAllister remarked:
BY theology is here meant biblical Christian theology
system Of doctrine But truth OF the system IS
without important practical bearings our view OF the In
huence OF the study OF theology must IN some measure
include with the direct influence, that which ia exerted
through the medium Of its effect on the life The egl
mate influence Of hostile study is injurious. Let the un'
fairness and perversy in judgment OF Renan strauss
candid and serious The Important relation Of
such a study Of theology to mental culture appears
on This is not to fit the individual to the largest
amount Of wealth for himself and add more TO the mate
rial resources OF society Culture should not disregard
the fact OF divinity in endowments both In kind ana
degree. For 10 TO follow exclusively and mainly In line
OF the native Will give the greatest activity ana
accuracy in special departments and thus peennaiy
faculties neglected where symmetry and complete
ness OF Development The mechanic or even the sci
enlist is less important than the II society were
Rn intelligent monster leviathan, as Hobbs repre-
sented IT, orift were mere machine and each OF It's mem
bers piece Of the mechanism with definite place ana
duty assigned. uttarian education would be lost But
society Is not machine 1t is moral person
moral. It's members not only artisans. merchants,
etc, but sons, brothers fathers The best education d
The fact that pleasure and In study are most ia
direction OF natural inclination is not absolutely to rule
For the students own sake and that OF the state the pest
rule may often be to give hem Schiller expresses toas
sic beduen, nle sic toben-accOrding TO heirneeds
not their desires Hence, the theory OF LORD STANLEY
address at Glasgow preferable to that OF Froude at 81
Andrews. Mills elaboration OF Humboldt's thought
the absolute and essential Importance OF human deye
opment its richest varietyapped first to the indl-
words the highest possible development Of man as man
of ali his capabilities mental and moral. This is the
relation Of theology this work Is manifest. No
other system Of truth SO fully and ehectualy calls into
exercise the whole range Of mental and moral powers
H. From its teaching as to the nature and destiny OF
the being to bo educated Ruskin gives an admirable
series of questions. the answers to which man. to be
ia he gongi 3d. What had he best do under the circum
stancesi But first order Is the question: What IS hel
Science and philosophy, apart from theology have
So son M SeR yog ae@ps ns the name
for the functions OF nervous system DR. Bqeknll that
yesicular nervine Of the brain. Dr. ioumans that
menal associations are cemened by cerebral nutrition
Such philosophzing ishapply sazed by Hotalte IN ms
McrOm6gdS MlcrOmegas, titan from Sirius, visiting the
earth several philosophers and asks What your
soul aud how do you form Your ideas The replies were
all different. perpatec, quoting Aristotle, sad; Esn
Greek said the giant "Nor l." said the philosopher
Why quote IT. then ~ Because it is best to quote what
one does not comprehend in language OF which
derstands least" Exclusive study OF physical sci
ence tends to mateIalse VIEWS OF tne soul h nne IGS
and eternal distinctions taught MN the immoriay OF
Eusebus says Plato held axiom that it is not
possible 10 understand things human td GithrOpd, the
nature and relations OF without previous percep
tOn OF things divine td heid. what would now call
the truths theology" Many since Plato date their
highest intellectual life and deepest mental culture from
full realization Of the souls Immortality and the tire
mendOus issues involved.
Ill From the aid IL lends in the actual process OF edu
cation. The mind Is not receptacle TO De nlled-nOt
blank on which facts write the of knowledge.
Facts are but can connect sandhaye
simply as facts scientific meaning Put into the mind,
they are but dead body into which the mind itself must
breathe a yiyifyng spirit Principles which underle
facts the real essence OF knowledge. To educate,
principles which not In the facts but In the mind
not TO store the mind with information. but To develop
its latent power their relations The lecture
fem OF European universities consists mainly OF hng ia
from external This gives scholars OF vast nfor
nation but does mt educate. The recitation system Of
Amerc. colleges fills In less but educes more. The lat
ter teac reflect welas recolect; energies well
as informs the mind. Branches Of knowledge i'm
portant In educational view In proportion 10 the mum
Der and Of their principles fdets require the
mind 10 observe, RppreheDd remember; principles 10
combine reflect Judge. The study that makes the highest
demands, not on apprehension and recollection but on
reflection and Judgment the tests for mental culture.
Theology the principles OF which extend 10 all the affairs
OF fe and reach ultimately to all the objects OF nature,
and are concerned with mans highest interests meets
the condition. Theology Is also central study The
classics are not central Mr. Gladstone thinks they
The unity of knowledge demands central subject This
* fouud only in theology which unity To History,
shows the ethical lessons be learned from language,
and upholds the mysteries Of nature. In the language OF
Coeridge: "There is one department OF knowledge
which, Ike ample palace, contains WITHIN Itself man
sons for every other knowledge IL Is biblical theology,
the philosophy Of religion aud the religion OF philOsO'
ply