New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-19
NATIONAL CONVENTION.

| sUPERINTENDENTs-NOR SCHOOL ASSO-
CITATION - OPENING EXERCISES OF THE
TEACHERS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AZ
TERNoON'S PROCEEDINGS.
! TRENTON, Aug 1S.-The national schOolmaster
abroad and Trenton has opened her hosptable doors
to receive him. The acute and amiabe young ladies who
preside at the registry table report that l3 members en-
tered their Monday and 323 on Tuesday, while
the arrivals to-day have been exceedingly numerous,
over TOO names being registered this The hotels are
crowded the Normal School clearinghouse are over.
flowing and of members, especially ladies, are
freely entertained in private families. The proceedings
thus far have been harmonious and profitable. Tho
guardians Of education have said their say the trainers
OF teachers have held their conclave, and today the
teachers commenced their three days campaign under
the lead OF the genial and efficient Van Bokkelen Of
Maryland The attendance very large aud enthusiastic
and includes representatives from every state east Of the
Rocky Mountains.
TUESDAY EVENING.
The Convention met in Taylor Hail. which was well
filled with members and citizens, and adorned with
numerous sprnklmg Of the goodIookng ladies' wherein
Trenton much abOunds. Prof George w. Feter of Phil
edephia occupied the chair Prof. Edward Brooks,
Principal Of the State Normal School at Morsyile, Pa
was introduced and read thoughtful and suggestive
paper on Tho Spiritual Element OF Education The
problem Of education is the problem OF CIVILIZATION ana
upon its correct solution depend the welfare OF the
individual the purity Of society and tho perpctuity OF
tho State II involves two fundamental elements man
to be educated and knowledge TO be used in education
and the character Of system OF education depends upon
these elements. The early systems OF education
were abstract and impractcaDle a tei99rmSSuon was
peteness by taking to themselves practical and
material element Bacon the trunpcter who stirred
up the battle The struggle was long and determined
Scientific culture was opposed ana lts disciples Pelso
cutOn il has Battered open college doors rcvoutonzed
t5hiddn school eduCat0h and seated itself proudly In
university chairs Having position in our educa'
1 4
pOrauCe which cannot be recognized Inc tendency OI
the ace IL toward materalism in thought and culture
Myain is to counteract this extreme tendency ana To
present the higher subjective or splTltual cltHt .lu
cation must begin in the concrete The mind awakeus
iTn through the senses God has arranged
the two great eXistenCes OF the universe mat te Ue
seems necessary for the education Of the mmaIrg1 Ma
80 S Tho dTt cboOlmascr or rather the first textbook,
i'm which learned ateas the alphabet Of knowledge inc
material sciences give culture to the seuses-he lowest
fnrtn OF mental activity The naturalist becomes sharp,
eyed quick detect simlarues Of form ana Color ana
gains memory we'll stored With facts These are com
pared aud classified and the results are organized mo
science This gives exercise to the facuueS OF judgment
of their growth and development But here they stop IN
their educational influence. IL rs evident tneI'ioIo '"e
natural history VIII not aauIy lnS uelha. ~, VI
spiritual element education. The culture OF the under
standing Is higher than the culture OF the senses
think Is nObler tlan 70 see anu 10 heu' w 49, 49,
thoughts is better than To deal WIN mugs NuIuo Io
thSreforc as we pass from facts and phenomena 10 laws
and principles Hence physics including natural pI nos
6phy, chemistry &c, give a Hihtor ore aisn
limited in their educational value They DO not not
except VheTe mqHfma8 AE2'teas ~ m Sednctiye
thought Through these means man atdlns ms Hlstst
intellectual development. Sir Isaac Newton, crowned ny
Sce The mower which the study Of Mathematics con
fers commands the admiration OF mankind 10y u man
determines the velocity Of light, puts his meaSuIlngIme
about the sun, aud weighs planet AS III uaaOc, Ic
takes 1.-The facts which the long arm OF tho telescope mas
dragged down from the skies, puts them lhO an eqna
uon ana Sy n Ssyes FOR centuries TO come He sits
% a. 10 closet works away with his diagrams aud
svmbols catches wandering asteroid ~ his aCeDiac
asso, q ana tee9co6e TO the heavens and 10
! ncw-found planet marches across ms neiu,, ,but
atm mathematics fail TO educate the highest ana best
narts OF our nature The Importance OF science h euu
| cation should be fully recognized II mas ban7hed
dreamy speculation given dchblehtss 10 tlVuh1o az"
nOuiry aud put ytalizng spirit into certain depart
meuts OF elementary instruction me Bacohah nGsS t
ton by which the mind burst tho shaeKes Oh ahceht
methods has gwen birth 10 more elevated ones Inc
triumphs Of science have been wonderful 10y rnTl
Cuvier picks mp fossil bone ana 10! lno ana a %
! before him Agassz finds single scale, ana ny the
touch Of hls scientific Nanq iIasI1o y L uI
fish Of the Paleozoic age Lysi tens you nov IonH s
ara has been flowing Hugh Miller unr0Hs the earth IKE
great physical Bible science snoul S horJ Ji po
omitted yet should occupy the lover ana snDordihate
no.on in a curriculum OF study. Facts are important,
bu TO deal with facts only would be 70 dwarf eur higher
nature. man Of mere facts Is clther sAI9iC VI .
s confned by the materalstc philosophers OF the age
Spiritual culture demands the education OF tue reason or
and ia range OF vision that may find God IN
| nature and revelation The sensimites claim Their
portant as head cultureis 10 not moro Important
good feeling worth more than fact-a sentiment tha
-, ncnle fact ia a stone In the temple OF SCIENCE
sentiment is a IN the temple Of character ana
character better than science 6erog9 nobg
our powers. Seated upon It's regal throne " issues ~
mandates and infeeC d. aa naiDre demands cn
| tuPe Nature euiOins this duty ny ine piVs'SV ~,
she has made fST or H apS So" Of poetry every day
i'm Mace OF problem in arithmetic, VIII pay boh pnplahu
teacher school song III oS Sact IN its memory The
cradlesOng that fell from mothers Ups becomes =
sacred memory that inspires the lfe Spiritual culture
requires the training Of the moral nature Moral power
is worth than learning or genius Inc inleegt ~
shond be put INTO the channel OF righteousness ih.
Youth of tie land should be made TO feel that the Iea
Uatnre sSond receive culture Religion embraces three
elements faith love, and obedience To develop Inquiry
The Exclusive study Of inc scepces tends TO undermine
faith. Seeing effect related to cause sclenee iai
discover first cause Pupils shouId DC Ecu W 81 49,
ali science begins and ends faith; that beyond th
known stretches great unknqw9 tnaD ,nG % from
tainments Of the intellect are bat Peha
which We may catch gmpses OF Jsnu OF glVIB 9cyOIu
The love element OF religion should be developed carly
Love is the golden cord that Dlnds the SOU 70 o he
dnty Love is the Of religion we OBEY COO De
cause love him The enid s9ona Os iDSI h t "
obedience 10 superlOrs leads TO obedience TO the laws
IL religious culture The relation is simple and logical
Faith leads TO love, and love TO obedience ISl'h Is In
dence or perhaps in better figure, faith Is the SOL
which grows the tree OF love, and oDenence J
I9Se IN thS soil Of faith in God. and 4 Will then
with the golden fruit Of obedience The rengOsus e
Religion was before science; religion klndleu anu pe
served the flame The learning OF the GnSs th gSt
with the priests; priests watched over o Sm1
knowledge In the dark ages and priests wens uo"i
Spain, brought up the learning OF the 5araeehs, Az
spread 1t over Europe. The religious natug f,h "a vin
downward and elevEtes science, inspiring IL p.h
attributes Inspired with religious feeDg, IA2 o SH
say God geQmerihesp Kepler could eAclalns, H. Nv
but think Thy thought after Thee! Ahu r 90 D
Heves that 1.-THE eye Of man may eaten INC - oi,
beamng out from the midst OF His works rVl sp ny
al culture inspiration lie better than Tment tba
better to inspire the heart with noble sen r
to teach truth Of science. The two grea. aensnSI
OF antiquity Plato and Aristotle fIatP $500