Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-17
Symmetrical Development.

Anything symmetrical which preserves |
its due proportion. Applied to growth or
development it means that every function |
receives its due attention and is proportion
ally strengthened so that no one is neglected |
and weakened, and no one is over develop |
ed at the expense of another. Whether we |
consider our physical, mental, or moral ma
ture, it is just the kind of development
which we desire, prOmotiye of harmony, |
beauty and utility; and yet we observe that |
in most cases there is failure here. We
seldom find a uniform culture of the whole !
man. There are weak points somewhere
destitute of discipline and consequent eff
cheney, Men drill certain powers and dis
tinguish themselves in certain directions
and thoroughly discipline themselves in
that course which is most in accordance
with their prejudices and preferences, while
other things are neglected which do not
correspond with their feelings and tastes.
This amounts to neglecting the weak be-
cause they are weak, and fostering the
strong because they are strong.
In this way great many one-sided char
acters are formed, and man becomes a bun
die of extremes, or absurdities, of strong
and weak points, of excellencies and de-
fects, of beauties and defOrmities, of virtues
and vices. Instead of such a blending of
ppOsites-such tissues of apparent contra
dictions, our systems of physical, intellect
ual and moral culture should aim to devel-
Op the whole man, to bring out, far rs
possible, alf his innate powers, to make the
most of him and to give to the world man
worthy of the appellation.
Man has innate talents, tastes, feelings
and desires planted for wise purpose, to
| be modified, restrained, directed, improved
and made subservient to their great design.
He is not all moral, intellectual, or phys
zeal; and yet it is often the case that one
is developed and the others ignored. At
the same time there is not unfrequently a
want of symmetry in that which claims
the attention. Men generally do not be-
come either physically, mentally or moral
ly what they are susceptible of becoming.
In the body how many inirmities pre-
vail Many are developed accidentally as
circumstances or avocations favor. Those
bodily powers are brought out and strength
ened which their employment requires, and
all others are neglected, so that in one di-
rection he is weak and puny in every other.
Very much so is it intellectually. One
pursues the bent Of his inclinations in his
studies. Those branches ofeducation which
are the easiest to him, which require the
are pursued to the neglect of those which
are harder. He has his likes and his dis
likes, and these determine his course Of
study which results in partial dislike of
the mind. One is lover of mathematics
and despiser of languages, and those stud
, les which depend on abstract memory he
cannot brook. Another, excelling in mem
DRY, is delighted with those branches which
depend on that faculty, but he cannot en-
dure the logic of geometry or of the higher
mathematics or metaphysics. On these &C
counts each one fails to secure that symme'
: try of mind which is desirable. He neg
! lects those things which will afford the
discipline needed because of the severity o
: the discipline or the irksOmeness of tn,
study.
The same principles obtain in religion
A proportionate christian character; exhib
iting all the graces developed according t.
their relative Importance is rarely to b,
= found. Those graces which are pre-emin
= ent are the more easily excersised, and OF
that account they are cultivated out OF
proportion, while others are left in abey
. ance, and there appear great inconsistent
j cies of life. some virtues being prominen
: and others very deficient. These are 81
: very various that there is not so much char
:, ity towards each other as there ought to be
. We see the faults of others easier than on
> own, all the more readily because they ar
>. so different from ours. They are veal
. where we are strong and if we should lool
little farther we should probably find tina
: they are strong where we are weak, and a
>, we look upon their weakness, SO they lool
! upon ours. We do not seem to know tn
= strength of each others passions becaus
they are not like ours, and yet it seems a
- if we might take this difference into on
- calculations, and balance the account i'm
- partially. My neighbor may be more pas
sionate or more parsimonious than myself
: and shall l throw him away because h
= yields to temptation which would be n
r temptation to me? Let us at least turn tn
- tables and see ourselves yielding to tempt
:, tation which would be no temptation t
- him, and as We compare notes let us frs
cast the beam out of our own eve that W
may see clearly how to pull the mote OF
of our brothers eye.
m Still farther, let us seek to develop
r. ourselves all the christian virtues. thu
"a none of them may be left to dwindle ft
re want of action, remembering that not til
duty which is the most aoraaahla will mr.