The New York herald., 1869-02-01
NATURE AND MEANS OF sslF-IapauvEnsaT.

SefmOD Dy Kew Vrs ccOtts
The second OF q series Of discourses to young men
delivered last evening at the Forty stree,
Presbyterian church by Rev. DIR. W. A. Scott, the
pastor. There was large attendance. comprising
many young men, who, with the others, listened
with close attention TO the wise suggestions plainly
told and coTenty enforced by the reverend speaker
As the basis OF his tbene-the Mature and
Means Of Self-Improvement''-the speaker selected
az his text Proverbs w., 13:-"Take fast
hold OF wis,Iom.' Education was Of primal
importance as the means OF seIfimprovement-
To educate 10 draw out, and the present appli
cation was TO draw out the power OF the mind. 10
refine IT, to give IL culture. Selmprovement covered
the whole thing. The words were plain Saxon and
carried with them sef-efrort. The terms were less
liable TO abuse besides having broader significance.
They meant to improve all the powers, the moral aud
physical as well rs intellectual, to improve IN all
knowledge, in moral force, IN giving expansion to
the heart mind and soul. rhe soul was immortal
and never exhausted itseu; There was no subject so
Know thyself was an old apothegm, but II was
one always IN force. The subject ne urged was one
that implied that there was something good IN u.s.
The mind diamond that needed cutting and
improving 70 bring out is brilliaDcy. Seifimprovc
ment means self-discipline. Instead OF learning,
which too often means picking cobwcbs out of dead
mems boues there IL Thought to be nsed. The
system Of examining pursnea, for instance at college
merely loading the gun to be shot OF at examina
tion. Great admiration was once expressed 70 Sir
isaac Newton for the amount Of his knowledge and
ne was asked how he acquired 40 much. II acquired
IL by thinking" said he, and DIR. Wayland
sand he acquired his learning by sticking 10 IT, This
was the way. he insisted, To acquire knowledge. He
next spoke or the Importance ~ keeping the body
good physical health 70 insure sound intellectual
Improvement and power. In this connection he
dwet upon the beauty of learning combined with
well developed mind nnd religious education. kel-
Qion. he showed, 0d not enforce m0rosene9s. The
educated religious person enjoyed the beauties of
nature ten-fold more than one uneducatcd. He next
tnk nf he M n lf-ir N nrgy
of the first Importance studies well advised and the
best calculated to give balance 10 AL the powers
Next. IL was important to study how 10 improve the
present. In the third place. he urged sef-relance
In thlnking-t0 rely on the dictum OF no other per
sons-to avoid crutches for yourself. which,
II taken away. leave you helpless. IL vas also in.
portant to mInge with those 0f cultivated minds
This was great help 70 self-improvcrnent
In this country there were but comparatively few
good takers. II was an ars TO listen well Dut q
greater art W he good aEer. one thing Of special
importance was a proper selection Of books for
reading. Books contained the wisdom Of the past
and present lie quoted Milton's views Of books.
Works OF fiction we're 10 be avoided. A true nara
and dstortsd' II was diic,,lt 10 give ths came adj
vice to any young man this subject. The kind Of
books to be read depended very much upon the
mental characteristics and tastes and ,le time one
could spArr for reading Better take the asp OF
Cleopatrdto your bosom than had book. II was bet
ter 10 buy q few good books. One appreciates books
more thar they pay for, as they do preaching that
they help pay for II better TO spend css dress
and fnrniture and more on books. lie. every young
get il together gradually lie liked old 6ooks--sec-
ond hand books. He wanted books he could turn
down the pages OF and nlI the margins with ammo.
tations. and refer TO them when he pleased. He
was sorry books we're 80 nigh. but That he could
not heip. From this subject he branched OF 10 the
subject OF lectures A good lecturer coud give
more Information In an hour than otherwise could
be gained In three months. lie enforced that col.
lege education was not 20 important W. many sup
posed. No college gave ts diploma 10 Homer or
Bunyan and many or the controlling minds OF all
ages keyerilng again TO books he spoke, In con.
cusion, OF the Bible Nv the book OF beoks, 10 bc
studied daily lamp 10 the feet. guide rough
nle, The chart that showed the way 10 the haven
OF a glorious immortality. - D