Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-01-24
The Faults of Culture

Is It horasy to say that no pursuit can
/ be more selfish than that of culture for It's
/ own sake If there is forgiveness Tor
such a sin, either in this world or the world
/ 70 come, let Us commit Il. and So have the
pleasure Of utteriBg q very earnest conyic-
ton. Any competent observer cannot fail
/ TO nave noticed that the seeking of that
which j> most admirable II intellectual
! finish ana furniture, simply for the sake Of
holding il in possession, mas the same de-
grading effect upon the soul that comes 10
the miser from boarding his gold TIE
greatest, WIsast, ueanest of mankind. vas
8 typical dayotea of selfish culture and il
Is safe 10 declare that all men and women
Wh0 pursue culture as an end, failing 10
devote il 70 any purpose involving zalg-sBr-
render. are mean IN their degree So L
often happens that as men grow more
learned By study, and more skilled in in
te.lectual practice, and more nicely ad-
justad and flushed il their power, and
more Gelicate and exact In thejr tastes. 90
they lose theiC sympathy with the world Of
common life. and become fastidi0us aud
disdaintli aud cold. They seem able TO
varna only t7rrsrd those who r,rai=a sbosa
thair possessions. and 70 hold fellowship
With none but those OF kindred pursuits.
IL IS often noticed, with surprise aud
regret, that as culture comes IN faith goe>
cut. The fact seems strange 10 those who
think that faith. if It Is a rational thing.
il itself should grow vigorous aud far /
reaching with the rising power and deep
eniDg 8alicaey Of tue mind lis it only /
the ignorant w1o have faith %. they ask. /
"aRd must man surrender TINS divinest of
sll possessions when culture enters ?" Az. !
he must. If culture is pursued as an eud il /
Itself. Culture thoroughly Caristia1ized /
culture pursued for ends OF benav0lance- /
strengthens faith, but culture that ends il /
itself ao6 ITS p0ssess0r is iuddei Ia every +
tendency. The culture which is pursued +
for It's 0sn sake makes a god of self. and /
So turns away tae soul from It's relations. I
eartaly aud snlv-tbat self becomes I
the 0ne great Isct Of the universe. 4 cul. /
ture which does not serve God by direct I
purpose, and with loving and reyerent de- /
vOtlon. Is the purest type OF practical inf .
dsiIty-aDd there srs notable individual /
lRstsnees. even IA 50 young 3 civilization as
ours, in which constantly culture has been /.
: constantly descending path into Paga n
ism. We fear that any thoughtful Amer
lean under taking 20 name those u his own
country who have carried intellectual cu-
ture 70 the highest point would be obliged
10 Indicate men aud women 90 whom
Christianity has no high meaning. and by
whom It wins no victories
When culture Is selfish s.l its sympa-
thies are ciannish. There is nothing out
side of It's circle 10 be either admired OF
tolerated. Such culture can have no broad
aims,saye the selfish aim 70 be broadly rec
ognised. Whatever work it does is done
for the few. To contribute by kind aud
purpose to the wants of the
many Is what it nevgr does lt would be
glad 70 command or TO lead. but It will not
serve. 1t works away At It's own refine
ment and aggraudizement, but refuses to
come down into the dusty ways Of life, 20
point men upwards and to help them bear
their burdens The world all might 20 to
the dogs or tie devil for anything that sci.
fish culture would do to pCrvont it. That
work Is done. and must always be done, by
those who have faith-by the humble who
have placed their culture under the control I
of that law Of love whose feet stand upon
the earth, and whose hands grasp The
Throne.
The farmer VINO recommends an animal /
0 purchaser, talks offesh that is 8 worked /
on" IN contradiction TO that which IS ac-
qQirsd while standing still and feeding.
This one acquisition IS recognized as pos
sessing qualities Of power and endurance
which the other does not. It IS precisely
50 with culture That which Is q worked
on that which comes while its possessor
is busy in mlnistry-is as beautiful IS it is
valuable. This indeed Is the only culture
that comes to man as q legitimate,
healthful, and valuable possession The
florist can show Us flowers whose beauty
has been won by culture, bat It has been
won at the fatal cost of their fragrance.
There may be much in even a selfish cul-
ture 70 admire, but if there Is nothing to
inhale, our hearts are still hungry. We
are obliged 10 20 near to see that which
should come to Us on all the wings of the
air
There Is q sort OF blind worship among
the people, which would not be worship
were 1t not blind, IF they could compre-
hend its narrowness Of sympathy aud It's
selfsbness Of purpose if they could see
and measure It's greed for praise and It's
contempt for them and their acquisitions
and pursuits if they could feel its arro-
ganco and pride, It's charms would all dis
appear IF they could see how. in their