Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-05
SELF CULTURE
1.eeture bx the Rev. l1r. Ellls.

Lecture by the Rev. Mr.. Ella.
A lecture q the subject Of "self culture"
the first of series of lectures in aid Of the
Nashville Library Association, was deliv-
cred last evening in the Library by Rev.
Mr.. Ellis. The deserved popularity Of the
reverend lecturer drew respectable
audience, and the room was comfortably
filed. The lecture was rare intellectual
treat. 1t combined deep thought with q
graceful style and eloquent language, and
was listened to with undated interest from
the commencement to the close.
The entertainment was prefaced by
brief address by NJ. B. Howell, Esq. He
explained that the directors of the Literary
Association having concluded to organize
and continue, If possible, series of lee
lures. determined that it would be best to
have the first of them delivered in the
library. so that if not much was gained,
very little could be lost. He made state
ment of what had been done by the associ-
alton and how it had been managed. He
concluded by saying that the number who
had attended the first lecture would
induce the directors TO continue the
series. and they would be delivered
by gentlemen who would make them enter
| tanning as well as instructive.
Rev. Mr.. Ellis opened his lecture by re-
| feTring to the immense number of books
| published, and the impossibility of any one
ever reading more than a small number Of
! them. No one has time to read one out of
! a hundred of even the most valuable of
| them. 1t is difficult to acquire a thorough
| knowledge of even single branch of science.
! But human life can be well developed with
| out a knowledge of the sciences. Selfcul-
| ture to be complete does not require great
| deal of scientific or bookish lore. We must
first know something of the mystery of our
| life so as to have as clear view Of the re-
ligious and moral realities which surround Us,
as the eyes have of the features Of land
scape In bright sunshine.
Most men pursue study 10 acquire facts
| and not as a means to enable them to I'M
fold and develope all their powers and ca
pacities so as to be well proportioned and
vigorous in all parts of their being, so as to
| make the best use of all their powers.
Self-culture is the right development of the
two parts of our nature, thematerial and the
spiritual. The most valuable book we can
read is the heart, the most useful philosophy
We can learn is the philosophy of life. The
viii ought to be thoroughly informed
as to this complex mechanism
over which it presides. The
appetites should be restrained; the affections
should be controlled; self-poise should be
maintained in our material aud in our spir-
itual nature. True self love is not love OF
any part of the man, but regard for the
welfare of the whole of what constitutes
self The culture of self Is the unfolding
and developing of all parts Of our being.
| 6ac Nr-pl
as the material, and the affections are the
hands of the spirit by which she procures
her sustenance. There are two of these
affections, love ofproperty and love of repu'
tation. The great problem is how to pro-
: portion the cultivation Of them. To make
acquisition instead of true self-culture the
aim of life is necessarily to be little and tC
disease the soul. Every affection, what
ever it may be, is part Of life anC
it takes all of them TO constitute
a part of self and true selflove. Selishnes!
and self culture are widely different. Sci
! fshness aims for our own qualification
} solely. Enlightened self love teaches u!
| that that plants as stupid as selfish. Read
} ing is great help to self culture, but
, must not be confined to one school of opin
! | ion. Self culture requires varied reading
| duG dooOSldI4Ou " Atu pei oOuo vi foiAOA OPAi
= ions and sentiments. 1t is not always a
/ men are learned or as they delight in men
; tai exercises that they are persons Of tru
self culture, or that they lead full life. B.
the right qualification of mans affections, b.
= such a use of his powers as self love, if
g were wise, would enjOin-as real self inter
est demands-there may be made rhythm
! and involution and order of sequences, al
, advancement which would make a Who'll
} life eloquent to the conscience, full of pleas
! ing fancies, and quiet beauty. The RICH
8 end of all reading, of all study and of all be
lief, 50 far as self is concerned is the RICH
q development and use of the potentialities {
r our being. If we are governed by wis
: Selflove, we viii not let fashion or custom
2 or constitutional temperament prevent u
, from living that life which will develo
and keep in healthy use all the parts of ouI
) selves.