The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-17
THE RELIGIOUS AND THE Sc
GUAR CULTURE.
,,,, INTERESTING AND ABLE AB-
nR.ss az HON. ROGER A. PRYOR.
az NEW YORK, BEFORE THE
.,rrSl SOCIETY OF HAMPDEN
S,DSES COLLEGE.
,,.crcr,ca for The Richmond Dispatch.l

"a \
v..c, Gather, her sous together from diverse
49, ti,,snt walks OF life. and bids them,
...Ir~ the shadow Of her venerable presence,
,.td her fancy to the pleasing reminis-
.~,,> If their college days.
W view these familiar scenes, memo
-, nae wand brings back in gay process.
..r III, incidents Of our student life; and
a.. -rrm l-r9in 10 chase its ficrtiug JOYS.
III 70 tell At its irkSome tasks. again to
,.,. h,,.r y fond il!usio rs. again 10 eXult in
.t.s rrir II - Wcllwon triumphS tut.
rYvrvrr natural and legitimate it may be 10
surrender ln~slvcs tor The moment to the
.,,l-c; and associations OF delightful retro
.rt.t. su-'rfc reason suggests that the occa-
.s, imrcNc, lis duties a. we'll as imparts its
,r.s.rrr>. and atlmonisheS Us that we shall
,ray'v utilize us opportunities If we ex-
nj them il The fantasies OF an idle Senti-
ll"aI.
:. conceive is significance. this ami
,,~-3rv r,gpyu OF the alumni Of Hampden
SIDNEY l!rrortS an obligation on their part
r7GrIilr the bcniSnity of their Alma Mater
y, ending helping hand TO the work IN
ua,,l she Is engaged; and IN no way can
,.ry 1c moro auxiliary with her in ditfuSing
,.r N-ht OF intelligence than by indicating
~ l!inciDlc on which she conducts her
s'-'"tn Oh NlStIUClItll. I1tl lUHUSDput vi
....,src Is a tradition from the Past and
whether or not it be in harmony with the
..,,Fr Il the age. and instrumental to the
.nf, Of education III this present living
world, is , problem to be solved by none SO
satisfactorily ~ by those who have tested its
nj-dorn ~ experience of its efficacy in the
,.,ual c,i>l> Of lie. Gentlemen, every morn
~, and evening during his college course
m. undergraduate of Hampdcn sydney is
r..mIr,t 70 attend in chapel. and to partici-
-, Nv hi presence at least, in an invoc,-
= Of the Divine blessing on his endeavors
~ knowledge. And at the close of his
..ien!C career it is TO this sanctuary that
g.. :, u,nmontd 10 receive the authentic tes-
',uanG.! ard trophy OF successful study; and
- from this sanctuary that, with parting
'.nvdi.t!Dn, he is dismissed to the solemn
dn,,,. ~ ht". Thu, in the daily routine of
,,..' md il the supreme moment Of viCtO-
.,.l.- and cXultant schOlarShip--as well by
-. Ebitual exercises a by her final and
>. =; impressive coremOnial-our Alma Ma
~ recognizes a relation between learning
ri roli.-ior. and links together by indisso-
.g'l bond the Interests of intellectual and
.lYuun Development Nay more: While
tn,rl6 ating no creed and cNacting no con-
,ormltv. she does, nevertheless, dogmaticallv
r,ulound these principles a. essential to
.y.ry ~lrce>Siul and salutary system of edu-
,.r,nn namely. that the discipline of mans
n.~l nature must proceed step by step with
=. development of his mental faculties, and
'a.' the cnulpetcSt and purest spiritual cul-
80, can be realized only by protesting the
,'h and practiciDg the virtues Of Chris
,,Nity. Is this theory of education true, or
.,i i4,>c: Gentlemen, it is not many years
>,Wc" the bare statement OF the question as
mg!ying doubtful response would have
len heard with amaZement and lndignn-
ION but, unhappily, 10 hazard is now in
,lrrcd III propoundinS it as a subject OF lc-
.rlIlate discussion. For in these latter days
3 new philosophy has dawned upon the
~H-!d--a philosophy of which the ideas are
s.r.!lv largely prevalent, and are still propa-
.:.,rd with q zeal and ability that threaten, if
- equivalent resistance he not opposed to
tA.l lrrgrcs$. to extend their empire be-
,alG III dennite bounds; and this philoso-
Th} presume, TO say that SkepticieIn, and
Ht ,nth. should be the habitllal attitude OF
.l' lnuuir!ng mind: that the uogmas Of Ie-
I-grm are inimical TO the advancement Of
oWicdge: that reason. unbridled by au-
'4rgily, should guide the excursions of the
ngman intellect. and that the creed of the
christian l. hindrance rather than help
IN Inc discipline Of character for the duties
Of life.
Gentlemen, on the economy of mans con-
s.!,uiOn and the function of education in
Developing his faculties, and furnishing him
nth tor his high dcstinies, we may build up
q" argument OF conclusive cogency against
.!- imply secular scheme Of culture; for
j.! Is al! agree, the use and object of educa-
uoA Leto train mans capacities and energies
- IL. point Of greatest perfection, and to tit
ham III The most faithful and efficient per-
i"!!n.avr Ji MS part in the complex relations
and With it has pleased Providence to
!.ac" him, then necessarily that method of
instruction must lie partial and nugatory
Which ahand0ns any region Of his nature to
neglect and waste. Aud so much the more
melancholy is the improyidence and incom-
yirt"n..~- Of liz" culture in proportion as the
faculty., untended and uncherished, trans
r"nd: all other faculties in worth and dig
nay. IN the constitution of man we behold
+hetHrchy OF powers, rising through every
s'adation OF glorious capability, from the
rude energies Of the physical form up TO the
."liicSt aspirations and activities of the
-Nrtiual being. His feet may rest upon clay,
~, like the figure Of prophetic vision. his
&'-her part is of the purcst metal and the
"TnHn1r>t Workmanship. Indeed, he was
A..de IN the Creator 5 own image; not in the
>vtt>" OF material organism, but in the silDiIi-
,ud" tuat 10 him. and him alone, has been
communicated reflection of the Divine
l''R-a N'tHin borne in his bosom from the
h!lR"H'- Of his far-off heavenly home
N". "h'i Is he creature of large discourse,
'""Hlh5 before and AFTER but being of in
ma" hope, aspiring upward to kinship
nd Connection with his Eternal Father:
and rrordiuated with this yearning after the
i"unt'e and jnyi-ible. be possesses faculty
~ experimenting and realizing the objects OF
~ spiritual desire. Ia other words, besides
al> >"n>uous perceptions, and beyond and
Toy" his rational powers. man is endowed
M'h certain moral aptitudcS and energies, |
"h"h together constitute his religious Ia
'HIr: and this religious nature is the higher |
aad boiler part Of him. The physical appc- |
ne, be participates with the lowest types OF |
e'&anc matter. And even the pride of |
l'3scn is not his peculiar prerogative, but IS |
s1ncd IL kind, if not in degree, by other |
:oim5 VI animal existence. But the re- |
tgt3&S instinct and faculty is his exclusive |
c4ao"ment. 1t Is this and this only that |
t!lcientiates him from all other creatures of |
lie living universe. and that places him in
%lNoXinlate POSITION only "a little
over to the inhabitants of Heaven.
Helein lies his humanity, as distinct from
's animality. The philosophy of "eyolu.
ION l. content to brutaliZc man, and does
10; essay the vain cndeayor to deity the
BRUTE. lis enlightened intelligence, or
'o,htr its Truman pride, shriuks from this
RELAPSE into the Fetisliism Of Egypttan Sill
I'f>t't'"n. Even Darwin, the evangelist Of
'hiuhalis,n, has not detected among his init
h"h"s OF the barn-yard and the kennel any