The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1873-11-29
Rev Mr.. Coleman's Lecture.

io"uo lIto Jlt COuHlTy, lOI Jlle UellSuJ
of the wayfaring man. The wealthy
travellers could take guides, and the
pr0fessed tourist had skill and science
enough to trace his route by the great
guides of nature the rivers and noun
aims, the sun, moon and stars-but the
business man required these speaking
stone directly in his path. So in the
paths of knowledge those who have
leisure, and need not measure time by
hours, can travel at tn cir will, and find
recreation and instruction in everything
they see and the professed scholar
knows the tracks of his predecessors in
the walks of learning, and can examine
the monuments they have left behind
without much anxiety, since he can
more easily correct the errors into which
he may fall. But those engaged in the
busy scenes Of every day life, aud to
whom mental culture is rather inciden
tai than otherwise are glad TO avail
themselves of the directions which may
be given them, and the conclusions
which may have been reached, by such
as have had opportunities for that study
and reflection which have not belonged
to themselves. While would not for
one moment claim the right to consider
myself a teacher of such an audience as
now have the honor of addressing,
yet if the few milestones-it may be
rough-hewn and rudely sculptured-
which propose to set up, shall be found
IN the slightest degree helpful in pur-
suing the life journey which we are all
called upon to pursue, my honest aim
inspeaklng will be entirelyaccomplished
The time has come when no one can
be ignorant and still remain respectable.
A good STARE of knowledge is requisite
for the daily demands of society, in al
most every walk and grade the shop
keeper, The artisan, the miner, and even
the loater must have a portion of mod
ern Intelligence /; else he soon falls IN
the estimation Of his associates. We
are reading community, The press
is teelning every day with works of all
sorts In our vernacular of more or less
value in forming the mind. There is
hardly mental taste or inclination
which is not by one or another of them
taken into consideration and gratitied.
1t is not now difficult to procure books.
They are scattered abroad in every city,
town and hamlet, and supplemented
literally by lectures OF addresses, in
courses or singly, in school, and hall,
and church. ..
But it often happens that the mind is
without guide in this wilderness of
sweets, for it falls to the lot of but few
to have a mentor always at hand to
point out the medicinal from the poi.
sonous flower. There is no instinct in
our nature that directs us to whatever
Is good and whoesom., as in the honey
Dee or other humble creatures of earth
or air. 1t is the wandering about, with
ill-digested plans and unfxed principles,
not knowing exactly what course of
study or labor to pursue, which, of nee
essity, prevents many from ever COM
ing to maturity of thought, and makes
HE appear to others so vapid and bur
densome. If all the intellectual activity
and spiritual feryOr which are now so
palpably mis-spent and wasted, could
be conserved, and expended upon OBJ
jects which would yield profitable re-
turn, how much of vain regret and of
positive damage would be saved to the
individual and to society at large
While man may be at all time recog.
nlzed as a free and independent being,
and, as such, privileged to act in accord.
ance with his own volition, yet there
are, by common consent, certain pur-
suits or lines of thought and deed which
it does not become him to follow. And
his gratitude should ever be extended
toward those who can and will point
out to him the inevitable injury and loss
which must enSue upon his adopting
such course OF training or action AS he
seems inclined to follow. The time
which he has to devote to such studies
and considerations Is so limited, that if
he be at all wise or in earnest, he will
ever seek to practice his faculties in
those departments where they will pro-
duce the most good, that he may be sa-
we'd fIom after disappointment and re-
proach. / trust that it may not be inap-
propriate in me to undertake, in my
present remarks, to indicate some of the
methods by which we may avoid the
damages with which an indiscriminate
and aimless pursuit of learning Is accom-
panied, Such awant of aim is of the
very nature Of selfishness, or of stupid
acquiescence; in either case, it is unman-
ly. We take up with those studies
which are the most agreeable to our own
feelings; else we bindly follow the di-
rections of others with but a mechani-
cal obedience, not knowing nor caring
what we study so that we fulfill the re-
quired course.
The notion which has its beginning
with the young child when he first goes
to school that he has merely to recite
his lesson in class without troubling
himself as to its future remembrance or
plactlce-thiS notion, under different
notifications, seems to prevail thro' hout
the mans after life. The CONSEQUENCES
that what he is now learning may serve
to help him in learning some higher
branches, in understanding some more
difficult problems, affOrding instruction
aud comfort to his neighbor who may
not have bee, favored with like oppor-
tunltles of mprOvement-neyer or but
seldom appears present with hiui.
But surely We are debtors to each
other. The community idea is that
which ought to be inwrought in all our
plans and endeayOrs. The great truth
that we are all members one Of another