New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-27
THANKSGIVING THEMES.
GROWTH OF INTELLIGENCE AND MORAL
SENSE.

giving Day gathered at Plymouth ChuFch yesterday
morning. and while Mr.. Beecher enumerated wha' III
his idea the numbeTiess sgns anu 'o""VVH9
human progress for which not only the nation out 'ne
world had especal occasion for gratitude, he might
fairly be said 20 given an Incidental reason ior
gratitude IN appreciatve audience py uehNe'lns
sermon Of unusual fire and excellence even for him. IL
"a NOT an infrequent thing for Plymouth Church au-
aiencos 70 applaud vocerously but yesterday despite
the visions OF turkey and cranberry sauce which are
unposeG TO pass before the American mind as the hour
Of Teasing and reunion approaches, the large assem-
bage cried 60 on 60 on" when the preacher pauseua
moment after long discourse 20 lock somewhat aghasl
at his nofes and remark soto roce, "WhY, am not nan
through yet" Tho text taken was l. Corinthians W.
20: For the Kingdom Of Godis not in word, but IN
power"
The usual direct comments explanatory OF the words
of the text well other passages IN the Bible having
similar Sgui1caron, were made The Kingdom OF God'
according TO Paul, did not consist 10 Its ehnlches OF
books OF theology. IN its instruments OF any klhd
but it was to he found in man, and not in those things
which arc set up influence man; and 1t was the
mower 0, tie soul in certain directions that would
measure ihc POWER OF GOIs dom, Of the truh IN
this world. We are not understand. certainly 'a'
he regarded teaching the systems OF truth as mat
ter o. but that the results TO be sought anu
The oc,ua cain Of such results were the more Important
Go w. 81, ,o.d the test and gauge OF the growth and
condition 81 ne Kingdom Of God. We have heard but
recently in This place that primary education Is NOT
simply learning bgt is the power learnlng II Is not
how much . enid knows, but how much he has the ca
pacity to l1d out In other words 1t is the actuaI
measure o. strength OF the thinking part OF man not
how usu,h knowledge has been put into him.
Now religion is not simply the fux Of fecng 1t is the
inward CO.. ION OF moral power, moral dynamcs. To-
diy we c 80 90 look the history and condition OF the
world with reference TO tho question OF whether the
present couaton and tendencies are such AS TO be
att.r oi ai.l lore and reason for tAanksglNnS;
.,tiniu.,.leiu. tie world shall the Apostles
measure. shall look at the world in regard TO the
statistic, o It's Instruments but in regard TO what these
cn, done, what has been stored up ID the
MUD or TIE actual condition OF tie human mlnd. III
certainly is useful 10 know how many churches have
been bul how many ministers have been settled. how
many missionaries have gone forth, how many converts
ye been added % the churches how many Bibles have
been uraiel and distributed, how many tracts nave
been sent follh winged messengers bat could any
man ten ,he condition OF agriculture in America by
going into an ar,urll warehouse and getting an es-
innate Of now maay pows and harro@s, &C., had been
made during the yearl We get some knowledge, but
Won must actually make inspection OF the farms ana
gardens to the truth and that's not ALL Inc pro-
ducng power Of the soil. and the power OF intelli-
gence aud skill in the cultivation Of the soil must come
into the estimate. You must take an actual survey OF
the things which seeds and tools have been made to pro-
duce Ana so in LOOKING out upon the condition OF the
world We must regard churches and schools and books
as Instruments and the question is not how many IN
srumcns have been created, not altogether what are
their tendencies but this: What, the whole, has
been the product OF these instruments acting through
SO many ccuturiasl What is tie power to-day among
the civilized nations Of the vOrd2 FOrI shall exclude
from our survey an that part OF the world that may DO
considered tine ungrowins part and take only the
civilized portions Of the gloJe-CAristend0m what is
its actual cJudiuOni
Tie two factors the intelligence and moral sense
or the feeling OF the world. what Is tie dynamic
condition OF intellect and OF moral In Cnrlsten
don't Are they srOngeri Is their action in wider
sphere Are they growing more complex Is there
actually stored up amount OF power never before
knOwn2 Is the tendency To ncTeaseY In respect TO IN
telligence. I scarcely need that above all other
periods history tho world this is OF grow
ing intelligence 1t may he said be age OF scientific
fervor. All nations aroused to scientific zeal
There is not simply OF facts known or
theories dcduccd, but power to know the educated
tendency 10 investigate aud to determine. Not only
has this form OF intelligence and power OF knowing been
developed but there recognition of the power of
intelligence such as belonged to any period as to
the modern period,
Among governments It is not great while
Ego that force considered, then cunning,
then both, as the main factors Of govern
meut ard it IS within comparatively recent
period that il was r-c)guz Il that there such
thing as public sentiment among the people that also
must be taken into consideration by governments. To-
day all feel that for the sake OF dynasty
and nation all people must be more intelligent
Education has always in good repute for the
erning but until comp lratiyey recent period has
II been esteemed by the governors necessary qualica
ton among the governed. 1t makes stronger for
the State stronger for the army stronger hands TO
make money for The treasury, and, more than
all, easier men TO govern, If governed rightly;
AMI therefore, dynasties themselves are be-
coming educators. Nursing fathers and nursing
mothers il was said, kings and queens should become
They are becoming such Among the Ign rant common
people tie desire knowledge increasing, for IT is
one Of The foruue6 OF ignorance that hitherto it has
not felt It's Beed the great uneducaed mass
OF men lived long enough to see that the reason
VIII the few could govern the many, why thousand
could govern five Millions because they were more
intelligent; and 50 tas has been brought 70 the con-
sciousness Of tho people method OF self
defense aud a. a hod by which they shall rise TO
full participation OF their manhood they are demanding
TO be educated.
1t is one of the most startling phenomena OF to-day
that the ruiest and the crudest and the Wild
est theories reconstruction OF civil society and
OF government, education Is universal constituent
The phtuthrCpsts are beginning 10 una fstaDd that
there is larger junction In Intelligence than merely
that il cvizos and fines We beginning to under
any amount OF morality are Sufficient TO ward off
tyranny AMI cxalt 10 happiness In other words, 1t
Is not possible 10 MAKE men free as long as tey are
weak. Intelligence, therefore, Is becoming IN the eye
pbianthropisrs, emancipation. The only etectual
bar, the very eh'ctual cOuuteragcnt 10 the cunning
forms OF arisocacy despotism IN the world, Is TO
make men strong that they cannot be managed The
most rigorous associations Oi science are now ODged 10
recognize the OF that popular intelligence
obliged 10 live The bounty Of the common people.
The aud the arts the property of the State
ana there is royal patronage. There time
when men, beng SICK had no right TO know anything
about themselves; il the doctors preToeative TO
know. To-day father and mother are doctors. Time
was when learn trade man must belong 10 guild.
They are attempting 10 bring back in radcs-unions
nrccjsty the same oid evil, which good against
tyranny AMI bad against their own relative mutual
Industry Now every business man may be his
l.gyNC ID a