The New York herald., 1879-11-16

and periodicals should be exceptions to this rule.
copyrighted book is not like patent sewing
machine, because the of the thought In the book
does not infringe its patent so long ~ the book is
not republished. But the sewing machine can't be
by his authority, without infringing his patent.
This is the Wow that many persons.
take Of this subject. Public opinion. however. is
the side of the bookmaker. and until 1t changes
there 10 in trying to give an honest character
whom IL looks upon as a literary thief.
Hence DIR. Lorimer's friends are much grieved by
the accommodating charges or plagiarism against
him. and 1t is likely to be n subject ot public and
private discussion for some time. Whatever the
first verdict of those interested thero Is certainly
in the disclosure a serious caution in this reading
age to all who arc tempted to covet an admired
neighbor's or strangers mental goods.
ORIGINALITY VERSUS PLAGIARISM.
The lines which separate originality from pla
gisrism writes correspondents OF the Methodist.
but dimly defined He who wifully steals the prod
uct of anothers brain and palms 1t upon the unsus
pecting his own merits the reprobation.
But it may we'll be asked, In what does originality
consist2 In these days of the printing press. when
brought into intimate relations with each other
thoughts and words, how to disting uish
between our own offspring and the children OF nm
conscious adoption? he asks. Would II be possible
for speaker to give credit for every incident illus
tration thought which suggested by tho brain
work of others which he had absorbcd' II not
where shall tho line bc drawn? Incidents and Illus
trations have become generally recognized as public
property Ideas have only TO DC rooed IN slightly
made part of our mental household
Here are n few incidents OF plagiarism furnished
to the Meuodsf by the Rev. j. Benson Hamilton, or
Lewiston. Me-, with q Wow to invite from sorne
an authoritative statement as TO how little and in
what manner q minister may steal aud remain
honest enough TO preach "A minister who has
filed important pulpiis and will doubtless continue
80 to do IL an omuivorous reader Every striking
thought incident aud illustration IL scissorcd and
deposited In scrap bag. The guDhcrngs OF week
are divided and labelled This material IL collatcd
by themes and dovctaiied by occasional sentences
and paragraphs, and sermons of very considerable
versatility are tho result. .
minister occupying prominent pulpit recently
preached a sermon which greatly pleased his au-
dicnce One of his parishoncrs with great self
graduation cuogized the sermon in the presence OF
another minister; few questions were asked. and
the next day the minister gave the cuogist paper
containing in full the sermon with which he was so
greatly pleased, but his pastor was not the author.
A minister already invited TO one of the leading
pulpits the Church is reputed to quote literally
without giving due credit. Upon an important oc-
CASTOR he delivered u sermon OF remarkable beauty
and power, all the material of which was obtained
from a chapter IN book to be found in very many
ministers libraries.
An ex-presiding elder and doctor Of divinity at q
Methodist conference session preached with great
upction q sermon taken bodily from volume OF
sermons which In the library Of more than one
of his hearers.
preacher now occupying metropolitan pulpit,
upon exchange with brother minister, produced a
profound impression by delivering in masterly
manner q sermon which his deceased father before