The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
STANDARD HALL.
ADVANTAGES OF CULTUgE-LECTURE BY PRO-
FEsSOR FELIX ADLER

ADVANTAGES OF CULTURE-LECTURE BY PRO-
FEssOR FELIX ADLER.
The spirit Of the ages is in the direction Of ideal
ISM began Professor Adler in his lecture at Standard
Hall, and continued: "A cry for reform is cry for
larger truth. That cause will prosper which gives
utterance to mems aspirations toward the best and
the highest. We have, heretofore, spoken of the
physical duties man to himself. We desire to-
day to speak of certain intellectual and moral duties
belonging to the same general class. Some
hold the intellect to be higher than morals
Far from accepting this view. believe
that the moral standard determines the value
OF all mental requirements There three distn
gushing marks of genuine culture-honesty, broad.
ness and Observation-Disclosures II is possible possess
great deal OF learning and yet to lack culture Some
OF the most erudite men-nay. whole generations of
schoars-have spent their time in grinding chaf
Witness the scholastic literature OF the Jews. Chris
tians and Mohammedans. What think you OF the
of literature when schoomen could sobcrly dis
cuss such questions these :-Whether it il permits
sbe to sand beer in baptism instead OF water?
In what language the snake spoke to Eve? How
many angels can Sit on the point of u needeg
Whether doctrine OF rinsubstantiaton would hold
good i'll the consecratcd wafer swallowed by
u dog pig? Witness also the many pathological
and theological works of day. The press
teens with useless books. Culture does consist
in amassng knowledge, but in organizing it. The
first principle of true seculture Is to do thing
if you pursue the study of science; to be
thorough business man if you be business
Il
carpenter. Professional thoroughness imparts
sodity to the character gives the sense of being
somebody and worth somewhat in the world; II is
the nucleus of selfrcspect But thoroughness in
direction, though il be the pivot of culture, IL not
sufficient. culture must always be broad; the rays
of interest must not burn on one point only but go
literally Ia divers directions. There is too little
intellect ia many occupations to satisfy those
gagged therein Book reading offers to these valu-
able means tor broadening their culture.
HEADING
'r.s pity there should be much newspaper read
fta.n 10 fftnn ha yhnla off, - hnet
so, Also they wish TO read in haste. They demand
the OF the world within the compass OF
few sheets, brief items, condensed paragraphs; they
take la this intellectual luncheon eagerly, rapidly,
aud then plunge into the whirlpool OF their at
fairs. But the modern newspaper, with all It's con-
fesscd faults has many counterbalancing advai-
tagcs, and has become Indispensable, especially in
state and to free people, that shall rather
witness the enlargement than the decline OF its Unfit
encc. More to be regretted than the overgrowth of
Journalism is the development of period
ical literature We borne down by the weight of
magazines. nonthlics and reviews. They contribute
to make knowledge slight. skctchy. fragment
tary. and spoil the taste for solid book reading.
| They should he regarded q supplement to book
reading. Instead OF that, they are coming to be
looked upon and more substitute for 1t. II
is better in the interest OF broad culture. to
fine ones sell to standard works, to read slowly but
steadily, and to ponder intentiy.
Culture should be DISTINGUISHED. Practical persons
will object that knowledge IL acquired Tor selfish
ends; but do not render a service. should not
| In order ~ get money but rather receive money III
order that may render our service. The human
builds earth temple of virtue, and whether
architects master Inasons or merely hod
carriers all work rs directed end and IL
trial world this view VIII long bo considered uopian
| but ia the Professions II IL already recognized.