Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-20
COMMENCEMENT.
Address BEFokE the sUuIETlns

Alumni Association.
The address by Prof. W. B. Owen, Of
La Fayette, before the literary societies OF
Franklin and Marshall college, was de.
livered before an audience of fair size in
the court house las: night, aud was . very
thoughtful aud scholarly production, read
in an agreeable manner, listened to with
attention and received with applause. Rev.
DR.. Apple, president of the college, intro.
duced Prof. o. and at the conclusion of
his address made announcement of the
remaining exercises of commencement
week. This morning the society reunions
were held in their respective halls; at 10
a. m. the alumni association met and
the meeting OF the board Of trustees
was continued at 1890 the alumni
dinner was given and it was followed by
class day exercises, and the alumni grafton.
In the college chapel tonight the junior
prize oratorical contest comes off. We
note in detail the exercises up to noon to.
day.
frOf. Owon's Address.
Prof. Owen began with general review
of the methods and results of scientific
research, dwelling upon the recent pro-
gress in the gathering of knowledge. Iu
any general consideration OF this progress,
three directions of thought ut once con.
front US. 1st, the acquisition OF new
truth ID, its distribution 81, its practi
cal uses.
Greatest advancement has been made in
the acquisition of knowledge, the accu
mutation of tho facts of nature. Tho area
of known truth is now SD large that it is
not easy even for men of talent and leisure
10 work out to tha margins and find ont
anything new.
The acquisition of knowledge is enOr
mOusly in advance of its distribution.
This fund of truth is known to but few, d
mere handful Of the race. The best edu
cation only gives the beginnings Ol
knowledge, and but few get the best edu
cation. The masses arc grossly ignorant
of the world and hold to absurd old theO
ries with tenacity that is next to incrsdi.
BILE. Tho machinery Of dissemination is
inadequate and defective. The speaker
here discussed schools, text books and
methods of teaching; also the press
knOwledges are misrepresented too
through prejudice. The immense chasm
between the many and tho great scholars
seems constantly widening.
The acquisition. of knnwledgo too is III
advance OF its practical application. We
are slow to take advantage of that mas
terry Of nature and natures; laws which
knowledge puts into our hands. Much
has been done in the WY Of material pro
gress by inventions and discoveries ; ycl
it is to be noted that III tho arts Of life
where we get our comforts aud where Oul
wants arc supplied, We live and work On q
plane far below what is possible in thu
present state of knowledge. Abundant
illustration Of this fact was given.
knowledge would bo moro speedily
utilized if it were moro thoroughly dis
seminated ; for no one stands in SO good :
position to discover new laws aud invent
now methods of utilizing known laws al
the artisan himself, right over his work.
But few inventions, however, are so made.
Educated men do most in the way of val
liable Inventions and often those not con
nected with the trades to which the
inventions relate
Thus far the region Of the most com.
plete control and use OF natural laws BY
man is in the simpler sciences as astron
omy and physics, while the more difficult
and complicated sciences Us chemistry,
biology and sociology, promise the most
valuable results We may see this from
the inestimable benefits which result from
even the empirical pursuit Of such arts Il:
animal domestica:icn, agriculture and gov
ernment.
The pursuit OF truth for its own sake i.
high and noble cmp.oy,nsnt, but from
the point Of view Of the economist, th'
friend of man, truth is of use. Knowledg,
of it should widen the sphere of man.
control of those forces that can be made t.
| exert themselves for his advantage.
This train Of remark suggests in prac
tical way that VIC should hasten the radia
| tiOn Of knowledge to tho masses. With a
view to this, caudid thinking men ar
| urging educational reforms. The speakc
| here ST ated some Of the views OF eminent
men upon tho subject of popular education
1t seems likely that without violence t,
existing methods or existing ideas. tn,
work of popular education might be great
| ly advanced by the use of text books i,
elementary science. prepared in every cas-.
| by the acknowledged masters in each dc
partment au,! by methods of teachin:
that will secure the utmost thorOughnes
in the inculcation of cardinal principles
Also by such reforms as will facilitate tn
most wearisOme processes of primary
education and save time for other studies
A rational system Of spelling in our Ian
guage would, for example, save an averas.
of from two to three years to each pupi
in the work of learning to read and spell
1t has been urged also to radically re
wise courses of study which lead to wha
we call liberal education. The speaker
took different position and the CLOSING
part of the address was devoted to thi
| discussion.
In the study of language we are already
in one very important region of scientifi,
research. The training of these studies
and its value to scientific workers them
selves will be seen when We remembe
how important Part language plays il
scientific work. Knowledge of languag,
and skill and facility in its use is Ons o.
tho most necessary accomplishments o
the man OF research. Unframed men hav.
difficulty in expressing themselves a.
they would like and still greater diff
Guilty, though they may not be as vel
aware of it, in getting the full thought
when others speak. The training of lin
guistic study is well calculated to supply
this need.
1t would seem, too, that in tho past men
Of culture have been more fertile thar
specialists in great progressive discover
les. Perseus carried for time the symbo
of subduing power, but it is reposed al
last upon the agis of Minerva.
The last and best consideration always
in favor Of these studies. is in tho words
of the poet, The proper study OI
mankind is man. Man physical, MAI
mental, all his faculties and all that
kindles them mans history what he has