Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-02

the world. but he cannot doobt that if moves
with the world
| The speaker then reviewed the great and
y permanent advance made In the scope Of
methods and appliances for education during
the past fifty years. and spoke hopefully Of
still greater Advancement in the fature- In
closing he then saids The voluntary system
OF education and schooling exemplifed in the
New England Academy system Is necessary.
IL should never be entirely abolished To
the academy come the boys and girls from the
country who are destined 20 become the brain.
manhood and power Of our country and
nation.
The service which DIR. Champlin rendered
when he formed the plan of uniting in close
connection with Colby the academies At
Houlfon. Hebron and Wsterville, was wise
and sagacious. Happy are they tonight that
this plan has been carried out By the sisdom
and generosity of him who has given TO
Coburn Classical Institute AZ once its name
and endowment This new ediice be dedi-
Gates 20 service the mightiest and most
sacred to humanity and 10 God.
.. L CaIawelfs 0ratiea-
Some verses of Mr.. Emerson we're quoted
abiding 10 the early companions in study
whose presence gave . charm to the place.
Reference was also made to Mr.. Emerson's
GRAFTON on 'The Methods Of Nature" given
here forty-three years ago. This led 20 the
consideration of mans relationship 20 nature,
especially AZ the subject of science and poetry !;
the different says in which each treat nature.
After looking al nature as a factor i'm the con-
venience and discipline Of life, he considered
IL next as factor ia human knowledge. The
very first question which nature provokes is
whether We can know the outward world In
itself. Then comes the farther question NOS
only whar nature 10. but whence and how.
When science has told ALI il can about nature,
there remains questions it cannot answer.
The main thought OF the discourse was
employed In considering what pr etry does
with nature. and the contrast Of the poetic
and scientific methods. Poetry was considered
as creative rather than an initiative act,
using nature rather as the organ of the poets
own thought and feeling, than Is something
| In itself 70 be interpreted. This infusion Of
the spirit Of nature into poetry has given it q
distinctive character. especially in recent
times. The love of nature is modern rather
than an ancient feeling.
contrast was drawn between classical and
modern poetry In this respect, and the question
discussed whence the difference arises. The
question was first raised whether il could be
the result of increased knowledge Of nature
gained by physical science. The same question
was raised about the influence OF religion. and
the belief of Divine Presence in nature.
Again, 1t was suggested that the enlargement
of human sympathies. which 10 perhaps one
of the sequels Of more spiritual religion,
may have extended 10 the natural world. And
then there are epochs whose thoughts and
poetry are so absorbed by man and the inter-
ests Of life that nature loses power. The
conclusion was that poetry need have no
apprehension of being displaced by the growth
Of science, unless science itself should so far
aRgravate msterialistic tendencies a. to extin.
guish faith in the invisible, and so dry up the
true and perennial fountains Of poetry In the
soul of man, and in his faith in Living God.