Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-02

look for moment at what we mean by the
word consciousness il has been II
growing word, coming gradually INTO use
T. yer since the brglnnlngO OF what Is known
rs modern philosophy. Ii came To he very
used in German philosophy at
HE close Of the last and beginning OF the
present centuries. 1t was through the
writings of the distinguished Scotchman,
Sir William Hamilton that the word con
sciousuess came to he very generally USED
We have come III these days TO use IL Tree
ly and with broad significance
Precisely what do we mean by
the word CONSCIOUSNESS ?" President
Porter says, it is "the power to know
that know" DR.. Hopkins of Williams
college says it is, the power to know tnat
it is that know" With the utmost det
erence, | may he permitted to say that 1t
isn't either Of them. And for this simple
reason, that consciousness is not power
at all. 1t is that which always dccomPd-
MICS the power to know and perceive.
Consciousness is always the accOnplhl-
ment and condition of knowledge. Ptr-
CeUtiou and consciousness are tWo us
tinct things Consciousness is knowing
with myself that know ; it is the mimi 5
return upon itself. Therefore, 1t is not Il
power at all | cannot cease to lie con
,ciuuS So long Is my mind Is pelcelNlnE.
Consciousness Is always and everywhere
the mind : communion with ltsell through
he knowledge of what Is not sell. fur-
tnprmOrp, YOU can make your own CON
seriousness "A subject of study. If that Is
true, there is no meaning 10 the worn
"self- conscious"
This word consciousness has come to
have epithets applied to il. We speak Oh
the "mOral consciousness ana the 'Chrls
tian consciousness. Moral conscious
ness implies two things |. We are nora
beings. >. Objects with moral qualities
| awaken in Us moral emotions, because we
are moral beings. We use the phrase
| "ChriStian uOnsClOusneSS' III the ulStlnc'
sense of our appreciation OF Chrlstlai
! emotions. \ man must be porn again t'
/ know what Christian CONSCIOUSNESS Is
! Wherever there is II ulHn there l. an I'M
| mediate recognition of right and justice
! us such. but not the power OF apprchthu
/ iug what is right ana Just In later years
/ the "Chri~tiau consequences mas bCcl
/ put forward writers have attempted l'
put religious CONSCIOUSNESS IN placc ol Oh'
| Bible Now, how does the Christlau con
| sciOusncsS come into being we 90 mo-
| have it simply by beng born men. Iher'
| Is IL vast difference between an lntelltcJul
| perception or Judgment ANA the Response
| of the moral nature. While we do not st
/ aside the Christian consciousness as value
/ less, it has no sort OF value Hs Il source q
| appeal, when we remember that II ltt
/ been made what ii j. by Christianity. lie
| us guard against one great peru IN on
/ daV In Gods name, let us not Separat
the Christian from the moral conscious
ness OF all men, the Christian shou'
most insist upon morality, upon ethlc~
| Our religion carries along with IL lhNepal
ably the moral and religious conscious
ness. The Bible has made the Christian
consciousness, has kept it clean, pure AM
righteous, and brings us more and NOR
into communion with Jesus Christ.
After the address, the topic was ulH