The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-08
CHAUTAUQUA CIRCLE.
Series of Interesting Lectures
Inaugurated.
Arranged by the Pacific Coast Branch = Dr.
A. c. Hirst's Address on Culture
and Philosophy"


A e. Hirst. President of the University of
the Pacific, at the First Congregational
Church, corner OF Post and Mason streets,
under the auspices of the Pacific Coast
Branch Of the Chautauqua Circle. The audi
ence was drawn from the cultured circles of
society, and was entertained by thoughts
eloquently expressed, and drawn from a
well-stored and inspired mind.
Rev. Thomas Filben, pastor of Bush-street
Methodist Episcopal Church and an execu-
tive officer of the Pacific Coast Branch of
the Chautauqua Circle, presided. He an
nonnced that the lecture TO be delivered.
would inaugurate series of high-clasS
lectures, to be given during the winter and
spring, with intervals OF three or four weeks
and in different parts of the city. They are
to be conducted under the auspices of the
racine Coast Branch of the Chautauqua
Circle, and are to be entirely free to all who
wish to take advantage of the desirable
means for culture. The next lecture will be
held in the Central Methodist Episcopal
Church, on Mission street, between Sixth
and Seventh, on Friday evening" Nov. 2sth.
Dr. j. ID. Wythe, prominent authority
upon microscopy, will tell a story of The
oid stump, and illustrate his subject with
stereoptcon. Mr.. Filben intimated that
-. i'"stOlo SOuCtIuiDB tlle NuTk VI tn6
Chautauqua Circle in this city would be
published in THE CALL. He then intro
duced the lecturer.
EDUCATION IS A NECESSITY.
Dr. Hlrst said he felt at home because he
was not stranger to the desk before him.
ana he was also in the presence of Chautau-
quans. lie introduced his subiect-"Cult-
ure ana PhiloSophy"-Dy stating that in
every succeeding age of the world the good
ana the wise have taught that education is
essential to the improvement of mankind.
referring to the progress of education, he
pointed out that the girl has proved herself
as susceptible TO culture of the mind as the
boy, ana the TACT has been welcomed by the
ringing OF college bells and the throwing
open OF college doors to both sexes
Inc doctor gave considerable attention to
a portrayal OF Athens when that city was
the seat of learning for the world He men,
TONED the names of a number of men then
and there illustrious in letters and thought,
and from among them he singled out
socrates to throne him for his high culture
and education his massive mind and bound
less soul and his philosophy greater than all
philosophers.
Bringing his hearers with him to the pres
ent day, the doctor compared the educa-
tlonal systems of the two periods and spoke
with regret for the tendency of modern
students to be more DESTROYS of inpressing
the quantity than the quality of their learn
i16 "Poh thC Noiiu. Ilt MAUI all
in favor OF the Chautauqua University, de-
claring that in that institution the ambition
OF teachers and students is TO acquire SYM
metrlcal development and real culture.
LACK OF VITALITY.
Continuing his criticism of modern educa-
tional development, the doctor facetiously
asserted that astronomy is studied through
smoked glass and people tie bladders I'M
der their arms To learn 10 swim. He found
10 vitality in the present manner Of learn
ing and noted the absence of concentrated
thought. In picturing the honest and hon
ored student he said that the men who are
the headlights on the path through life are
those who have given wears to concentrated
thought upon philosophical subjects. They
PROBE the hearts of their fellOw-men and
lnclie them TO serious reflection upon the
ways and means of life.
Philosophhing himself upon the subject
he criticized, the doctor said that il is not
the amount of knowledge which is injected
into the mind that educates man, but the
quantity and the quality OF the thought gem
Grated In the mind by the accumulation of
knowledge: The power to delve gives the
power t0 climb.
The talents inherited by mankind, he con-
sidered, were of character to give perfec-
tion under well-disciplined training. The
poetic, the phioSophic and the god-like-a
combination which is a common Inheritance
of human beings-are groundwork from
WY" any oiiN may diiu COuStIuCt u
perfect man.
Another combination was presented by
the doctor as means of attaining perfec-
ton in mortals. He named the Hellenic
form of cultivation, which gave Kings and
Emperors to nations, and is yet a recognized
factor in education; the manner in which
the Romans sought for physical culture, and
the Hebrew idea of separating the clean from
the unclean.
EDUCATION IN NATURE.
The doctor drew well-marked line be-
tween the philosophy which eliminates d.
vinlty and that which accepts the presence
and power of supernatural being. He said
writer had declared that education in ma
ture alone would bring culture and happi-
ness to mankind. He disagreed with that
writer, and asserted his belief that the soul
is King and divine education is necessary to
culture and happiness. His leading argu-
ment was that without belief in divinity
philosopher cannot hope to influence his fell
l0w-men with his teachings. He instanced
the TACT that law originates nothing and only
regulates, and the law-giver supplies the
real power. Applying the example to ma
ture, he reasoned that there must ii super
natural law-giver to-the power that regu-
lateS the works of nature.
lie ended his interesting lecture by re-
marking that religion, science and phlloso-
ply are welded i'll the development OF true
culture, and hoDOr> are tranStory, riches
are uncertain and culture always remains.