The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-12
Culture Its Own End.


The following is a speech delivered
by Mr.. Henry E. Sease, at the recent
commencement of Newberry College,
on the occasion of his graduation:
Action has power only when founded on
the real. .-.... -..
In nature there are no false valua-
tions. Results are to be deduced only
from facts.
The popular notion, that higher edu-
cation must inevit-bly lead to some
professional pursuit, is responsible for
much misdirected effort and many sore
disappointments.
Education must be considered as its
own reward, as q good thing in itself,
without any reference whatever toits
practical advantages.
If the question should be asked,
What is the greatest need in the ordl-
nary life of to-day? the true answer
would be: More intelligent readers and
more critical judges of the fine arts and
the sciences. Certainly it is an erro-
neous idea of culture that teaches an
education is useless unless applied in
one Of the learned professions-author-
ship, art, law, or the ministry. It is
the great mass of society, the lower ten
thousand, that need arousing, liberal
izing, and lifting up Intellectually.
We shall get on q solid basis when
we shall come to recognize that a
thorough education, full develop
ment Of all our faculties, is worth all
its cost to the individual and to his as
sociates. although it be never put to
professional use. To have an inter
esting socisty,-thatis, to lead interest
ing lives,-is altogether the most i'm
portant worldly object in our earthly
sojourn.
One end of culture should be to ena-
BILE the mind to improve its faculties
and acquire that power by which it
shall not yield to the anarchy Of pas
sion and be overcome by the noxious
breath of false desires and mental and
physical debauchery, but stand on the
high vantage ground Of spiritual lib
erty when it leaves this cradle of its
existence and enters its eternal inheri-
tance. -.
To improve the tone of society is ex-
cuse and argument enough for high
er culture. The disappointment about
education arises generally from mis-
taken expectations. It is neither the
office nor the aim of education to upset
society but to make it better, more
satisfactory and better satisfied. a diff
fused knowledge of art, more refined
taste, which schools and colleges can
encourage, is greatly needed in every
community.
Cultures own end is to fashion the
whole man and to produce in him a
healthy moral and intellectual equi.
poise. Let there be added to these ad-
vantages the more immediate efficien-
cy, the reader and broader informa-
ton, and the higher mental polish
which may be gained by familiarity
with books and the possession Of schol-
astic acquirements-and the logic of it
is irresistible.
Education in any sphere is good and
ennobling, and it will go on much more
satisfactorily in ourlambitious country,
where everybody is longing for a Ca
reer of profit and fame, when it is ac-
knowledged that this is reason enough
for the very highest culture. There is
the victory for every man, and the true
romance which the world is to recog-
nize will be the Transformation OF
genius into virtue, practical power into
improvement.
Let things that are purest and grandest,
In the depths Of your heart be confined;
There is no other grace
Lies shadows efface.
Like the charm Of q beautiful mind.