The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-27
USE OF THE IMAGINATION.
Presbyterian Ministers Discuss the
Subject With Interest.

Rev. John w. Ellis, DID,, presided at the
meeting OF the Presbyterian Ministerial Union
at the Howard Church yesterday morning,
where Rev. W. II. LandOn ID, of the Theo-
logical Seminary, read a very scholarly and in
teresting paper ON 1.-THE Imagination; Its Use
md Cultivation" which showed a close study
and thorough understanding of the subject
lie began by saying that the relation OF
Imagination TO eloouence, its importance to the
preacher, and the consequent Importance Of
cultivating IL have received but little attention
from those who have written OF tools and
methods necessary to the pulpit orator. This
neglect may have arisen, in part at least, from
misunderstanding OF the faculty and the pur-
pose which 1t may and does serve. II has fire.
quently been referred to as Synonymous with
fancy. and has been considered as au over.
developed faculty OF childhood in need or being
restrained.
sit does not seem TO have occurred to those
who so regard it," continued the doctor. THAT
the power which in childhood requires curbing,
later In life needs encouragement and cultiva-
sery. where it has the fullest and the freest
play. The imagination of the child makes up
for the lack OF many things.
I'm some respects The child of the poor man
Is blessed beyond that OF the rich one. The
latter is supplied with toys that are brought to
perfection. The doll IS almost as large her
self, and is dressed as richly as lady. There
is nothing left for the Imagination But the
children OF the poor take their ruder toys aud lei
ting their imagination have free play, transform
them into more beautiful objects than the
workers la the toyshops ever thought of.
III does not follow. however. from this that
the imagination may not be of service in the
study aud The pulpit. While not an originator
1t Is an organizing thought and Ii Is of great
assistance TO the writer or the orator, by
enabling Him to illuminate what might other
wise De dark; TO brighten what might be SOM
her, and TO make vivid what might be IiIeless
The encouragement of tue Imagination to pro-
duSe chaste, appropriate, and foreible images
Will help TO keep one from the tendency of mind
10 become dry and abstract IN lis processes,
IL alds IN the gathering aud preparing of Illus
tratioDs which give such force TO the discours s
OF men ike Or. Guthrie and Henry Ward
beecher. and which add so TO the force of the
truth presented.
1.-The fact is undisputed that men who have
Deen the most distinguished in philosophy,
especially as oiscoverers or inventors, have been
remarkable for reach and glow OF Imagination.
Striking examples of the combination of imagi-
nation with eminent philosophical genius are
oHer ny such men as Plato, kepler, Calico,
Bacon, Newton, Lelbnitz, Davy. Owen, Fara-
day aud Agassiz."
For the cultivation of the Imagination DIR.
Landon recommended. first, communion with
nature. Some OF our most gifted poets and
preachers have been on very Intimate terms
With nature, and hav- found
Tongues In trees. hooks in the running brooks
Sermons in stones. and good in everything
second, read poetry-not only as an inter-
prefer OF nature. but bee use OF its direct in
nuence upon the imaginative powers.
"Ihird-Read the best works of fiction. which
are largely The product of the Im ginarion, aud
10 he study OF which this faculty Is cultivated.
'Lastly-Read the Bible, the truths OF when
are stated with such beautiful imagery and ac-
COMMANDED with such str king Illustrations as
are 10 De found IN no other volume"
Inc subject was discussed by Rev. Messrs.
Minton, Pnraner. Irwin. Bevier, j. C. Smith,
Meeker, Mathena and Stewart, after which a
passed. -
Next Monday a paper will be read by Rev.
pr Hemphlll on John Henry Newman aud His
lni1uence on the Church Of England,