New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-10

ELECTS OFFICERS AND AbJo'"'''
Denver Col. July 9.The first session OF the
thIrty-fourth annual convention OF the Natoha.
Educational Association he'd at the Cea'r''
Presbyterian Church this afternoon in the presence
Of 1000 people the utmost capacity OF the pu'''ns'
thousands OF others being turned away from 'he
doors 1t is said by the railroad officials that lo""
people have 20 far arrived In the CITY, e''"e'
delegates or visitors to the convention
The opening session Of the general conVeh"o"
was called to order a $50 o'clock Aaron foVe,
Superintendent OF Schools OF Denver. made pr'e'
address OF welcome. He was followed by Liehten-
ant Governor j. l.. Brush, Who represented toi-
orado In the absence OF Governor Mcintyre. Mrs
A. ] Peavey state Superntcrdent OF Schools vel
coined the teachers in the raTne OF Colorado wom-
en- Responses were made by the president. Pro-
lessor Nicholas Murray Butler. OF Columbia Col
lege New-York ard others. The annual address
OF Professor Butler. What knowledge IL OF
the Most Worth" was a scholarly paper. 1t was
in part follows
COMPLEXITY OF MODERN THOUGHT
The student OF history struck with the com
plexiy OF modern thought From the dawn OF
philosophy to the great revival OF learning the lines
OF development are comparatively simple and direct
During that period may trace. step by step.
the evolution Of the main problems OF thought ana
action and discover readily how the theories OF the
seers stood the test OF application by the men OF
deeds Dante believed Mr.. John Fiske says,
that this earth. the fair home Of man, was placed
In the centre Of a universe wherein all things were
ordained for his sole behoof: the sun to give MIN
light and warmth' the stars in their courses 70
preside over his strangely checkerod destinies the
winds blow. the floods to rise, or the heni OF
pcstcnce TO stalk abroad over the landau for the
blessing or the warning or the Gliding OF the chief
among Gods creatures. Man Win such con-
reatcd a. In the ihese modern days all this changed
Man has come to doubt not only ms supremacy az az
the universe. but even his Importance. ne nhus
hat
IS but the denlZen of an obscure ana uhy spech
OF cosmlcal matter quite invisible amid the innu-
merabic throng OF flaming suns that make up our
galaxy" host OF new knowledges has appealed to
human sympathy and interest. and has taxed them
70 the utmost. Within generation or Two oio.ogy
has been created and physics. chemistry ana geo.
shmen, and delight at these srea revelations IONS, has
the presence OF the wholly new problems that they
raise The old self-assurance Is lost Already II is
In an age o. dccadencc Mankind is divided into
warrins amp and While me earS ,Srether dues"
lions ~ knowledge and 81 belief have split up every
nation into secs. From all TINS tunu :, Is ''"cu'
70 catch the sound OF the dominant mote
\ LIGHT FOR EYES THAT CAN SEE
Amid all this confusion however. a light has been
growing steadily brighter for those who have eyes
70 200 In our own century two great masters OF
thought have come forward. Offering Ike Arladne
OF old to place in our hands the guiding thread
that shall lead US through the laoyrintn-tne nsr-
man Hcgcl and the Englishman Herbert Spencer
And a. The century closes amid the din OF other
and iesses voices we seem to hear me Ieep,r ol
OF these TWO interpreters swelling forth as repre-
sentative OF the best and most earnest endcasors,
from two totally different points OF view, OF our
despite the fact that our age is one Of unexamped
scientific and industrial progress yet notning III a.,
our modern scientific activity Is more striking tnai,
the undlsputei primary OF Thought-Thought hot III
an'agonlsm % Sense put lntsrpreave ol 'ne nd aat
extravagances. and based on Reason. rather than
on srkesyS arHy wat S patp saw pescartcs
ieibnz Kant and Hegel have demonstrated Inc
Modern mathcmatcs that most astounding OF in
tcllcctual creations, has projected me mIno eye
through Infinite time and the minds hand into
bonniless spa.e rom ,he air we breathe but
T T9sGn led Lord Rayelsh by an memorable logic
10 the discovery OF new ATMOSPHERIC constituent
argon The ssomeiry sn ~ hSye exesnded
into the marvellous mathematical method-more dar-
nE in it, tnan and
Rlemann Gauss and Sylvester. The physicist also.
Ion ~ eneprv in is various manifestations t.
new and startling proof OF TIE iuniafneH'ai p''o-
sophical principle Of self-acuVity'
VICTORIES OF INSIGHT
nu, II is no, from the domain OF natural science
alone that illustrations ~ the al,-conquerng power
+, Of Thought be DRAM The genius OF Oha'n-
nollon has called to He the thoughts and deeds OF
! Amenotep and Rameses. and what appeared 10
Sense "a rude decorative sketches on the walls OF
temple and ~ tomb are seen by the TX
TO be the recorded history % great clv'ha.,o" ~
the valley OF the Nile The cries ot savage man the
| ~
,liorm AMI complicated tongues OF mo1',n h oya
al, 80 seemingly diverse 10 ne ear ana 10 ne 80
have been the foundation for the cure laws on com
| narrative philoogy that the labors and insight OF
! Bopp and Grimm and Werner have but upon ,hein
victories OF insight. each marks new stage IN me
conqusring progress OF the Reason by when sno ~
finds itsolf I'm every part and phrase or me cosmos
and It's ne / regard this insight as TO self.ac'vlty
and ne prmacS os TGIc NV 10 oer and instead
OF being urged IN centuries past IN antSsohsh,n
10 the teachings Of science IL is ow ,ngsther
tusfan ~
LARGER VIEW OF THE HUMANIrIEs.
We must enlarge our conception OF the human-
! tics FOR humanity Is broader and deeper than we
have hitherto suspected 1t touches the universe at
| many more points than one; and, properly inter-
preted the study OF nature may be classed among
! the humani,ics truly a. the study OF language
| itself This conclusion which would welcome
science with omen arms INTO the school and utilize
It's opportunities and advantages at every stage OF
education. does not mean that al studies are ~
equal educational value or mar '"r! ar ,hs mart
and indferentiy interchangeable as are ,'e ,'t,'
OF some machines II means rather 'hat thy sff
of nature is entitled 70 ;ecosnon on teSaire
lar to those put iorward ior lhe s'uus ~. a.
OF art and OF history But among themselves ,hes'
divisions OF know ledge fall into an order OF excel
nrc as educational material that is determined by
their respective relations 10 the deNcIopteht % WV
in"yltably lead u.s. while honoring science and IN,
ssting upon its study, 10 place above ir stu? u,
He fnt these studies may not for moment be
carried on without the study o. nature OF III "'h-
| Immediate utility makes demands upon the sch9o
which Is unable wholly 70 neglect II thc schooa
to be the training ground for citizenship. us plVI
nets must be useiully ard soundly equipped ~ Wei
a. well disciplined and well informed. uny ~
| term that may he given either a very broad or
| very narrow meaning. There are utilities nishei
and utilities lower. and under no circumstances W
the true teacher ever permit the former to be sacr
feed TO the latter. Freedom and rationany are wv
| names for the same thing and their niSheSt DE
| velopmcnt Is the end OF human IRE
THE NATIONAL. COUNCIL ADJoURNS.
rh National counrI OF Education close,
| its work this morning with a snort OK
| ecutlye session. The committee appointed MONDE,
! to consider the recommendations OF Henry saph
| OF pes Moines. relative to the reorganization o
| ungradcd schools. reported In favor OF a commit
tee OF ninn 10 investigate the subject, rtporth'
within two years. The following were selected a
members OF the committee: Henry Sabin, Do
md INT q o