The Portland daily press., 1895-03-21
CULTURE.
Rev. j. A. Believes Lecture at the Second
Advent Church.

"Cu1turen was the subject of the lee
ture of Rev. j. A. Bellows at the Second
Advent church yesterday afternoon:
The lecturer began by giving de-
soription from the recently published
Life of John Addington Symonds by a
scientist. This man had great intellec-
tual keenness but not culture, which has
| breadth and grace as well as clearness of
vision. Nor is culture the fine ana fin
nioky matter which it is too often con-
sidered. In its largest relations, it has
| for it's watchword "Be ye therefore per-
| feet" 1t is the development of the whole
man, in every part and faculty of his
complex nature.
| Passages were read from Mr.. Arnold,
Goethe and Principal Sharp to show
that there was often a seeming conflict
between Culture and Religion, between
| Hebraism and Hellenism, but that in
| the view of the truest philosophy such
conflict might be at last done away. The
new education. as advocated by Pestalaz-
ri and Froebel trains every part of the
child's being, and not one at the expense
| of another.
Many elements will contribute to this
| well rounded culture: Nature, Society,
Solitude, Conversation, Art, Music. Lit
erature and the manifold experience of
life. Such writer's as Thoreau and
Wordsworth show US how much may
come to US from the enjoyment and
study of nature. The old fashioned exer-
| else of walking, with no special objecE in
view, is still to be recommended for the
fresh contact it brings with natures
sights and sounds. The overstrain upon
| the physique from the athletic sports of
today was deprecated.
Society, in spite of much that is frivo-
lous and inane, is still needed for the
| rubbing up and stimulus of our facul-
ties. But solitude has also its blessings.
and should occasionally be sought in the
midst of the most busy life. Though
| travel is called by Emerson "a FOOLS
paradise" it may add much to a mind
that is really prepared for its suggestions.
Art, in its various departments, must
developed and symmetrical mind. Some
one has suggested that we should try to
see a good picture, hear little good
| music and read good poem every day;
and much of he1pfulness would come
from such course.
q Undoubtedly, however reading must
always constitute large part of the dis
cipline of culture. The lecturer did not
advocate any special course of reading.
1t makes much more difference how one
reads than what-provided one starts BY
reading something good of its kind
whether history, fiction, biography or
poetry. And here there should be an at.
tempt to relate one's reading, to trace.
scientifically, the 1ikenesses and contrasts
which govern literature the causes which
give rise to certain forms of writing in
certain periods; the laws which make one
way, the study Of general literature be-
comes as much philosophical and even
scientific as studies reckoned more pro-
found. But this study must not be car
ried on for self alone, but for the power
and help that we may give to others less
favored than ourselves. Tennyson's
Palace of Art" is wonderful picture
of the desolation that befalls a soul
which thinks to live in god-like isola-
tion, holding no form of creed, but con-
templating ALL" We must, like Sir
Thomas Browne, strive to make the in
tellectal good common. making one
heed the treasury and not the grave
of knowledge.