The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-14
TH|RDED|T|0N
3:l5 O'CLOCK.
LAST DAY.
Closing Session of the Bap-
fist Congress.
The Physiological Basis of
Morality.
Topic for Discussion This Morning.
Banquet at the T~rocaderO.

As there was no session of the Baptist
Congress last evening, nearly ali of the
prominent speakers accepted the invi-
tation of the Rhode Island Baptist Social
Union TO attend their 10th dinner al. the
Trocadero.
Nearly 200 persons filed the hall, when
President Herbert Il. Maine called the
meeting TO order at 1880, and after Pro-
lessor Moore had led the divine services
the banquet began.
When the last bit Of bisque or sherbet
had been served President Maine again
arose and recalled the meeting TO order.
The routine business was rapidly trans
acted. Secretary w. l.. Clark read his
report, Treasurer Rice did likewise and
the following were unanimously elected
members.
Rev. J. X. Ever, Union Church,
Providence; Frank salisbury, Roger
Williams Church; Mrs. Arthur II. Arm
ington, Central Church; Frank M.
Mason, Central Church; Mrs. George ;.
Mathews, Cranston Street Church.
During the evening Miss Harriet f..
Barrows rendered the following solos:
"Hide Me, o Thy Great Jehosvh," "The
flower Song" from Faust, and an oper-
attic solo from Joan dare.
President Maine then made a short
opening address, after which he intro
uulCd lOlCSoOI hiDlOh We Dhihiis ILL., 1at
OF the University of Chicago.
Professor Small's address was keen and
witty. with many laughable jokes per-
tanning to the Windy City.
Cephas b. Crane, ID. d., of Concord,
n. H., was tho next speaker. and though
his.topic was New England, he wander
cd fom 1t now and then for the sake OF
telling a good story. j. T. Christian,
DID,, OF Louisville, KY, then spoke on
the Southern Baptist.
DIR. Z. II. johnson of Grocer Theo-
logical Seminary spoke on the History
Of the Congress.
Among the guests were Rev. Leighton
Williams, Rev. s. Il. Meeser, Thee A. X.
Gessler, J. b. Christian, ID. d., ID. w.
Fsunce, d.. d., Cephas b. Crane, ID. d.,
Norman Fox, ID. D., Professor William q.
Evanns, Rev. Walters. Rauschenb back,
DR.. Alvsh Hovey DIR. Johnson, Professor
Alvin ". Small, Professor w. L. Poteat,
p. a. Nordell, Professor Gordon, Ii.
Moore, ID. d.. n Rev. w. ii. p. France,
ID. ID.
The banquet VAS a decided success
and was one of the most brilliant enter
tainments In the history of the Social
Union.
LAST DAY OF THE CONGRESS.
The last morning meeting OF the Con-
gress was at 10:30 o'clock this morning.
The topic for discussion was the "Physi-
illogical Basis OF Morality"
Rev. s. B Meeser of Wilmington, Del,
read an interesting paper of which the
following is an abstracts:
~ call attention TO the ethical impli-
cations OF physiological psychology.
Such a sclnce is 20 a iimliar with its
teachings for we are so far united for
an intelligent and scientific criticism
many new forms OF truth which claim
our attention.
In addition to this we may be advocat-
ing ethical systems which sre untenable,
and we may be seeking a moral culture
in an unscientifc manne
This science, because il is concerned
with the physiological phenomena of vo-
lition, habit, attention snd the emotions,
is fundamentally affecting the problem
of education, morals and religion.
We cannot be able to approach the
problem of sin most intelligently il we
ignore the intimate and constant rela-
tion existing between abnormal and I'M
lawful acts and the physiological con-
ditions attendant upon them. The sci
ence does not offer an ethical theory. BY
its own superficial progress IL has not
been able to affirm or deny the freedom
of the will'; has not been able to demon
strate, either, that there Is, or is not, a
psychic entity such as the sol and 1t
finds the conception of moral accounta-
bility i'm direct contradiction to its de-
duction, though it does not deny the re-
atty of that sense of responsibility. But
there can be no ethics without n personal
agent, free and responsible, and the sci
ence admits they are the constant factors
in the moral consciousness, even while
confessing itself unable TO solve the prob
lem.
"In the science we are concerned with
the laws are in us and not about u.s.. +"
What possible physiological basis for NOR
atty can we then find? IL Is to be an
swered at once that ii is on the practical
and cultured side that we are TO look to
the science for aid and that in the init
mate relations Of the estate of Nina to
the physical states in the brain, we are to
find the corrective principles for our
moral theories.
The inability OF the science to answer
the fundamental questions does not ex-
clude the use OF its data in the formula
ton OF ethical principles nor should IL
forbid US to be guided by these same data
in the effect to practically realize the
ideals which metaphysics may'give us.
For II the brain Is not the instrument Of
tho mind, by which, because OF some
caused relation between the two, IL "car-
ries out" it's ideals, il Is, In its physical
changes, the accompaniment, Mt least, OF
the mind, and so neecful 10 the psychical
acts.that we are literally without knowl-
edge OF any psychic life except apon the
physiological action OF the brain.
To know, therefore, the brain pro-
cesses accompanying our psychic process
es IL evidently a moral advantage; for TO
ffske the mind faHaiiisf. -wHA-its-ewnin-
~ to Increase the power OF the
MIND and the moral utility OF the brain.
The psychology OF habit Is fruitful in
suggestion of this kind, the purely phys
ical point OF view ~ can be shown that
the culture OF character has less 10 gain
by resolutions, aspirations, and line evolu-
tions than by actions, since 1t is always