The Washington times., 1895-02-14
APPLIED ETHICS EXPLAINED
First Session of the Winter
School at Columbian University.
NOTED THINKERS WERE THERE
Nearly Half Of the Audience Was Composed
of Women-Dr. Greene's Congratulatory
Address-Kigh Tribute1 from Hon. W. T.
Harris-Rev. Dr. Smiths Welcome PROF.
Adler Spoke on the Scope and Aims.

Washington is most fortunate in having
been selected as the place for holding the first
winter session Of the School OF Applied
Ethics, which has attracted such widespread
Interest among many of the great thinkers Of
the day. The coming Of this school is also
tribute to the Columbian University, under
the auspices of which il is held.
The opening meeting in University Hall.
corner Of Fifteenth ana H streets northwest,
was attended yesterday afternoon by many
distinguished literary and scientific people,
and It was a significant and encouraging fact
that nearly half OF the auditors were ladies.
The opening gives promise of much success
for the school
Rev. Samuel II. Greene, acting president OF
Columbian University. presided, and cor
daily welcomed the school on behalf Of the
city and university in short address. 1T
is. said he, "a good sign Of the times that
education looks after the great social prob
lens of the day."
Hon. William T. Harris. Commissioner OF
Education was the next speaker He spoke
of the satisfaction which he felt in having
this school in our Capital city, and ne paid
high tribute to its aims and accomplishments
He said the practical and able character Of
its Papers and discussions is of great value.
The aims of the school are toward the less
ening or repressing of that individualism
which foreign nations Justly ascribe as
marked characteristic of our country. In
their eyes this is menace to solidity OF gov
eminent and they are watching with inter-
est our efforts toward preserving popular
respect for our institutions. Applied ethics
relates to institutions as opposed 10 indiyid-
alism.
EACH MAN ACTS VIGOROUSLY
The collisions, which come from individu-
alism, are kept of by organization. 1t is
through organization that man helps one
another The word yicarious in this eonnee-
tion expresses that deepest thought in the
rational construction of the universe. Each
man acts vicariously-that Is, the experience
of one goes for all. and of all, for one. A
mans endeavor needs to be re-enforced by
that of others. Organization means unilea-
ton. There are three great units-frst, the
family. unit of the heart; second, society,
unit of cooperative action with the rest OF
mankind; third, the state a unit of intellect
ana will.
Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith welcomed
the school to Washington in behalf OF many
of the clergy. He said that, although he bad
received no commission 10 do SO, he felt as
sured that he did indeed speak the feelings
| OF majority of the clergy orthe city. There
| has been, he said, misapprehension as to
the aims and purposes of this school. 1t does
not interest itself with the basis of ethics. 1t
! leaves that to each individual to settle Tor
himself This school will help and encourage
| ministers in their work. As they labor With
| their dull and blunted tools they welcome
help and instruction, and hope that 1t will
assist thenin their efforts to clarity the spirit.
| Prof. Felix Adler, of New York, the dean
| of the school. was then introduced. Prof.
Adler is of medium height, slender build, and
| has all the outward appearances OF a man of
/ thought rather than man of action. And
| yet this institution, OF which he is the head
Is a school of action-of applied thought.
The subject of his preparatory lecture was
| 1.-The scope and aims OF the school of applied
| ethics' His calm deliberate manner OF
| speaking was well suited TO his subject, and
! there was about him an earnestness of
| thought and speech which carried convie-
ton and impressed his hearers with deep in
terest in his subject He spoke fiuently and
without notes.
"The school," said he, ''was established in
1891, and held its tirst meeting on the coast
| of Massachusetts in the historic town of Ply
! mouth. This location was chosen because of
its nearness to large city, and because all
could come and enjoy at the same time the
cool sea breezes and the pursuit of knowl-
Pilgrims was another motive for our choice,
for we looked on the thought OF the Pilgrims
as an appeal to conscience.
WASHINGTON THE IDEAL PLACE.
''We come to Washington for our winter
session because our view of this city is idealis-
tic We regard it as place where brains and
energy count for more than mere wealth.
| Washington will become Lore and more q
| cot iuta nntit irS Influenza
will go out to the whole periphery of the
country.
"There is great stir and ferment in all the
countries of all the world. Ancient institu-
tions are everywhere undergoing change
sometimes in silence but again in conflict
and confusion The universities and colleges
partake of this change. The college of to-
day is vastly different from the college o.
twenty-f five years ago. Methods OF education
are changing. Education is being popular
lied through the Chautanqua and college ex
tension movements. This school is also borr
of that new spirit Yet it is not Chautau-
qua for ethical science. 1t hopes in tune t
affect the universities. 1t hopes to be
model. It is an experiment which, if sue
cessful, we hope will be adopted by the col
leges.
"Our aim is to assemble all of the sciences
Of conduct into single institution. to brinI
to birth new science-that of applied
ethics. What is it?
Economics. law, pedagogics, penology, re
ligion, aud kindred subjects. Each has two
fold aspect. One side is that assimilated t
natural science. The other is the setting VI
of the ends aud means of conduct. Th
purely scientific view has hitherto predomi
mated. Too many people color everything
with the tinge OF their favorite pursuit.
I'm this way ethics has been colored will
the pursuit of natural science. 1t has beel
more common in economics to observe phe
nomena than to establish ideals and seel
to carry them out The naturalist
will not be neglected by US, but the ethiea
side will be emphasized.
awe shall strive TO bring the reinforcement
| of ethical aims and ideals TO the aid OF thes