The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-17
EDUCATION.
A Brilliant Address by Prof. Davidson at
the First Parish.

1t is impossible to reproduce the quick
wit, the Keen humorous asides, and the
unique personality of Prof. Davidson,
but one may at least indicate few of
the salient features Of his admirable lee
ture at the First Parish church on Satllr-
day evening. The obvious and fatal de-
feot in the education Of the present day,
is its want Of unity and the fact that we
ourselves have no clear idea of the way
we ought to go, hence, difficulty in direct
ing the intelligence of the average man
or woman. Seeley says of the English
people, ''What pursuits do they desire for
them (their children)." Except that
when they grow up they are to make OF
lave q livelihood and take a satisfactory
lissitian in society, and in the meanwhile.
That it would be hard for them not to
eri9y themselves heartily, (Amelicans
Dou'a say, under any circumstances have
a good Timely, most parents would be
puzzled to say what they wish for their
children. And whatever they wish,
they wish SO Ianguidly that they en-
trust the realization of it almost entirely
to strangers, being themselves SO they
say-and indeed the Philistine or ire
ligious person always is-too much en-
gagged. The parent from sheer embar-
rassment and want Of an ideal, has in a
manner. abdicated and it has become
necessary to set apart a special class for
thu cultivation of parental feelings and
duties. The modern sohoolmaster should
change his name for he has become a
kind OF standing or professional parent
The aim Of all human life and culture
is the realization Of the free self-direot-
ing man. Bondage assumes four forms
10 physical needs, to passion. to estab
llshed institutions and to unseen pow
ers- The savage or barbarian is in
reality the least free of all creatures. The
unity Of the human being, lies in his
end, which is freedom or self-realization.
Life, IN SO far as 1t is human, is the
way to this end, the process by which it
is reached. Education is the guide of
such life. When is man free. When he
knows his own end and the conditions
unaer which it can be reached, thus
oc9y -H5 VIC soSALsb4u Imperative. Nnen
he values these conditions truly, obeying
tho command Of Christ. "Love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart with all thy
soul and with all thy mind, and thy
neighbor as thysef"
When he acts strongly under the in
Il uence of this knowledge and this love.
If knowledge fails, he is slave to blind
ness, to tradition. to prejudice; if love
fails or is falsely distributed, he is
slave to passion; if will fails to act, he is
the impotent slave of weakness and in
decision, as well as of the external world
of things and institutions. Education
must elicit in the man, knowledge,
love ana will The body is the first de-
partment Of education; the care of the
nutrltlye, muscular and sensitive sys-
tems- We seem to have no special name
for the care of the sensitive system. all
three involve cara of the nervous system.
Children are allowed to eat improDer
things and at improper times above all.
in condemnation, they are allowed to eat
far tho pleasure of eating instead of for
the safe Of health and freed ON. Ath.