The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-07-10
Paper Read Before the ChautduQud Circle.

Paper Read Before the ChautauQta Circle
- CIENTIFIC research during the
past twenty years has demon
~ strated the fearful and wonder
full complications, not only of
what we call the moral qualities, but of
the human mind By these discoveries
/ believe that the divine origin of our
frame has been newly illustrated, and
that scientific study of the mind
might reveal, if not the Creators will
concerning us, at least His revelation
of essential character. One thing is
certain, that before long the discoveries
OF physical science will force all men to
the conclusion that to rear man we
must know what man is, or at least for
what purpose he has the greatest ability.
We call this age scientific one and
pride ourselves on our method of doing
things, yet the scientific study of the
mind is still a study of the future.
A noted thinker has said: "The time
has gone by when shake of the head,
a wave of the hand or the bigot's instru-
ment can set aside study that claims
to make clear the most important fact
that can attract the world of thought.
IT living character can be studied
through the mind, if in the brain can
be read the talents which shall dis
tinguish their owner and bless the
world, if traits can be seen before the
tenth year which shall indicate the
orator, the enquirer, the philosopher,
the historian, the teacher, the artist or
the divine, ought we not to know it in
order that the coming generation may
be guided in their moral and intellectual
welfare and in the management and
training of the propensities, so that
each child of the future shall be made
the most of and thus the race be lifted
into usefulness, virtue and honor ?"
Not being in any sense of the word a
master of this study, can only give
few illustrations and suggest some of
its possibilities.
Mind, we say, is the man; every feel
ing, every action, is but obeying the
commands of one of its unseen facul-
ties. In1ame or injure it and the most
gifted genius is maniac 1t is the
chief attraction OF man, it shapes and
mOlds the character and the life and
while there are countless beauties in
nature the mind outshines them all.
The study of the mind has it's foun-
dation in the theory that it is composed
OF number of distinct powers, each of
which has its separate organ in the
brain. To illustrate: just now you
are seeing, thinking and remembering
at the same time. Now if the mind was
but single faculty or an indivisible
power this could not be done, and if
such was the case it would be an ex-
ception to all else in nature and clash
with universal law. The mind is said
to be divided into forty-two divisions.
called mental faculties, such as benev-
olence, hope, language, courage, fear,
etc.; so to certain part of the brain
belongs the sentiment of worship, of
veneratiOn and to other parts such
faculties as memory, tact, executive
ability, sociability and individuality.
Each division makes itself known and
felt in our everyday experiences. That
the mind is so divided is proved by the
fact that we often see people who are
gifted in one thing, while their other
faculties are weak, sometimes idiotic,
or in the case of persons who suddenly
lose their memory and remain mentally
sound in every other way. Now il we
can determine the size and general form
of the brain in a living character and
can determine in what region the differ
ent faculties are located and which of
them predominant, will we not have
key to character and ability?
The size and shape of almost the en-
tire brain is indicated by the head,
which thus becomes an interesting
study. If you were cut out for an
orator your head would have CORE
spending fullness where the organ Of