The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-15
BOVINE LECTURE
TUESDAY NIGHT
WAS GOOD
Large Audience Heard the
Eminent Boston Scholar
Tuesday Evening.

Fundamental Moral Ideas" was
the theme of DR.. Bowne's lecture in
the Methodist Episcopal church last
evening, which was listened to by the
large and representative audience
with rapt attention. Those who have
not had the pleasure of hearing the
eminent scholar heretofore are won
dering at the man and the ease and
readiness with which he discourses on
these great problems of thought and
life.
The following is brief resume of
his lecture:
He began by calling attention to the
misconceptions that have haunted
ethical literature and thought in the
past. chief among which is the origin
and history from moral ideas, as
necessary to their validity and signi-
ficance. We do not have to revert
to our aquatic and arboreal ancestory
in order to determine the worth of our
ethical intentions and conceptions.
Two things must be forever kept dis
tinct, namely. (D The genesis and
history of our moral ideas, and. (2)
their value and significance.
AS to the first, their psychological
genesis and development do not affect
in any way their validity and worth.
The real question is, not how an idea
emerged but what it is worth for
thought and life now that we have it.
1t other words, that which concerns
us most is, not what we have sprung
from but what we have sprung to.
Indeed we are the true ancients and
our intellectual and moral conceptions
are the most reliable.
Having cleared away these errone-
Gus notions. we are prepared to un-
derstand our problem. Three things
are to be taken into consideration,
% the moral subject. ca the moral
code, and (3) the moral field.
First: With reference to the moral
subject or agent that which is of
supreme importance is the good will
the will to do right With this. all
can make beginning-all are on
the same plane. Here Rants cate
gorical imperative comes in, namely,
Act so that the maxim of they con-
duct shall be fit to become universal
law" Consequently, the true moral
being would have no reservations and
no disposition to evade duty, and thus
the bulk of our social, political and
industrial problems would find an
easy and adequate solution.
Secondly: In the formation of the
moral code, intelligence plays the
significant part. Conscience may keep
man to the mark but it tells him
nothing Of the consequence of an act.
The intention to do right needs to
be illuminated by reason, and often
mans common sense, knowledge of
complex conditions and situations are
of more importance in the determin-
alton Of conduct than his conscience.
Frequetly unspeakable conceit and IL
literacy have been sanctified by con-
science and thus men have opposed
all progress and effort made in the
direction of larger, richer and
broader experience. We should de-
termine our action more by due re-
gard for it's outcome. based upon an
intelligent appreciation of the same,
rather than an appeal to conscience.
Inner loyalty carried on in vacuum
apart from the regard for conse-
quences, and mere regard for con-
sequences apart from inner loyalty
destroys ethical content and results
in sheer phariseism.
Thirdly: What is the field in which
the moral person gives his moral code
expression? 1t is life. And the aim
and purpose must be to live this
human life in the largest, freest and
best possible way. Churches, edu-
cational and social systems. institu-
tons. and all the paraphernalia of
life, are but instrumentalities for
building up manhood and woman
hood. To realize the deepest and
broadcast in life men must not lose
sight of the essentially moral purpose,
for apart from this our civilization
would be nothing short of savagery.
Thus, in the light of the good will
informed by knowledge we are able to
realize the truly moral life, and be
fitted for the larger life beyond.