Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-03-04
Prof. McFarland's Lecture.

At the second meeting of the Union
Normal class on Monday evening, Prof.
Raymond Mcfarland of Middlebury
College gave a very interesting and in
structive lecture on "The Connection of
Body, Mind and Soul"
He said, in part, as follows: There
is no study more interesting than the
study of the development of a human
being. He comes into the world as a
little infant with senses unframed and
with mind blank His period of in
fancy is longer than that of other crea-
lures. Newborn animals soon stand
upon their feet and seek their own
food, but year, more or less, must
pass before the human offspring is able
to walk, and other years must pass be-
fore he is able to enter upon the task of
self-support.
The observer notes a two-fold growth
going on in the child. There is a
growth of body and growth of mind
Food supplies the materials for physical
growth, and the reports which the sew
eral senses transmit to the brain begin,
and help to continue, the process of
mental development.
No one knows what the mind is in it.
self. There are many theories respect
ing it's nature, but it becomes us all to
confess our ignorance just here. There
is, however, one thing of which we are
certain, and that is the manifestations
which the mind makes of itself. We
call these manifestations the attributes
of the mind. The attributes are know
ing, feeling and willing.
In our present state of existence the
mutual relation of mind and body is very
intimate. Hard brain work lessons
muscular power. The work done by
the hands. when the brain is tired, is
often very poor in quality. The obvi-
Gus remedy, under such circumstances,
is rest for both mind and body. On the
other hand, hard muscular work re-
duces brain power. The explanation is
simple. Brain activity is conditioned
by the blood supply. Physical activity
draws the blood to the muscles, and so
away from the brain; hence, the dull
ness of the mind after a day of toll.
Brain activity is also reduced during
the process of digestion and during
sleep, because the blood is called away
from the brain to do service elsewhere
in the body"
The address was well wrought out,
and was very easy to follow. The
speaker held the closest attention of his
hearers from the beginning to the
close. Though dealing with some of
the basal facts of physiology and psy-
chology, yet he did not use the tech
nical Technology of those sciences. A
little child could have understood him
throughout, and yet the address was so
interesting and instructive that every
adult was profted. Numerous illustra-
tons were used in the course of the
address.
Prof Mcfarland announced that on
Monday evening, March 9th, his topic
will be The Making of a Man" He
will speak of heredity, environment and
the will, and of their influence upon the
development of the human personality.
Though held under the auspices of
the Union Normal Class, the sessions
are by no means limited to Bible School
teachers and officers. Every one is cor
daily invited to attend all of the lee
lures.
DR.. Howard L. Averll, the president
of the class, called the meeting to order.
Prayer was offered by Rev. S. NJ. Har-
ris of the M. E. church. Mrs. s. X.
Patrick, the secretary treasurer, then
read the records of the previous meet
ing.
Next Monday evening, at 1870 o clock,
the class will meet for its third session
in the Congregational vestry. The
members are requested to read the
chapter entitled "Adolescense, pages
81 "a, in the textbook.