Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1877-02-24 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

SOCIETY. Allison of  o—n- Phrenology, Booty own., the Chairthe  spirit,  injurious, but is often-productive truth is elicited by the collision of minds, a deeper reverence is inspired _ the supreme authority of scripture, and scope given for a loftier christian charity. When a student at one of the northern Universities he had the honour of hearing Doctor Spurzheim, the celebrated founder of phrenology, launch his discoveries before an assembly of scientific Sootchmen, and considering the hesitation with which the Caledonian mind receives new theories, some degree of surprise was manifested at the deep root which it speedily took in the:western metropolis of Scotland. In Edinburgh some of the loftest sons of science were engaged to test the merits of the new doctrine. Every fresh ordeal only awakened proofs of the soundness of the theory; and distinguished converts to the discoveries of Gall and Spurzhiem swelled the list of believers in Phrenology. The stale trick of representing discoveries in science as hostile to religion, has indeed, always been a favourite one with the enemies of knowledge. Had the hostility to the Phrenological doctrine been confined to the weakminded and illiterate the circumstance would have excited no surprise; but at the first announcement of the science we find it assaulted on all sides by the learning and reputation of Europe. A more striking instance of the impossibility of stifling truth has never been presented to the world than in • the victorious struggle of this science. It is said that the majority of medical men are hostile to Phrenology. On a matter that he has never studied, the opinion of a medical man is no better than that of auother person; and the general ignorance of the profession regarding phrenology is too well known to require demonstration. The light which this science has thrown upon the -physiology and pathology of the brain is immense, and can only be appreciated by those who have turned their attention to it. Grievous errors in education, and in the treatment of malefactors are constantly committed from ignorance of the light thrown by phrenology on these important subjec;A. This light will, in time, be so reflected upon criminal jurisprudence as to render a misapplicaaou of the law an impossible occurrence. A friend of his at Kilham, who has bred a winner or two, thinks that the quality of the internal organs are transmitted from the mother, and that the external form of the animal is i 1herited from the sire; hence a clever woman and an ordinary man are more likely to have talented children, than the converse. In most children the three classes of faculties are on a par, and upon education and example does it greatly depend which shall take the lead in after Life. It has been alleged that phrenology leads to materialism. If by materialism is meant the identity of mind and matter, it leads to nothing of the kind. The brain is not the mind, but simply the organized medium through which it acts. Gall and Spurzheim were immaterialists, and so are most of their disciples, including myself. Nor does the science lead to the destruction of responsibility. The Scriptures point out a marked difference among.men, and phrenology does no more; but to say tha'c, this leads to irresponsibility is to assert a palpable absurdity. The doctrine of the immortality of the soul is not affected by phrenology. If the immortal spirit be liable to disease why may it not be subject to death itself. Insanity arises from a distempered state of the organic apparatus, by which the mind works. his a symptom of a diseased brain, just as indigestion is of a disordered stomach. Dr. Pritchard, now all dishonour," was low in the organ of "conscientiousness." His constitutional disposition for lying often excited the pity of his friends, and his unfortunate thirst for ardent spirits, contracted in Glasgow, was a matter of regret. It is probable that the repugnance of his moral nature to murder was extinguished in tL e fumes of whisky, before he became insensible to the agonies of his victims, and the nature of his dreadful deeds. Few criminals expiate their guilt upon the scaffold who do not attribute some share of their misfortunes to the madde sing effects of strong drink. In the enlightened system of criminal treatment to which this country is coming, I hope that a penitentiary department will not only be allowed to the constitutionally violent, brutal, and cruel, but an asylum for those who endanger society by a course of drunkenness ; and that those who enter will be saved.—Votes of thanks to the lecturer and the chairman brought this interesting meeting to a dose.  ST.