Article #46 - Discussion of Promoting Knowledge and Improvement

            For the Association                   1851

                        Secretary will please read

            Lord Bacon says “our wisdom cannot be better employed then [sic] in judging what to do, and what first.” Knowledge and improvement being among the highest objects of life, the inquiry as to the best means of promoting them is of the highest importance; and as these means as connected with this Association which professes such objects, have been the subject of some discussion I propose further to consider it. The question would it not be best to confine the subjects of its lectures, essays, discussions &c, to science? has been answered in the negative, and discussions on reformatory subjects urged as more useful and important, being unable to see from what has been said how greater benefits would follow the latter course, and being ever convinced of the importance of elevating the standard of knowledge by scientific investigations, I propose for the present but to examine the nature and evil tendencies following discussions on some subjects under certain circumstances. Among the subjects named which it is contended we will be benefited by discussing is Slavery.  Let us examine the tendencies of such discussion. When a person possesses strong feeling, or prejudice in reference to any subject and that prejudice or feeling is not founded on reason, agitation or discussion in relation to it will for the most part but increase the intensity of those feelings; just as any faculty of the mind is strengthened by exercise, so are all our feelings and passions increased and strengthened the more we experience, or are governed by them; the truth of this need no illustration. Slavery then being a subject in reference to which most persons have fixed strong friendly or hostile feelings, agitation (of the subject) will but increase those feelings; on the supposition therefore that person[s] do not feel and think as they should towards it the evil tendencies are apparent; because instead of reason being permit[t]ed to govern feeling and direct thought, it is governed and directed by them, such facts only are collected and mode of reasoning persued [sic] as will go to confirm and prove what has already been asserted and believed. How often have [we] seen the truth of this illustrated in reference to other subjects; have we not heard two person[s] entertaining different religious views

make use of the same passages of the Bible to prove contrary doctrin[e]s, is there not now hun-

dreds of religious sects the doctrin[e]s of no two which can be found to agree yet all proving the truth of their cherished belief from the same book, and why is this, simply because the feelings of each were directed in accordance with certain impressions made or belief formed differing according to the different circumstances under which they were made and formed and thus their reason and investigation are governed by and directed according to the current of their feelings; hence each finds such testimony as favours his own purpose. So to[o] have we not wittinissed [sic] two persons one believing that capital punishment is wrong and ought to be abolished, the other believing it is right and necessary; the one seeing evil continually resulting from hanging persons for crime, while the other see[s] it continually increasing where ever the penalty of death for crime is abolished.

[The writer makes the same assertion about the subjectivity of adherents of differing political parties.]

            If such be the tendencies of such discussions, how far from being the best means for promoting knowledge and improvement. How different the tendencies leading from the investigations of science, its devotees find nothing but truth because they go forth in that spirit; he is actuated by no narrow prejudice because he is lead [sic] to examine into the nature of things; he does not see others actuated by the spirit of hatred toward their race because he is not in that spirit himself; he does not charge other[s] who do not see just as he does with the crime of shutting their eyes, and turning away their ears that they may not see and hear the truth; because

his are open to see, hear, and learn everything. He does not acknowledge the ignorance of anyone to be a crime justly charg[e]able to himself alone; because in his se[a]rches for truth he has discoverd that alike the universal law of attraction of matter in which each particle attracts every other the smallest atom the largest world, their [sic] exists a reciprocal relation between man and man, each in all his character influencing and being influenced by others; so that he that commits

the smallest crime by violating a certain law is respo[n]sible for all the crime ever committed by the violation of that same law through all time; and that the crime of ignorance (if it be a crime) is as justly charg[e]able to each and all that are not omni[s]cient as to the most ignora[n]t, even though he may have neglected favourable opportunities for improvement.

[The following was written in a different hand.)

            The investigator of science as he examines into the elements that compose bodies, he is lead to inquire what equalities of mind, what moral powers combine to elevate and perfect man, and looks upon slavery and other similar evils as the result of those qualities combined in his nature; and as he sees how gradual is the law of change throughout nature, he learns to await

patiently the passing of events and not get indignant because others will not aid with heated enthusiasm in promoting partial reform which by not being conformed to the gradual law of change itself becomes an evil. When accused of being afraid of interrupting the harmony of parties, churches, Lyceums &c. he freely owns the charge, for he has seen harmony existing throughout nature and discovers it not incompatible with her laws inconstant with the sternest

duty nor opposed to the spirit of truth, and that he would not be willing to exclude from where it is of so much importance, would not sacrifice it for the gratification of indulging in a spirit of proud independence or it may be in difference to the progress of knowledge and improvement. Thus the investigation[s] of scientific subjects are not only free from the evil tendencies of such discussions as al[l]uded to, but from their nature more calculated to elevate our feelings, expand our minds, enlarge our views and thus put us in pos[s]ession of the most efficient means for promoting desired ends.

                                                                                    F. D.