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"s. ^ •^ s I \ i -.y ■''■ »■ V -J. \\ \ " LECTUilE '^/^ ON THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED \ ,PW^:j,«i»Vt5§;^^ ■i:W-^ TO 3, Tue ,]\fe(S^N ICS' INSTITUTE, |Av': FEBRUARY 5, 1851. ..v.- i *- - 'f V BT WALTER EALES, PAINTER. . ^; iJ /'> ^.., That which beforef; Ig the prime wisdom TO BO PRINTSD BY JAMES STEPHENS, 5, 1851. ■:>, .'"v;;,;'-^:.^;-'. " ..Jj'^JJl, ••■'■'•'A^ijisiiv- ,v. au^uj^L^ ^/^lAA.^^"^ / ^' t I 4 lite i'"'HK>%(.fJi..'*ires, and plumes it for higher converse and loftier studies. It favours inaction only so far as it shall contribute to the advancement of intelligence. Thus it clearly indicates that the working man has a mind, demanding to be excercised and en- riched, as that he has a body sighing in its weariness for the sweet indulgence of rest : and how beautiful it is adapted to the former, as well as to the latter of these ends. — It supplies the great desideratum of the artiaan and husbandsman's plodding existence ; — ^leisure for profitable reading and mental and moral culture. Its benign influences are calculated to warm mto life, and nurse into maturity, many of the finer attributes of mankind ; and who can compute the number of dormant minds it has quickened into activity, — the fine intellects it has opened and expanded, — the memories it has stored with precious truths, — the trailing virtues it has supported and invigorated, — and the t^^riving vices it has withered, uprooted and destroyed: it is, moreover, the peculiar excellence of this educational system, that it only develops in a right manner. It does this, not by artificial stimulants, forcing a precocious and sickly growth, but by simply aiding the healthy action of nature. The domestic advantages resulting from being mem- bers of this Institute are numerous, besides many incidental and collateral benefits resulting to the homes H' 9 M. of the working classes, there are three great ends directly promoted by it, that are worthy of special regard: it favours the cultivation of natural affection, it secures family fellowship, and it generates and fosters domestic piety. The institution of families does not owe its origin to human ingenuity ; God has himself grouped the human race in these miniature associations ; and by the refined instincts which he has implanted in their bosoms, has in all ages, and amidst all the confused comminglings of mankind, preserved this unique institution from destruction. The homes of men, are the centres of nearly all the light and warmth that cheer the social world, — the arks that shelter mankind from the raging tumults and storms of life, — the cells where the living and the loved, hoard the sweet fruits of their reciprocal affection, — the well-springs that supply mankind with the purest •draughts of eaicLly happiness. Attachment to home is always strongest m the hearts of the virtuous and the good. While it will be found, that those who have abandoned themselves to sensualism and vice, have first Jearned to loathe the quiet joys, the chaste delights, and the gentle affections of the family circle. All our natural aflfections are quickened by frequent and kindly domestic eonamunion. The offices of love, the acts of devotedness and proofs of tenderness, con- stantly repeated among relatives, mingling in the same dwelling, cannot but powerfully afiect their emotional nature, and continue to weave, day by day, a chain of love around their hearts. The strength of this chain will depend, in a great measure upon the frequency or infrequency of the intercourse subsisting between the respective members of the household. It is proverbial, that absence tends to the estrangement of the heart, even from those claiming the closest kinship with us; where our seasons of communion therefore, only occur at lengthened intervals, or where they are hurried and embarrassed, by the intrusion of care and anxiety, must of necessity be thereby relaxed and weakened. These observations bring at once to our view, the position of the working classes in their respective families, as it respects the cultivation of those natural affections, 10 from which so large a share of their earthly enjoyments spring. The brother caresses the sister, the father lavishes his fondness upon the children, the husband tenderly greets the wife, and the zone of charity encompasseth the household. The pulses of affection are quickened in every soul, each beholds his or her happiness, imaged in the beaming countenances of all beside them, and thus love ripens apace beneath the clear sunshine of the heart. To the Mechanic and working classes, opportunities for domestic fellowship. This is an amplification of the idea upon which we have already dilated. During the labour of the Mechanic, it frequently happens he has to work in the country and only comes home on Saturday evening. — By far the largest portion of their time is consumed amidst their coadjutors in toil, many of whom are comparative strangers to them, others are unworthy of their confidence and friendship, whilst the fellowship of not a few, is decidedly distasteful and distressing. — It imparts a double joy therefore, to the intelligent and virtuous man, to be able to escape for a season from such contacts, and to find a temporary retreat in the bosom of a cheerful family. Here he can breathe freely, in an atmosphere untainted by the impurities that have surrounded him throughout the week — here he can solace his soul with the sweet converse of those he loves. On this evening he has time to imprint^ line by line, lineament by lineament, an indelible image of himself, on the hearts of his sons and daughters. On this evening he has leisure to extract the honey of domestic happiness, from the beauteous flowers bursting and bloommg around him, in the garden of his home. He has an opportunity to cultivate the affections of his children, by directing them towards worthy objects — to admonish them of their faults and follies — to point out the temptations to which they are exposed — to forewarn them with a parents earnestness, of the perils that beset their steps — to impregnate their minds with sound principles — to instil virtuous sentiments — to extirpate vindictive dispositions — to encourage the exercise of the intellect, and strive to exalt the moral sense, in short, to -s 1 11 €7 A weed out their natures, and whatever would prove dek*? ntal to their happiness or usefulness, and, at tLj same time, to foster in them whatever might tend to improve their characters or give stability to their future lives. If this parent-mission, which, peculiarly falls on the heads of families, was but conscientiously fulfilled, what myriads of youth might be snatched from infamy, and numbers of sorrowful parents, whose heads are prematurely bending to the grave, might spend a happy and extended old age beneath the family-vine they had planted in their days of strength ; but in the most critical period of their children's history, their minds and morals were neglected, left exposed to the sower of every sort of evil, and now, alas! they are harvesting a terrible retribution, in the crimes and suffering's of their scattered offsprings. Contrasted with this dark picture, how blessed is the retrospect of a well spent Sabbath iin the family ! what a sweet preparative for the struggles of the coming week ? "Where is the father who would not go forth on the Monday morning, brimful with rapture, to toil anew for his wife and children ? and how often, as the hot dews of labour roll from his forehead, and his weary arms drop pithless by his side, doth the swift thouohts of home rush over him, revivino- him like new wme, and quickening all his flagging energies. The exertions of such a man, acting under abiding impulses, cannot be otherwise than fruitful, and how precious should such fruits be esteemed, when cast into the family circle for the impartial use of all > It is equally cheering to the matronly wife, to be privileged, for one day in seven, to entertain her lord in the peaceful realms wherein she lives and reigns. Exiled to a great extent from his presence in the week, she ardently longs for the day, when her husband shall fill the vacant chair beside the hearth, irradiate the cottage with his smiles, and delight her ear with that voice, whosi? tones of tenderness whispered away her heart in the romantic days of her early youth ; but if the communion of a well-ordered home, be thus refreshing to parents. It is difficult to overrate the hallowing influence it exerts upon the minds of the rising members of the family ; it helps to consoli- 12 date the virtuous formations of their characters ; it preserves the guileless and unsuspecting from the fatal seductions, that bestrew the highways of the world : it restrains those prurient desires, that so often burn in the bosoms of the young, to rush into the world and into the blighting excitement that rages out of doors, and teaches them, betimes that, real happiness may be imbibed at the quiet cisterns of domestic enjoyments, but never from the turbid currents of a dissipated life. The recollections of a happy home, will cling to the young adventurer when his turn comes to plunge into the wild waters of a turbulent world. In the case of him who has swerved from the path of rectitude, the counsels of :a serious father, and the fervent pleadings of a pious mother, will vibrate upon his 'ear amidst the guilty ^excesses of a profligate career. Tke earliest iiapressions of home, are generally tiie deepest and the last to be effaced; and when these are of a pleasing character, tkey will often act like an anchor in steadying the heart of the young sinner and prevent him from driving headlong on the rocks of destruction !" And when we find the good eflects which Mechanics' Institutions have on society, every individual, rich or poor, ought to be a member : and how delightful to the workmg class, to come in the evening to hear a lecture, with his wife and daughters — for every member has the privilege to bring the ladies free ; or the member can go to the reading-room and feast the mind ; or take a History (or some moral work,) from tlie library home to his family, and read, those long winter evenings by the cheerful fire, where his wife and offsprings can listen to truths which are the foundation of morality, virtue and knowledge. Let me remind you of a sentence uttered by Lord Bacon: "knowledge is power." Ladies and Gentlemen, it is more, it is wealth, it is comfort, security, happiness; it gives a charm to social life ; it supports religion, and purities politics, it is, in truth an avenue, a roadway, to the mansion that is made without hands, eternal in the heavens. To illustrate the truths of my arguments in favour of Mechanics' Institutes, I shall extract some remarks made by Dr. Birkbeck and Lord Brougham, from their speeches •( 18 at the opening of the new theatre, Southampton build- ings, ia the Metropolis of England, 1825, when I was present: Dr. Birkbeck says; — "It will be universally admitted, that we live, physically speaking, in a world of wonders; and by him, who has studiously contem- plated the aspect and the achievements cf mind, it will be no less freely admitted, that, mentally speaking, we live in a world of wonders also ; but had it been consistent with the general order and arrangement, that cultivation of mind should have been universal instead of having been confined within certain privileged, but perhaps necessary, and therefore, unavoidable limits; it is impossible to pronounce, to what extent the wonders of intellectual creation might, ere this, have proceeded. That intellect, which occasionally bursting through the barrier of sur- rounding difficulties, like the beams of heaven glimmering through the darkness of the storm, has shed its brightness on a few favoured spots amidst the general gloom, mstead of pouring out a flood of light, like the orb of day, when through a cloudless sky it blazes with meridian splendour. The " spirits of knowledge," those brilliant points dis- cerned in the track of our species, those fertile oases in the wide-spreading deserts, forming the mass of human existence, have served but to render the long period of darkness more visible, 'and the viist regions of barrenness more conspicuous. Of those master-spirits it may be said, that as to their occurrence they are " like angel mits, few and far between." But man himself, it ought not to be forgotten, has for various reasons, in almost every period, strongly exerted his efforts to arrest or circumscribe the development of mind. In all ages there have existed individuals who have doubted the utility of instructing youth, in literature and science ; and others possessing power, who perhaps, without enter- taining the same doubts, have resisted the progress of knowledge. — Thus Elin states, that in his time, letters were considered useless or injuri(.)us ; thus the Romans treated ignominiously Grecian literature, though they afterwards atoned for their brutality, by emulating the pre-eminence of the Greeks, in the republic of letters. In like manner, when the barbarians overran the Romau 14 Empire, which had been already ruined by conquest and luxury, and their consequent evils: they imputed the profligacy and weakness of the conquered to their edu- cation, this ill-founded opinion, prejudice I ought rather to call it, spread as the Gothic arms advanced, and became strengthened by the superior discipline and success of the conquerors : at last ignorance became so universal,, that Herbaud, the supreme judge of the Empire in the ninth, century, could not write his name ; and even Du-Gesclin, the hrst personage in France in the fourteenth century, was, according to Paley, equally illiterate^ This state of intellectual darkness has been, not unfrequentiy in various countries, protected and pro- longed by the exercise of the powers which ought to have promoted their advancement in knowledge : thus the English Barons petitioned Richard the second, that no Villeyn, as the Labourer was then denominated, should be permitted to send his son to School; and in Peru, we learn from the statement of Garicilasso della Vega, that it was unlawful for one not noble to study. In the reign of Henry the eighth, a bill was tendered by both Houses of Parliament to the King, to prevent most of the Laity from reading the Scriptures. Amongst the Turks, a circumstance which cannot create any surprise, the art of Printing, we are told by liicaut, " is absolutely prohibited," because it may give a beginning to that subtilty of learning, so dangerous to their Government But in all these occurrences there is nothing to excite our surprise, compared with the sentiments of the late Mr. Colquhon, once the chief magistrate of the most impor- tant city of Scotland, of which he was a native ; and aware, it might therefore be supposed, of the peculiar excellencies of his countrymen, which, with scarcely a dissentant voice, have been ascribed to the extensive diffusion of educ-ilion at the begining of the nineteenth, century. Mr. Colquhon (probably best remembered as the author of a treatise on the Police of the Metropolis) whilst occupying a seat amongst the magistrates, uttered these words, " it is the interest of every nation that the people should be virtuous and well disposed, but science and learning if universally diffused, would speedily over- 16 turn the best constituted government on earth." Lord Brougham's answer to this assertion is very simple, " If a Government does exist in the world, which would keep its subjects on a level with the beasts that perish, the sooner its away with the better. I hope it will not be thought that I am speaking seditiously of our own government ; I can assure you that I have no such intention, for it is my firm belief that so far from science being inimical, the more enlightened, the more learned, and the more moral the people become, the more stability the government possesses : one instance will illustrate what I have advanced ; Manchester, famous for many things, and amongst others mobs, and for riotous ones too, mobs of the worst sort, formed by the people presuming that their attachment to high-church principles, aftbrded them good exercise for all kinds of outrages : of the perpetrators of such outrages, lists on a late occasion were made ; observe, I do not intend to affirm on which side the fault lies; misunderstanding at least there is on both sides ; but this much I can take upon me to say, that the whole list has been gone through and most minutely examined, and the result is, that not a single man belonging to the Mechanics' Institute is to be found on those lists ; many of them did their duty and stated their honest opinions, but in no instance was one found to violate the law." Lord Brougham is the working classes' friend, also Lord Elgin, who patronizes liberally Mechanics' Institutes, as does Her most Gracious Majesty and her Noble Consort I cannot close my remarks without soliciting the assistance of the Ladies, who I am sure will follow the example of their Sovereign; they are a valuable class of our community, for without their courtesy and cheerful countenances at our Soirees, Tea Meetings, Pleasure Excursions and Lectures, we would be out of our element ; and when we get a new Institution and an increase of members, we shall be able to have Vocal Music, and the Ladies will favour us with their company oftener. The benefits derived by hearing the lectures, are worth all the money you pay as an- nual subscription. 1 have had the pleasure of hearing the following eloquent Gentlemen Lecture — Professor Croft, H le Dr. Connor, H. Ruttan, Rev. W. McClure, T. I. Robertson^ H. Y. Hind, T. Henning, BuckJand and Freeland, Esqs., and the difl'erent subjects chosen have been interesting and ably handled. 1 shall now give you my experience in Mechanics' Institutions ; I was entreated by a friend, to join the first established in London, by Dr. Birkbeck in 1824; my friend said to me, I want you to become a member of the Institute, in which you will acquire knowledge ; my answer was, I did not want learning, I knew my business, all I wanted was plenty of work, if I could obtain work I would join immediately. He assured me, that notwithstanding my objections, it would be the means of enlightening my understanding and improving my kowledge of business; my friend concluded by proffering me a ticket, if I would attend the lectures delivered in the Institute. I accepted his offer, and went that evening to hear a lecture on Phrenology : I sat as still as a log of wood, not at all interested, wishing myself out long befort it was over. When the lecture was concluded, my friend inquired how I liked it: 1 said not at all, for I never listened to such nonsense before. Never mind, responded my friend, you will like the next better. According to promise 1 went to the second lecture, but as usual felt very indifferent until near the close, when some of his remarks interested me deeply; after I went home I could not help re\deing them, and I believe with considerable advantage to myself. I went to hear the third and closing lecture and secured a front seat ; saw the lecture-table covered with casts of celebrated and remarkable characters — the lecturer commenced, and I paid great attention; his language was eloquent, and his remarks upon the human head were so interesting and just, that I became quite a convert to Phrenology, and from that day to the present time I have thirsted after knowledge. Since then I have experienced the usual vicissitudes of human life ; but being a temperate man, I have always found pleasure in study, and happiness in being a member of Mechanics' Institutes. Gro to Rochester and see their Mechanics' Institute, — the Reading Room is twice as large as this building; 17 . tlieir Lecture Hall will hold 3000, and the buildino- ha» the appearance of a palace ; these are facts. I would ask, can we not erect a large building as well as they ? Are we not as industrious — as good Mechanics ? Have we not intelligence ? Have we not the means ? These queries are easily answered, they are all in your power if you will only make use of the blessing-s you enjoy. What you want is unity ; therefore come forward, join this Institution; every thing is advancing; your railroads will place your friends east and west within a few hours travel of your own doors. Let the New Mechanics' Institute be amongst the first buildings : endeavour to have it commenced next spring. A new era is started : let 1851 never be forgotten by the citizens of Toronto. The late Sir Francis Burdett subscribed £1,000 to the London Institute. I would recommend you to open a subscription list ; let it be circulated among your liberal citizens, and who knows but you may find some Burdetts among-st them. Many in this City have risen to opulence and wealth ; which they acquired by perseverance and industry ; I have no doubt such will subscribe liberally ; and I know a number of Mechanics, who will generously follow their example. My ideas to some may appear romantic, but look at the improvements which have taken place in the arts and sciences ; improvements which have placed England on the apex of the world, and made her the arbitrator of the destinies of the human family. Instruction in the elements of reading, writing, draw- ing, an4 the rudiments of arithmetic, are now within the reach of all. Even the son of the poorest artisan or labourer has scarcely, in any case, to begin life un- provided with what we may call the great pass-keys to all literary and scientific knowledge. Thus furnished, his future progress depends upon himself; and any de- gree of proficiency is within his reach. This is a striking proof how independent we really are, if we choose, of those external circumstances which seem to make so vast a diflference between the situation of man and man ; and how possible it is for us, in any situation, at least to enrich our minds, if fortune refuse us all other riches. f 18 It is the general ignorance of this great truth, or indif- ference to it, that prevents it from being oftener exempli- fied ; and it would be rendering a high service to the human family, if we could awaken fneji's minds to a sufficiently lively trust in it, and a steady sense of its importance. By thus elevating the position of the working classes, the City of Toronto will be famed for its patriotism and internal improvements : though it may be said it is not as rich as such or such a city, still the intelligence of its inhabitants, its public buildings, and local self-govern- ment, must elevate it to a high rank and position among the cities of either the new or the old world. It might then be pictured in its power, its grandeur, and its might : — " As some tall cliff which lifts il3 awful form, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm : Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, « Eternal sunshine settles on its head." Before parting with you, allow me to say, that I find it inapossible to convey to you any conception of the gra- tification your intelligent attention has given me; still less in having been allowed a share in trying to excite you to mental cultivation — to excite every one of you to dig in his own mine, which I assure you is the best, the richest, and the most productive mine in the world, and from the profits of which no one can exclude you. God grant that you may reap a full measure of these profits. Farewell