Address of Iveson L. Brookes to the Dialectic Society, September 1818
Fellow Members,
Having been honored with the choice of your suffrages, imperious duty bids us in obedience to the
dictates of our Constitution enter upon the discharge of an office whose functions require the
exercise of genius in the difficult art of governing. It is with much diffidence that I approach the
post of highest elevation in this enlightened Society and assume a seat whose respectability is estimated according to the
honor of the body above which it is elevated and whose dignity should be enhanced by the character
and conduct of him who occupies it. I can only promise that in my administration of this responsible
office's arduous duties which can meet a recompence only in the honor it confers shall be conducted
according to my best ability; and can only hope that the inexperience of my age if not the
imbecility of my youth will amply apologise for my errors. The field from which the materials are to
be selected for composing an address to be delivered from this chair has often been unsparingly
gleaned and much of the time allotted us to write more having been necessarily devoted to
preparation for the public stage. It need not be expected that my present communication will be
fraught with much new matter calculated to afford entertainment or impart instruction. It shall by
my object however to set before you the general importance of education & the particular
excellence of our collegiate and social duties, including in my remarks some motives calculated to
stimulate your application to literary pursuits and excite your attention to regular decorum as
students of college and as members of this Society.
When man has attained to a state varying toward maturity of mind and body he is perhaps not
improperly stiled the sovereign of the animal world. It is then his wisdom commands obeysance from
the rest of the animals and renders surrounding nature subservient to his purposes. It is thenhis inventive genius secures his dominion and his acquired majesty bespeaks his
acknowledged sovereignty. But is not like a series of years has added strength to his body that his
approach affrights the ferocious beast of the forest nor till a course of education has matured, his
reason polished his manners and robed his mind in a mantle of wisdom that his countenance is truly
majestic or his appearance indicative of power and dominion, for on man's regress into the world his
situation both as to body & mind would seem of all creatures the least characteristic of the
prowess which he is destined to wield. When we contemplate the animal creation in their infantile
state man's progress appears indeed to wear a gloomy aspect; for the young brute surpassing him in
strength and knowledge would seem to claim the title to dominion and bid fair to bear the scepter.
In almost all the species of the brute creation the young shortly after its birth is possessed of
strength and agility which enable it to act in self defence or procure its escape from danger. It is
furnished by nature with restrictive knowledge which immediately points it to the fountain of
sustenance afforded by the mother or which directs it to browz on the herbage of the field or to
seek its prey in the forest according to the nature of its species. But infantile man completely
helpless and utterly insensible of his wants presents a spectacle which demands the fury of the
spectator and implores the mercy of all surrounding creations.
He has neither strength to seek his own food nor knowledge to direct his choice. The tenderest care
of the cautious, provident, and affectionate nurse is required to guard his defenceless state. The
wisdom of the adult must select and the munificent hand of the experienced must administer the
nourishment suitable to sustain life and impart strength. A few months completes the growth of the
brute and confers its full portion of bodily strength and its knowledge is parallel with its existenceand appears in its highest perfection at an early period of life. But a tedious course of
years is required to increase the human body to its purposed bulk and impart to it its destined
strength while the mind as a blank capable of receiving impressions is to be furnished with
knowledge by the exertions of the possession and may be comparable to the field rich in soil but not
prolific in production without proper cultivation. When the human mind is capable of continual
improvement without ever arriving at perfection. Bountiful nature furnishes the brutes with their
full scope of knowledge without self exertion and spreads before them in lavish abundance the
provisions for their subsistence of which they partake as well and are satisfied. But in the human
species as provident Nature supplies the source from which the bodily support is to be derived but
leave the preparation of the materials to be affected by the sweat of the brow so sovereign nature
furnished the faculties which constitute the foundation of the mind upon which the superstructure of
knowledge is to be reared but the cultivation necessary to mature the mind is not less the effect of
personal effort and laborious application to study than the collection & preparation of the
materials for bodily subsistence are the fruits of labor and the rewards of industry. The draught of
these remarks presents to our view on the one hand the general utility of education as the prolific
source whence the faculties of the mind derive that strength and polish which render the human
species superior to the brute creation and which discriminate between the untaught savage &
the enlightened citizen. On the other hand the necessity of preserving application as indispensable
to the acquisition of that knowledge which qualifies a man to occupy a seat of eminence or fill a
station of usefulness in the world.
We will now advert to the system of education prescribed by the patrons of this Institution
(College) and make a few observations on the several branches of College studies and theexercises of this Society which jointly constitute the source of our literary
improvement.
This college was not erected for the benefit of the infantile state nor does the prescribed system
include the first rudiments of knowledge. It was designed to benefit youth who no longer need the
fostering care of the infant's nurse and whose minds having already recovered the first principles
of education are now to be expanded and reared to maturity by the higher refinements of scientific
knowledge. As the child must be taught to crawl before it can walk and to walk before it can run, as
the body is slow in its growth and must be imuned to hardship by degrees before it can sustain the
effects of fatigue or undergo laborious exercise; so the mind in its progress to the temple of
Science must rise from lower to higher grades; must first engage in studies adapted to its
comprehension and which will enlarge its powers and fit its capacity for the acquisition of the more
difficult branches. Hence in our collegiate course the study of the dead languages, Geography,
& Arithmetic conducts us to the study of the Mathematics and that introduces us to the study
of Philosophy and Rhetoric which completes the course by including English Grammar. But the
objections urged against some of these branches are neither few nor inconsiderable. To efface the
effects of calumny and unjust aspersion which have been thrown upon the study of the Languages or to
remove the deep rooted prejudices excited in the minds of some against this branch of study would
afford exercise to the pen of a superior genius and require a separate essay. It falls under my
province only to say that the knowledge of the Latin and Greek Languages is indispensable to a
thorough knowledge of our own in as much as the English Language has derived many of its words and
the grand principles of its government from those Languages. Since also it is by comparing one
language with another that we can attain to accuracy in any we may infer that the utility of the
dead languages in this point is sufficient to render them worthy of attention.The nature of this study too gives it a just title to the first link in a regular course of
Education. For it is calculated to train the young mind and impart to it that strength which will
enable it to dive with the more facility into the abstruse rigors of Science. If then you would be
able to acquire a knowledge of Mathematics with ease if in short you would be called accurate
scholars you who are in the first classes of College are advised to pay diligent attention to the
study of the Languages. The practical use of Arithmetic and Geography gives them unexceptional
sanction and demands strict attention. But the noble study of Mathematics is far from meeting
universal approbation. It is objected to some branches of this study that they lead the mind into a
habit of dull formality and take from the orator much of the force and vehemence of natural
eloquence while they afford little or no assistance in any practical business in life. But if the
study of Mathematics does in a measure restrain that wildfire in the orator which plays upon
passions, it perhaps makes more than double compensation by introducing systematic connection in the
discourse of the speaker which gives strength to the memory and information to the judgment of the
audience. Altho it is true that many of the algebraic operations and mathematical demonstrations
will never come into actual use or absolutely necessary to the performance of any discipline or
mechanical business or to the discharge of any professional or official duty yet these studies are
of high importance, and are well calculated to impart strength and discipline to the mind. They
afford mutual exercise to all the mental faculties by calling into exertion at the same time the
memory, the judgment, and the powers of reason. Hence the great utility of the mathematics consists
in its tendency to give that equilibrium to the powers of the mind which enables us to reason truly,
judge accurately, and decide correctly upon such subjects as fall under our investigation. Then you
who are members of the Junior classare exhorted to diligence under the assurance that you will reap the reward of your
application. The studies of the Senior class are perhaps universally acknowledged to be of
unexceptionable importance. By Natural Philosophy we are enabled to trace effects to their causes,
to see the process of natural events, and to behold with satisfaction and delight the order and
harmony of the Universe. By Moral Philosophy we are instructed in the nature and principles of civil
policy and moral duty. By Rhetoric and Logic we are taught the structure of language, perspicuity of
arrangements and elegance of stile in composition, and beauty and force of eloquence in public
speaking. It is perhaps needless to mention that English Grammar is one of the most important and
useful studies in the whole course of education and altho it is included in the studies of each
class it is too much neglected in all.
Your attention has been particularly called to the studies of College and their important use
presented to you for two reasons; first, because these studies constitute the principal source of
improvement which is strengthens the mind and prepares it for usefulness in the world and for the
acquisition of which we are especially sent to this Institution; secondly because I do not recollect
to have heard them adverted to particularly in any former address from the chair while the duties of Society have been continually reiterated and their utility exhibited in
the most suitable manner to enforce attention to them. But I would by no means be understood to
value the advantages of the Dialectic Society at a low price. They are of great importance and
merit due attention. The studies of College are of primary utility as they constitute the theory of
education and lay the great foundation for business in life. But the exercises of Society are of secondary importance because they put that theory in
practical operation as it were by exercising us upon the principal points on which we shall be
called to act, and thus embolden and qualifyus for the more successful discharge of our duties in life or the more expeditious
performance of active business in the world. Composing, speaking, and debating are all productive of
great improvement when properly regarded. As to composition and speaking: I would here only observe
that to compose well it will not be amiss to attend to the directions of Horace who condemns the writer that composes much in little time and directs
"Vertere stylum" by which is intimated the necessity of time & frames in
arranging the subject on which we write and on selecting appropriate words to express our ideas with
force, precision, or elegance; and to speak well due regard should be paid to the proper selection
of speeches and suitable attention paid to the dictates of natural impulse which impress us with the
sense of the subject and prompt us to speak with vehemence. Debating is a source of great
improvement in itself and should be more especially prized and attended to by us because we can
enjoy it only only in this hall. I would not in general recommend writing and memorizing debates.
But I would have you study your subjects of debate maturely, seek suitable information on the
question, make yourselves acquainted with its principles; and when called upon in the debate enter
into the merits of the discussion with becoming zeal and animation. To engage in a regular course of
reading during a collegiate course is not perhaps to be recommended, as the small knowledge of
history which could be acquired in the intervals of time that could be devoted to reading without
neglecting the studies of college or exercises of Society would make but a partial impression on the mind. This remark
should not however be understood to exclude due attention to useful essays on the opinions of good
authors on various subjects of common information especially such as may have connection with our
social exercises or as may assist us in writing compositions or preparing debates.
Having set before you the general importance of education in the foregoing part of my address and
dwelt considerably on the particular excellence of the College studies and the great advantages to
be derived from the duties of Society permit me now to close with a few remarks on the necessity of
orderly conduct including some further motives to application. Fellow members, it is evident that
our Society must cease to flourish within so soon as its laws cease to be
obeyed or its Constitution to be observed; its reputation must sink without so soon as its members
cease to display an active zeal for its prosperity or to maintain an upright character and dignified
conduct. Since then the reputation of the Dialectic Society must necessarily rise or fall with that of its
members I would take occasion not only to enforce the necessity of obedience to the law of Society and the utility of regular conduct within its walls, but would
likewise recommend in the strongest terms the strict observance of the laws of College and due
attention to your general deportment as students.
Youth is the season in which the mind is tender and susceptible of impressions. It is then it must
be replenished with the treasures of useful knowledge which are to expand and strengthen it. It is
then the mind is to acquire habits and imbibe principles which are to accompany it through life.
Hence the deportment that is fraught with habits of industry and sobriety; that is characterized by
a manly dignity and moral conduct, ever obtains present reputation bespeaks future usefulness in
life and strikingly points to the acquisition of earthly fame & greatness. The human mind is
ever active and is necessarily employed in the performance of good actions or engaged in the
invention of mischievous stratagems. Hence idleness has neverfailed to generate evil habits which lessen reputation or lead to ruin. Idle habits and
mischievous intrigues may satisfy the ambitions are amuse the disposition of the little minds; but
cannot add to its stature or redound to its benefit. The bursting of trees and exploding of moles
may incur the censure of faculty and justly expose the student to the contempts of the public, but
such conduct cannot presage a rise to future greatness, nor impart a solitary way of useful
knowledge to any benighted corner of the mind. Finally, would you acquire . . . . . reputation . . .
. . illegible . . . . .You must maintain a dignified conduct within and without its
walls. Would fulfill the anxious hopes of your parents and guardians in your youthful days and be
enabled in advanced age to take a retrospect of your past life with conscious peace you should now
improve your talents and spend your time and opportunity to pompose. Would you answer the high
expectations of your country as be useful to your species, you should profit by the advantages you
now enjoy and replenish your minds with a fund of Scientific knowledge which will exalt your
characters and shed a brilliant light around you
Iveson L. Brookes
September 1818