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THE LUMNI OURNAL, OF THE ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. Vol. V. NOVEMBER, 1875. No. 11. INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT. MAN is an intellectual being. He possesses inherent power of progressive development, and is so constituted that he must exercise these powers in some way. It is impossible for him to remain stationary. He must go forward or he will inevitably retrograde. He has placed within his grasp power sufficient to attain almost anything. One has truly said "man can accomplish anything but impossibilities." When he deter-mines upon a course ofaction, he can pro-ceed at once to the accomplishment of his purpose. Leaving out of the question the development of the physical and moral nature, let us for a moment consider the means necessary to, and the benefits to be derived, from a well developed intellect. What has already been said of man's endowment, in general terms is true of the intellectual forces. Unless developed, they become inactive, and their possessor is soon wholly unfit for the active voca-tions of life. Many who might have been ornaments in the intellectual world, remain in mediocrity for the lack of prop-er mental development in early life. It is a well established fact, that the im-pressions made upon the mind in youth are more vivid and more lasting than those in after years; also, that in what-ever channel the mind be turned in child-hood, in that it is inclined to continue through life. Hence arises the import- -31 ance of beginning this work of mental culture as soon as the mind is capable of receiving impressions. But there is another fact demonstrated in the history of the world. To excel in anything there must be singlenesss of purpose. The power to act, combined with energy and application, must be directed to the attainment of some partic-ular object. Although this is a general principle, it is especially applicable in the work of intellectual development. What gave Socrates or Plato his renown among the philosophers of ancient Greece; or Bacon, Descartes, Kant, Reid or Hamilton in more modern times? They were men of no more mental pow-ers primarily, perhaps, than many who have lived in obscurity and died un-known. Why, then, the distinctions ? Why the great difference ? The reason is obvious. These illustrious men placed before their minds a particular object to be accomplished-a special end to be at-tained. They purposed being lovers of wisdom--philosophers. All their powers were employed to execute this purpose of their wills. They subjected themselves to the most rigid intellectual discipline. Years of unwearied exertion had to be endured before they could enjoy the pleasures of success. Yet all this they gladly performed that they might accom-plish their designs. No wonder we
Object Description
Title | 1875-11-01 Alumni Journal |
Publication title | Alumni Journal |
Subject |
Universities & colleges Students Periodicals |
Year | 1875 |
Decade | 1870 |
Publisher | Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, 61702 |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
Contact Information | Please email Tate Archives at archives@iwu.edu or call 309-556-1535 for more information. Permission to reproduce these images must be granted by IWU. |
Collection | Student and Alumni News Periodicals (Illinois Wesleyan University) |
Source | Record Group 12-1: Alumni Organizations |
Type | Image |
Format | Size of original printed issues vary; range is from 6 x 10 in. |
Language | eng |
Digitization Specifications | All issues were scanned at 600 dpi on a NM1000-SS scanner and OCRd by Northern Micrographics, La Crosse, Wisconsin in Summer 2009. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
Contact Information | Please email Tate Archives at archives@iwu.edu or call 309-556-1535 for more information. Permission to reproduce these images must be granted by IWU. |
Full Text | THE LUMNI OURNAL, OF THE ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. Vol. V. NOVEMBER, 1875. No. 11. INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT. MAN is an intellectual being. He possesses inherent power of progressive development, and is so constituted that he must exercise these powers in some way. It is impossible for him to remain stationary. He must go forward or he will inevitably retrograde. He has placed within his grasp power sufficient to attain almost anything. One has truly said "man can accomplish anything but impossibilities." When he deter-mines upon a course ofaction, he can pro-ceed at once to the accomplishment of his purpose. Leaving out of the question the development of the physical and moral nature, let us for a moment consider the means necessary to, and the benefits to be derived, from a well developed intellect. What has already been said of man's endowment, in general terms is true of the intellectual forces. Unless developed, they become inactive, and their possessor is soon wholly unfit for the active voca-tions of life. Many who might have been ornaments in the intellectual world, remain in mediocrity for the lack of prop-er mental development in early life. It is a well established fact, that the im-pressions made upon the mind in youth are more vivid and more lasting than those in after years; also, that in what-ever channel the mind be turned in child-hood, in that it is inclined to continue through life. Hence arises the import- -31 ance of beginning this work of mental culture as soon as the mind is capable of receiving impressions. But there is another fact demonstrated in the history of the world. To excel in anything there must be singlenesss of purpose. The power to act, combined with energy and application, must be directed to the attainment of some partic-ular object. Although this is a general principle, it is especially applicable in the work of intellectual development. What gave Socrates or Plato his renown among the philosophers of ancient Greece; or Bacon, Descartes, Kant, Reid or Hamilton in more modern times? They were men of no more mental pow-ers primarily, perhaps, than many who have lived in obscurity and died un-known. Why, then, the distinctions ? Why the great difference ? The reason is obvious. These illustrious men placed before their minds a particular object to be accomplished-a special end to be at-tained. They purposed being lovers of wisdom--philosophers. All their powers were employed to execute this purpose of their wills. They subjected themselves to the most rigid intellectual discipline. Years of unwearied exertion had to be endured before they could enjoy the pleasures of success. Yet all this they gladly performed that they might accom-plish their designs. No wonder we |
Collection | Student and Alumni News Periodicals (Illinois Wesleyan University) |