American Scenes, and Christian Slavery Part 8

LETTER XVII.

Stay at Cincinnati (continued)--The Democratic Meeting--A Visit to Lane Seminary--"Public Declamation"--Poem on War--Essay on Education.

In resuming my notice of the Democratic meeting, let me observe that the Democratic party in America is not very reputable. It is the war party, the pro-slavery party, the mob party, and, at present, the dominant party,--the party, in fine, of President Polk. It had just been aroused to the highest pitch of indignation, by a telling speech delivered in Congress against the Mexican War by Thomas Corwin, Esq., one of the Ohio senators. This meeting, then, was intended as a demonstration in favour of Polk and his policy; but it turned out a miserable failure.

When the bl.u.s.tering speaker who "had the floor" when I entered sat down, the "president" (for they do not say the chairman) rose, amidst a tremendous storm of favourite names, uttered simultaneously by all present at the top of their voices, and, as soon as he could be heard, said it had been moved and seconded that So-and-so, Esq., be requested to address the meeting: those who were in favour of that motion were to say "Ay,"--those against it, "No." One great "Ay" was then uttered by the ma.s.s, and a few "Noes" were heard. The "_Ayes"_ had it. But an unforeseen difficulty occurred. So-and-so, Esq., either was not there, or would not speak. Amidst deafening noise again, the president rose, and said it had been moved and seconded that John Brough, Esq., be requested to address the meeting. "Ay"--"No;" but the "Ayes" had it.

"Now, John Brough," said a droll-looking Irishman, apparently a hod-carrier, who was at my elbow,--

"Now, John Brough, Out with the stuff."

Here was Paddy on the western side of the Allegany Mountains, with his native accent and native wit as fresh and unimpaired as if he had but just left his green isle, and landed on one of the quays at Liverpool.

But John Brough again declined the honour conferred upon him! Then it was moved and seconded and "ayed" that So-and-so, Esq., be requested to address the meeting, but _he_ also was not forthcoming! _Nil desperandum_. It was moved and seconded and "ayed" that--Callaghan, Esq., be requested to address the meeting. After some hesitation, and a reference to his own "proverbial modesty," he proceeded to foam, and stamp, and thump, and bl.u.s.ter for "the vigorous prosecution of the war," till the American eagle should "stretch his wings over the halls of the Montezumas." At this stage of the proceedings, the spitting and smoke had become so offensive that I was compelled to retire; and I did so with no very high notions of the intelligence and respectability of the American democrats.

The next day being fine and frosty, and the roads hard, I set off in the morning to pay my intended visit to Lane Seminary. I found it a long two miles, all up hill. The seminary itself, the building in which the students are accommodated, is a large plain brick edifice, four stories high, besides the bas.e.m.e.nt-story, and has very much the appearance of a small Lancas.h.i.+re factory. It is 100 feet long by about 40 feet wide, and contains 84 rooms for students. The situation is pleasant, and at a nice distance from the roadside. A large bell was being tolled awkwardly when I arrived. It was 11 o'clock A.M. I found the front door thrown wide open, with every indication of its being entered by all comers without the least ceremony--not even that of wiping the shoes. There was neither door-bell nor knocker, sc.r.a.per nor mat; and the floor of the lobby seemed but slightly acquainted with the broom,--to say nothing of the scrubbing-brush. It looked like the floor of a corn or provision warehouse. I had no alternative but to venture in. Immediately after, there entered a young man with a fowling-piece, whom before I had seen at a little distance watching the movements of a flock of wild pigeons. I took him for a sportsman; but he was a young divine! I asked him if Dr. Beecher was about. He replied that he guessed not, but he would be at the lecture-room in a few minutes, for the bell that had just tolled was a summons to that room. "Does the Doctor, then," said I, "deliver a lecture this morning?"--"No, it is _declamation_ this morning." "Is it such an exercise," I continued, "as a stranger may attend?"--"Oh, yes!" he replied; "it is _public_ declamation." He then directed me to the lecture-room. It was across the yard, and under the chapel belonging to the inst.i.tution. This chapel is a very neat building, after the model of a Grecian temple, having the roof in front carried out and supported by six well-proportioned columns in the form of a portico. In a part of the bas.e.m.e.nt-story was the lecture-room in question. The students were mustering. By-and-by Dr. Stowe entered. He invited me to take a chair by his side, on a kind of platform. Professor Allen then came in, and after him Dr. Beecher. The exercise began with a short prayer by Mr.

Allen. He then called upon a Mr. Armstrong, one of the students, to ascend the platform. The young man obeyed; and, somewhat abruptly and vehemently, rehea.r.s.ed from memory a Poem on War. Suiting the action to the words, he began--

"_On_--to the glorious conflict--ON!"

It quite startled me! Soon afterwards I heard,--

"And Montezuma's halls shall _ring_."

What! (reasoned I) is this the sequel to the Democratic meeting of last night? Has Mars, who presided at the town-hall, a seat in the lecture-room of this Theological Seminary? As the young man proceeded, however, I perceived that his poem was, in fact, a denunciation of the horrors of war,--not, as I had supposed, the composition of another person committed to memory, and now rehea.r.s.ed as an exercise in elocution, but entirely his own. It was altogether a creditable performance. The Professors at the close made their criticisms upon it, which were all highly favourable. Dr. Beecher said, "My only criticism is, _Print it, print it_." The venerable Doctor, with the natural partiality of a tutor, afterwards observed to me he had never heard anything against war that took so strong a hold of his feelings as that poem. Dr. Stowe also told me that Mr. Armstrong was considered a young man of fine talents and great devotion; and that some of the students had facetiously said, "Brother Armstrong was so pious that even the dogs would not bark at him!"

Mr. Armstrong was not at all disposed to take his tutor's advice. But he favoured me with a copy of his poem, on condition that I would not cause it to be printed in America,--in England I might. It contains some turgid expressions, some halting and prosaic lines, and might be improved by a severe revision; but, besides its interest as a Transatlantic college-exercise, I feel it possesses sufficient merit to relieve the tediousness of my own prose.

"'_On_--to the glorious conflict--ON!'-- Is heard throughout the land, While flas.h.i.+ng columns, thick and strong, Sweep by with swelling band.

'Our country, right or wrong,' they shout, 'Shall still our motto he: With _this_ we are prepared to rout Our foes from sea to sea.

Our own right arms to us shall bring The victory and the spoils; And Montezuma's halls shall ring, When there we end our toils.'

ON, then, ye brave' like tigers rage, That you may win your crown, Mowing both infancy and age In ruthless carnage down.

Where flows the tide of life and light, Amid the city's hum, There let the cry, at dead of night, Be heard, 'They come, they come!'

Mid scenes of sweet domestic bliss, Pour sh.e.l.ls of livid fire, While red-hot b.a.l.l.s among them hiss, To make the work entire And when the scream of agony Is heard above the din, _Then_ ply your guns with energy, And throw your columns in Thro' street and lane, thro' house and church, The sword and f.a.ggot hear, And every inmost recess search, To fill with shrieks the air Where waving fields and smiling homes Now deck the sunny plain, And laughter-loving childhood roams Unmoved by care or pain; Let famine gaunt and grim despair Behind you stalk along, And pestilence taint all the air With victims from the strong Let dogs from mangled beauty's cheeks The flesh and sinews tear, And craunch the bones around for weeks, And gnaw the skulls till bare Let vultures gather round the heaps Made up of man and beast, And, while the widowed mother weeps, Indulge their horrid feast, Till, startled by wild piteous groans, On dreary wings they rise, To come again, mid dying moans, And tear out glazing eyes _Tho'_ widows' tears, and orphans' cries, When starving round the spot Where much-loved forms once met their eyes Which now are left to rot, With trumpet-tongue, for vengeance call Upon each guilty head That drowns, mid revelry and brawls, Remembrance of the dead.

_Tho'_ faint from fighting--wounded--wan, To camp you'll turn your feet, And no sweet, smiling, happy home, Your saddened hearts will greet: No hands of love--no eyes of light-- Will make your wants their care, Or soothe you thro' the dreary night, Or smooth your clotted hair.

But crushed by sickness, famine, thirst, You'll strive in vain to sleep, Mid corpses mangled, blackened, burst, And blood and mire deep; While horrid groans, and fiendish yells, And every loathsome stench, Will kindle images of h.e.l.l You'll strive in vain to quench.

Yet _on_--press on, in all your might, With banners to the field, And mingle in the glorious fight, With Satan for your s.h.i.+eld: For marble columns, if you die, _May_ on them bear your name; While papers, tho' they sometimes lie, Will praise you, or will blame.

Yet woe! to those who build a house, Or kingdom, not by right,-- Who in their feebleness propose Against the Lord to fight.

For when the Archangel's trumpet sounds, And all the dead shall hear, And haste from earth's remotest bounds In judgment to appear,-- When every work, and word, and _thought_, Well known or hid from sight, Before the Universe is brought To blaze in lines of light,-- When by the test of _perfect_ law Your '_glorious_' course is tried, On what resources will you draw?-- In what will you confide?

For know that eyes of awful light Burn on you from above, Where nought but kindness meets the sight, And all the air is love.

When all unused to such employ As charms the angelic hands, How can you hope to share their joy Who dwell in heavenly lands?"

Such was the poem of Frederick Alexander Armstrong. After its rehearsal, a young gentleman _read_ a prose Essay on Education. It was clever, and indicated a mind of a high order, but was too playful; and the performance was severely criticised. Here ended the "public declamation."

LETTER XVIII.

Visit to Lane Seminary (continued)--Dr. Beecher and his Gun--The College Library--Dr. Stowe and his Hebrew Cla.s.s--History of Lane Seminary--Qualifications for Admission--The Curriculum--Manual Labour--Expenses of Education--Results--Equality of Professors and Students.

The "public declamation" ended, Dr. Beecher asked me to accompany him to his house. It was about an eighth of a mile from the inst.i.tution, over a very bad road, or rather over no road at all. He conducted me into a snug little sitting-room, having no grate; but a wood fire on the floor under the chimney. It looked primitive and homely. This style of fire is not uncommon in America. The logs of wood lie across two horizontal bars of iron, by which they are raised four or six inches from the floor. The Doctor's first care was to replenish the fire with a few st.u.r.dy pieces of wood. All through the States, I have observed that the task of feeding the fire generally devolves on the head of the family. In this little room I was introduced to Mrs. Beecher. She is, I believe, the third lady on whom the Doctor has conferred his name. In one corner of this apartment was a gun, and on the sofa a heap of shot.

Thousands of wild pigeons were flying about. The visit of these birds made the Doctor very uneasy. He was ever and anon s.n.a.t.c.hing up his gun, and going out to have a pop at them. Though upwards of seventy years of age, he is an excellent marksman. It was to me a little odd to see a venerable D.D., a Professor of Theology, handling a fowling-piece! The Americans, have by circ.u.mstances been trained to great skill in the use of fire-arms. The gun, however, proved a fatal instrument in the hands of one of the Doctor's sons, a young man of great promise, who was killed by the accidental explosion of one. Nevertheless, Dr. Beecher has five sons, all (like himself) in the ministry! He has a maiden daughter, who has distinguished herself by her literary attainments and active benevolence. The excellent and accomplished wife of Dr. Stowe was also a Miss Beecher.

At 1 o'clock P.M. we dined. The Professors never dine, or take any other meal, with the a.s.sembled students. This is a disadvantage. But in America eating, under any circ.u.mstances, is not so sociable a matter as in England.

After dinner, I took my leave of Dr. Beecher, and went to see the library of the inst.i.tution. This is over the chapel, but so arranged as not at all to detract from the just proportions of the building.

Indeed, no one would suspect that there was a story above. This library was collected with great care and judgment by Dr. Stowe, in England and on the continent of Europe, and contains 10,000 volumes! The library-room is capable of receiving 30,000 volumes. But even now it is the largest library on this side the Allegany Mountains. It comprises not only the standard works in all the departments of a theological course, but also a very rich variety of authors in general literature and science. The books are arranged in alcoves according to their character,--Theology--Biblical Literature--Cla.s.sics--History--Philosophy; and so forth.

There is a "Society of Inquiry" in connection with the seminary, which has a distinct library of 326 volumes. "The Reading Room and Athenaeum"

is furnished with 21 newspapers, and several of the best literary and theological periodicals.

From the library, my guide (one of the students) led me down into the lecture-room, where Professor Stowe was engaged with a Hebrew cla.s.s.

They were reading in the Song of Solomon. The exhibition did not strike me as much superior to what we used to have at Rotherham College ten or twelve years ago. In point of domestic _comfort_, the latter is incomparably before Lane Seminary, and in literary advantages not far behind. Professor Stowe kindly drove me back to Cincinnati in his buggy, or waggon, or phaeton.

Lane Seminary is an inst.i.tution devoted entirely to theological education, in connection with the New-School Presbyterians. The building, including chapel and library, cost about 50,000 dollars, or 10,000_l._, and must have been very cheap at that. In 1828-30, Ebenezer Lane, Esq., and his brother Andrew Lane, Esq., made a donation of 4,000 dollars for the purpose of establis.h.i.+ng the seminary, whereupon it was incorporated under the name of "Lane Seminary," and trustees were appointed. To these trustees the Rev. Mr. Kemper and his sons made over, for the benefit of the inst.i.tution, 60 acres of land, including the site on which the buildings stand. In 1832 Arthur Tappan, Esq., of New York, subscribed 20,000 dollars for the Professors.h.i.+p of Theology.

In the same year 15,000 dollars were raised for the Professors.h.i.+p of Ecclesiastical History; the largest contributor to which was Ambrose White, Esq., of Philadelphia: and an equal sum was contributed for the Professors.h.i.+p of Biblical Literature,--Stephen Van Rennselaer, Esq., of Albany, being the chief contributor. In 1835, a fund of 20,000 dollars was raised for the Professors.h.i.+p of Sacred Rhetoric, of which a large portion was given by John Tappan, Esq., of Boston. A literary department was organized in 1829, which was discontinued in 1834; at which period the inst.i.tution, in its full operation as a Theological Seminary, may be said to have commenced. Since then it has sent forth about 250 ministers!

Candidates for admission must produce satisfactory testimonials, that they are members, in good standing, of some Christian Church; that they possess competent talents; and that they have regularly graduated at some college or university, or have pursued a course of study equivalent to the common college course.

The course of study occupies three years; and every student is expected to enter with the intention of completing the full course. So far as practicable, the different branches are pursued simultaneously. Thus the department of Biblical Literature, during the first year, occupies three days in the week; during the second, two; and during the third, one: Church History, one day in the week: Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology, one day in the week during the first year, two the second, and three the third. The object of this arrangement is to afford a pleasant variety in study, and to keep up a proper interest in all the departments through the whole course. "Hitherto," it is stated, "the plan has been pursued with results highly satisfactory to the Faculty."

Theological students may be glad to learn the following particulars of the whole course.

I. BIBLICAL LITERATURE.--This department embraces--1. Biblical Geography and Antiquities. 2. Principles of Biblical Interpretation. 3.

General Introduction to the Old and New Testaments, and Particular Introduction to the Pentateuch, Gospels, and Acts. 4. Interpretation of the Gospels in Harmony and of the Acts. 5. Interpretation of the Historical Writings of Moses. 6. Particular Introduction to the several Books of the Old and New Testaments. 7. Hebrew Poetry, including Figurative and Symbolical Language of Scripture. 8. Interpretation of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. 9. Epistles to Romans, Corinthians, Timothy, and I Peter. 10. Nature and Fulfilment of Prophecy, particularly in reference to the Messiah. 11. Interpretation of Isaiah, Zechariah, and Nahum. 12. The Revelation, in connection with Daniel.

II. CHURCH HISTORY AND POLITY.--In this department a regular course of lectures is given on the History of Doctrines to all the cla.s.ses, and on Church Polity to the senior cla.s.ses.

III. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY.--In this department are included--1. Cause and Effect. 2. Mental Philosophy. 3. Atheism, its History and Hypothesis, Arguments, Objections, and Folly. 4. The Being, Character, and Attributes of G.o.d. 5. Reason, Light of Nature, Necessity of Revelation. 6. The Truth and Inspiration of the Bible. 7. Doctrine of Revelation.

IV. SACRED RHETORIC AND PASTORAL THEOLOGY. _First Year_.--Lectures on Rhetoric and Elocution. Exercises in Reading and Elocution. _Second Year_.--Written Discussions, with Public Criticism in the cla.s.s. _Third Year_.--Exercises in criticising Skeletons continued. Public and Private Criticism of Sermons. Lectures on Preaching and on Pastoral Duties.

The annual term of study begins on the second Wednesday in September, and closes on the second Wednesday in June, which is the Anniversary.

The term closes with a public examination.

Dr. Andrew Reed, who visited Lane Seminary in 1834, refers to it as a _model_ manual-labour inst.i.tution. With the advancement of society around, it has lost in a great measure that peculiarity. There is now but little done in that way, though it is still recorded in italics among its regulations, that "every student is expected to labour three hours a day at some agricultural or mechanical business." "While the leading aim of this regulation," it is added, "is to promote health and vigour of both body and mind, compensation is received according to the value of the labour."

No charge is made for tuition. Rooms are fully furnished and rented at 5 dollars a year from each student. The incidental expenses, including fuel and light for public rooms, ringing the bell, and sweeping, are 5 dollars more. The room-rent and incidental bill are paid in advance.

For the aid of indigent students funds are collected annually, by means of which board is furnished to such gratuitously. To those who receive no a.s.sistance from the funds, the price of board is about 90 cents a week. The cost of fuel and lights for each student, in his own room, will average from 8 to 12 dollars a year. Thus the entire expense to a young man for a whole term of nine months is only from 50 to 60 dollars, or from 10 to 12 guineas of our money.

"The results of these thirteen years of labour," say the trustees in a doc.u.ment recently issued, "considering the difficulties attending the establishment of such an inst.i.tution in a new country, amid a population as yet una.s.similated in feelings and habits, and whose schools, academies, and colleges are of comparatively recent origin, are indeed highly encouraging. The friends of the inst.i.tution, and of religion and learning generally, thankful for what has already been accomplished, will feel encouraged to do whatever may be necessary for the highest efficiency of the seminary; and will give their prayers that the labours of the 300 young men, who have enjoyed or now enjoy its advantages," (there being about 50 then in the house,) "may be abundantly blessed by the Head of the Church."

Lane Seminary is a valuable and catholic inst.i.tution. At their entrance, the students have to subscribe to no confession of faith; and, when they have completed their curriculum, they are at perfect liberty to exercise their ministry among whatever denomination they please. Congregational as well as Presbyterial Churches obtain pastors from this "school of the prophets."

The "Faculty" at present consists of the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D.D., President, and Professor of Theology; the Rev. Calvin E. Stowe, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature, and Lecturer on Church History; and the Rev. D. Howe Allen, Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology, and Lecturer on Church Polity.

Nothing struck me more than the feeling of equality that seemed to subsist between students and professors. The latter, in speaking to or of any of the former, would generally say "Brother" So-and-so. The students also, in their bearing towards the professors, seemed each to say, "I am as good a man as you are." This is the genius of America.

You meet it everywhere. There man is man (except his skin be black), and he expects to be treated as such. Respect to superiors is not among the maxims of our Transatlantic brethren. The organ of veneration is, perhaps, imperfectly developed.