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THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

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ADDRESS

DELIVERED BEFORE THE

LINNiEAN ASSOCIATION

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE,

AT THE DEDICATION OF THEIR HALL,

SEPTEMBER 14, lii47.

BY J. G. MORRIS, D. D.

PKESIDEKT OF THE LINK^AN ASSOCIATION.

GETTYSBURG :
FEINTED BY U. C. NEINSTEDT

MDCCCXtVlI

ADDRESS.

The occasion which has brought us together to-day, forms an inter-
esting event in the history of American Colleges. — As a Trustee of this
institution, I feel proud that ours should be thus distinguished. — It is
the first time, that an edifice devoted to Natural History, conceived, de-
signed, erected and completed through the agency of students, has been
dedicated in this country. Other prouder and more costly buildings
have risen in other places, which are the depositories of more exten-
sive collections than ours, but ours is the first, which the students them-
selves undertook, to erect, and for the existence of which, they alone de-
serve all the credit. If young men, capable of accomplishing such en-
terprises in their College days, demanding no small share of energy and
perseverance, do not succeed in the pursuits of professional life, it will
be because there is some insuperable obstruction in the way. — Linnae-
ans, this is an event, in which we may congratulate you. Your zeal in
this cause, your untiring industry, your laudable ambition, your invin-
cible perseverance has erected this beautiful edifice now dedicated to
Natural History. Science will be indebted to you, for you have raised
another temple to her honor, — the custodiaries of this College owe you
a debt of gratitude, for you have increased their means of scientific in-
struction,— the inhabitants of this town are under obligations to you,
for this noble edifice adds to its attractions, — every visitor to this seat
of learning, will speak creditably of you, for you have in your building
and in your cabinet furnished recreation to the curious for hours, — all
the future students at these institutions, will have reason to remember
you gratefully, for you have laid a foundation on which it will be easy
for them to build •, you have awakened a taste for Natural History stu-

4 ADDRESS BY DR. MORRIS.

dies and pursuits, which they will continue to foster,— you have begun
a collection of scientific books, which they will increase,— you have
set an example of energy which they will imitate. The students of the
years 184.'i— 1847, during which, this building was in progress, will be
regarded as worthy of grateful remembrance ; and years after this, it will
be a pleasing reminiscence to yourselves, that you aided in its erection.
You will ever feel a deep interest in the prosperity of the Linna?an As-
sociation-,—11 will afford you pleasure to contribute to its collection. —
Some of you may cast your lot in the Far West,— some of you may
become navigators and then visit many foreign coasts— some of you
may remain near the paternal home, and from every place of your so-
journ, you will feel it your duty to send something curious or rare in
nature or art to the collection of the Linn^an Hall. — 1 most heartily
congratulate you, Linnaeans, on the auspicious event of this day. You
can proudly say— our work is done,— all that we undertook is comple-
ted,—we leave to our successors in College, the further prosecution of
the work.

There were others, a few months ago, associated with us in this en-
terprise, whose hearts would have been glad to mingle with you in the
felicitations of this day,— whose indefatigable industry had already con-
tributed much and promised more to the decoration of our Hall
and the increase of our cabinet, but they are not here to day. They
have been taken away, and their early grave has been bedewed with
student's tears. Hallowed be the memory of deceased fellow students ;
green be the turf that covers their grave and ever fragrant the flowers
that the hand of affection plants there !

The Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania was instituted in 1844,
and, I believe, it may be said that in no other College in this country, is
there a similar society. It holds regular monthly meetings, at which
original papers on Natural History and other scientific subjects are read
and discussed.— The cabinet is gradually increasing and a growing in-
terest in its improvement is felt by the community.— A Monthly Jour-
nal, in part devoted to Natural History, has been published by this As-
sociation for three years. It has been most favorably noticed by many
editors of other papers, not only for its intrinsic excellence, but as a scien-
tific publication issued under the auspices and sustained by the energies
of College students.— What else has this society done ?— Its active mem-
bers have planted the College campus with thriving shade trees— they
have formed meandering walks— have built beautiful bowers and sum-
mer houses— have laid out flourishing flower beds— have planted shrub-
bery and grape vines— have beautified the whole field and rendered it

ADDRESS BY DR. MORRIS, O

an object of admiration. They have constructed convenient roads
leading from the College edifice in various directions, and in many ways
have contributed much to the ornament of the place. In a few years
the College campus will indeed be an attractive spot, and for all its invi-
ting charms, we shall be indebted to the Linna?an Association. Scarcely
any thing of all this would have been done, if this society had not been
established. The LinnaBans felt, that it was expected of them as an in-
.stitution, to honor the immortal Naturalist after whom they are called
and follow his example in promoting the happiness of mankind by a
proper attention to arboriculture.

Every thing outside, as well as inside of a College, should be ren-
dered attractive and inviting. The avenues leading to it should be un-
encumbered and solid,— the walks around it should be tasteful and ele-
gant ;— there should be gioves and bowers ; gardens and flowers ; sum-
mer houses and rustic seats, — there should be inviting rural retreats for
the hours of relaxation, and sylvan hiding places for solitary medita-
tion.

" The warbling woodland.

The pomp of groves and garniture of fields "

refine the taste, subdue the grosser passions and conquer temptation to
forbidden pursuits.— An hour's stroll in such a place only prepares us
for the more successful prosecution of severe studies.

At the entrance of a grove of hundreds of acres in extent, adorned
with every thing that arboricultural science and taste could produce,
just outside of the city of Munich, there stands a beautiful marble statue
of a youth ; in one hand, he holds a scroll and with the other he points
to the grove. On the scroll are engraven these words,

Hannlos wandelt hier, dann

Kehret neu gestarkt zu jeder

Pflicht zuriick.*

As I espied this inscription, I thought of our College campus, as I
trust it will not be many years hence. I admire appropriate inscrip-
tions in public places and before long we must have them in our grove.

Here where the charms of art and nature meet,
To court the pencil or awake the lyre.
May science fix her favorite retreat
And pure devotion, nobler thoughts inspire !

Before many years, I trust, we shall have a botanical garden, in
which shall be reared most of the plants which can endure this climate,

* Ramble innocently through these groves,_then, refreshed by exercise, return
to the discharge of every other duty of life.

b ADDRESS BY DR. 3I0RRIS.

all appropriately labelled, — yea, my hopes extend still further, — and
that we shall have a hot house in which to rear tropical plants, and on
the ornamental portal of which shall be inscribed, " Hie ver assiduum,
et alienis mensibus aestas, " and beneath this, the following invitation,
" Hie intra, hie flora? soboles et lecta propago."

The prosecution of Natural History is the principal design of the
Linnaean Association, and this edifice is to be the depository of our col-
lection.— Natural History is indeed, a noble science! It embraces the
systematic study and scientific arrangement of the ten thousand natural
objects that are obvious to us. It contemplates the investigation of an-
imals, minerals, and plants, — the distribution of them into orders, fami-
lies, genera and species — the study of their relation to each other, —
their uses, — their habitats. It includes also a collection of these ob-
jects for examination and reference.

The student of Nature is often asked, Cui bono? — of what use is
all this .'' He is seen going forth with his gun, net, bottles, tin boxes
and other apparatus in pursuit of his prey. — He is seen shooting, draw-
ing and then skinning a bird, — and "still the wonder grows" in the
uninitiated countryman or uneducated townsman who happens to look
on — his race after a snake and then bottling it, is regarded with amaze-
ment— the capture of a beetle or a butterfly is esteemed a waste of time,
— his gathering of plants is considered school girl's play and many peo-
ple think he would be much better employed in breaking stones on the
turnpike at half a dollar a day, than knocking crystals out of a rock
with his geological hammer, — that he vvould better help to dig a canal or
excavate the deep cut of a rail road, than be grubbing into the earth af-
ter petrifactions. Some years ago the will of a certain noble lady in
Eno-land was attempted to be broken by some disappointed heirs. —
They tried to prove she had been insane and, of course, incompetent to
make a will. How did they attempt to establish her insanity: by
showing that she tried to screw herself up to the dimensions of a wasp
by steel stays .' — that she wore enormous hoops ? — No ! That she
talked silly nonsense, or that being old and ugly, she had fallen in love
'.vith a handsome young man ? No, nothing of all this ! It was because
she was fond of Entomology ! and they maintained that no person in
his senses could ever collect insects ! Cui bono ? — of what use is this
studying of birds and bugs, — of beetles and bears, — of snakes and
snails, — of shells and shad, — of stones and bones, — of plants and pike?
Mere utilitarians are constantly putting this question, cui bono? if by
it they mean, how much money will these pursuits put into your pock-
et ?— the answer is easy. The study ^f Natural History is not usually

ADDRESS BY DU. MORniS. 7

profitable in this respect. It rather costs money. Books, apparatus,
journeys, and correspondence make frequent demands on the purse.

JVIany persons ask this question because they do not hear of the
science of Natural History being taught in our schools or Colleges, and
of very few private gentlemen pursuing it. It is to most people a new
thing. They look on it as the gratification of mere curiosity — a conve-
nient way of filling up an idle hour. They have no idea of the science.
They do not know that all these plants, minerals and animals are sys-
tematically arranged according to their natural relations — that all are
so placed together as to produce a beautiful and harmonious whole---
that each individual has a name indicating some of its qualities. They
have no idea of all this and open their eyes wide when they are told
that a plant or a crystal which requires a microscope to examine it has
been accurately described and probably figured in a book, and that an
insect no larger than a pin's head has been the subject of learned inves-
tigation. All these and many other things in connexion with these pur-
suits appear strange and they cannot see the use of them. The most
uncultivated peasant in Germany never asks this question. He knows
better. Natural History excursions are too common there. Every day
in the summer, he sees men wandering over the fields in search of ob-
jects and he knows the character of their pursuits.

We are created for God's glory, but that we cannot promote un-
less we know him, through his revelation and his creation ; but alas !
many live from youth to hoary age, who neither find out God as he has
revealed himself in the Scriptures nor in Nature. They spend their
days in idleness, or if they are industrious it is only to pamper their
appetites, or to accumulate wealth.

But then, look at the cui bono, in another aspect.

The study of Naturel History amuses us.

The wonderful phenomena in the habits, instincts and propensities
of animals, — the properties, and uses of plants and minerals, — afford
constant interest to our minds. It is reading the great volume of Na-
ture, in every page of which are written the most charming facts. Its
endless variety furnishes an unfailing source of gratification of the high-
est order. We can never grow weary here, for the author of this book
has infinite resources to amuse and interest.

Tliis study instructs us.

The Great Creator has fitted up this wonderful Museum for us to
study. Man is the only being capable of admiring it, and he has been
placed in it. Did God create all these things in vain ^

O ADDItliSS BV Dll. MOUKl:^.

" Not a tree
>•' Net a leaf, a blossom, but contains
"A volume. We may read and read
"And read again, and still find something new
"Something to please, and something to instruct

" E'en in the noisome weed.

The relation of man to animals, their relations to each other — their
distribution throughout the earth— -their uses — their rank in the scale of
creation— their habits — their propagation — their food — their sleep —
their infinite diversity-— their migration— their hybernation — their anat-
omy— in a word, every thing in the world around us may teach us
something useful and important.

This study contributes to our health.

Why have we so many mvalid students, literary men and ministers?
It is for the most part because ihev do not exercise in the open air. A
walk of a mile wearies them. Most of them know nothing of
the natural objects around them, and, of course, take no interest
in tliem. What are plants, or minerals, or insects, or other ani-
naals, to them ? They toil on their weary way of a mile or two
and return excessively fatigued. To the student of Natural His-
tory this is impossible. Every curious plant, every strange mineral,
every unusual geological formation, every uncommon animal attracts
his attention, — even the shape of the clouds is not unobserved. His
walk is not wearisome, for his mind is intently engaged, — he climbs
the tall mountain,— he dives into the deep dell, — he wanders through
the silent woods,— he traverses the green fields, — if need be, he wades
through the mire in pursuit of his prey, — he turns over the stones, he
rolls aside the logs, — he " beats the bush " — he fishes in the stream —
he explores the cave,— -he descends into the mine, — he breaks the rock,
— he plucks the plant, — and all this is done, unmindful of miry bog, or
prickly bramble, or dense forest, or tangled undergrowth, or shelving
rock, or high fence, or flowing river, it is rather a ^' rough " employ-
ment, but he is always "ready" to engage in it, and hence to be a real
outdoor naturalist, a man ought to be " rough and ready. " Here is
the souice of health and if all men of refined taste or literary pursuits,
would only acquire a fondness for Natural History studies, we should
not be so often called on to sympathize with invalids or to mourn over
the premature deatli of many a child of genius.

This study aflbrds us wholesome recreation, amid tlie more serious
and profUahle pursuits of life.

I>ery man of business or professional life has, his hours of idleness
or what is worse, hours of listless dejection. Ue needs relaxation.—

ADDRESS BY DR. MORRIf-'. 9

He may not love gay company, or if he does, he may not have an op-
portunity to enjoy it. He may Iiave no family circle to mingle with,
or if he has, he may be in no mood to be amused with the prattle of
children or the conversation of a wife, — he may be a bachelor, young
or old, and afraid of the ladies, or he may be awkward and ngly, and
no favorite of theirs ; he may be a grave and solitary student with a
mind and habits not suited to the relaxing induences of refined society
—how will such a man fill up his vacant hours ? — If he were fond of
Natural History and had a cabinet or loved to roam the fields and the
woods, he could soon drive dull care away. These pursuits are a grand
panacea for this melancholy mood.— Did you ever hear a naturalist
complain of the tediousness of life .'—Never. Every month in the
year afl'urds him something new in his favorite studies. When the
■weather is unfavorable for field observation, his cabinet at home, his
microscope or his books instruct and amuse him. — He has always
. something to engage his mind, and is always innocently and profitably
engaged.

Tins sludy leads to many useful discoveries : but oii this head, I
have not time now to dwell. This study brings us into near relation
■with the Almighty author of all. It enlarges our views of his glorious
character, — of his power, wisdom and goodness, — at every step we are
called on to admire his infinite perfection, — and not onlv, in the stu-
pendous and celestial, but in the minute and even the microscopic.

These are a few of the replies, I would give to the question, cui
bono ?

I think we, in general, are too well satisfied with the every day pur-
suits of life; — the old track of our fathers, — that horse mill round, which
never leaves a prescribed and well beaten circle. It appears to me
there is too little seeking after what Cicero calls the "animorum ingen-
iorum naturale pabulum " and this he applies to the study of nature.

It is to be regretted that a love of nature is not implanted in our
youth at at earlier period, — it is an evidence of our backwardness in
civilization. Natural History ought to be taught in our schools and
Colleges regulaily, but now it is either wholly disregarded or pushed
into a corner of the day, and got rid of as soon as possible. — In the
Gymnasia and Universities of Germany, they find sufficient time for in-
struction in this branch of science and without any detriment to the
other departments, for I think, it will be conceded, that in Germany
they turn out from their schools as good linguists and mathematicians
as any other schools in the world, showing that these studies were not

10 jtfiDRESS BV DR. MORP.I!^.

neglected, though the pupils did hear lectures on Natural History. I
was pleased in Berlin and other cities of Germany to see from 10 to 30
students going out every afternoon after lecture or school hours with
their green painted tin boxes or their nets, to gather plants and capture
insects, and 1 wished, that it could be so in our country.

I think, that Trustees and Faculties of Colleges should introduce
this study from another motive, besides its vast importance and utility
as a science. I believe it has a moralizing tendency. I believe that
few young men fond of such pursuits in College can be immoral. The
student of nature cannot love dissipation. He finds excitement enough
in these studies. The artificial and senseless excitement of wine and
cards, has no attractions for him, — snch a young man will not be found
in the company of those who love the midnight revel, or the dignified
amusement of disturbing the slumbers of more honest men than them-
selves.

This science is making rapid advances in our country. The fauna
and flora of our land have been admirably illustiated. In no country
on earth have more magnificent books been published on this subject
than in our own. Foreign naturalists speak of the labors of our coun-
trymen with the highest admiration. — Let me here give you a slight
sketch of what has been done.

You have all heard of, if you have not seen, Audubon's splendid
and cosily work on our birds, — the most costly and magnificent that
has ever been published. But the student of Ornithology may fur-
nish himself with less costly books than that.— -Audubon has published
a reduced and abbreviated edition of his great work, — or if that should
still be too dear, let him procure Bonaparte's Synopsis of the Birds of
America, — or Nuttall's — or Brewer's edition of Wilson. Bachman,
Ord, Townsend, and Baird have cortributed much to the promotion of
this delightful branch of Natural History.

Godman, Harlan, Dekay, Say, Ord and Peale deserve lasting grati-
tude for what they iiave done to illustrate our Mammals, but the great
work on this class of animals of our country is now in course of pub-
lication by Audubon and Bachman. The large plates are truly splen-
did and life-like, and the letter press description chiefly from the graphic
pen of Bachman, has all the interest, of the most eventful history. —
This great work does unspeakable credit to these two distinguished
Naturalists.

Our reptiles have been described and in part figured by Green, Le-
conte. Say, Lescnr, Harlan, but the crowning work of all is that by Dr.
Holbrook, of Charleston, in 5 large 4108, in which almost every one

ADDRESS CY DR. MORRIS. 11

of our reptiles is beautifully figured. Our fishes have been described
by Mitchel, Leseur, Storer, Dekay, Smith, Rafinesque, Kirtland, Ayres,
Haldeman and Ilolbrook. Our shells, by Say, Rafinesque, Conrad, Lea,
Gould, Binuey, Hildreth, Barres, Haldeman, Adams, Mighles, &.c. kc. —
Our Crustacea by Say, Gould, Haldeman. Our insects, in part by Say,
the Melsheimers, the Lecrutes, Peck, Harris, Heutz, Haldeman, Ran-
dall, Ziegler, &c. I need not mention our botanical and mineralogical
writers. — Here then, the student of the Natural History of our coun-
try, has works furnished to his hand for the pursuit of the science. —
But industrious as these authors have been, yet much remains to be
done. There is room yet for the most zealous student to distinguish
himself if he will, — all our animals and plants and minerals and shells
and fossils even in the most populous sections of the country, have not
been discovered and described, and what rich treasures in Natural His-
tory will not the exploration of Oregon, California and Mexico dis-
close ?

Our countrymen have gained for themselves immortal renown by
their labors in this department. — We were too long in scientific subjec-
tion to foreign countries and it was time to disenthral ourselves. We
have the genius, the perseverance and the materials. We want encour-
agement alone. Our scientific men have risen up in their might and we
now have native American works that will compare with, and many of
them excel any similar works ever produced in the old countries of
Europe. — True, our collections of our own animals cannot yet vie with
collections of American animals in the Museum of Europe. They
have had the start of us, — for years they have sent out collectors to
gather and take home every thing they could find, — their Fur compa-
nies and navigators — their travelling naturalists have been most zealous
and successful \ but we shall soon equal them and when the Smithso-
nian Institution gets into full operation, I hope, we may have a collec-
tion of our American Fauna, unequalled in the world ; when it will not
be necessary for an American Naturalist, to go to Europe to take the
drawing of an American animal. — One day last Summer, being in the
work room of the British Museum, I found one of the young Audu-
bon's copying, for his father's and Bachman's work, an American ani-
mal,— it was a rare species of otter, I think, from the N. W. Territory —
there was no specimen in the States and he had to go all the vvay to
London to take a drawing — it will not be so 10 years hence. Several
of our States have alieady made Zoological as well as Geological sur-
veys of their territory and have published splendidly illustrated works

12 ADDRESS BY DR. JMORRIS.

and it is hoped, that they will be as anxious to establish collections of
their Zoology as of their Geology.

Most of you, Linnseaus, are preparing for one of the learned pro-
fessions.

Do you intend to be a physician r

Natural History will be of great assistance to you. Hear what our
great master, Linne, says : "A physician must not vacillate, but go bold-
ly forward in theory and experiment — with all his might he must study
the nature of disease and its remedies, — he must clothe himself with
Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physiology and Anatomy, that,
he may not go naked to work. " A knowledge of the Anatomy and
Physiology of animals is almost essential to a knowledge of human
Anatomy and Physiology. — It is the animal nature in man which is
most subject to external influence, — which suffers most by sickness and
through which medicine exerts its influence.

But besides, the Doctor of the town is presumed to know all these
things, and hence whenever a strange animal is caught or a curious
phenomenon in nature occurs, he is applied to for information. He
ought at least to be able to determine the order, and genus, if not the
species to which these things belong, and in some degree enlighten the
ignorance of the people around him.

Do you intend to be a clergyman .''

Then follow the direction of your divine Master, and " consider the
lilies of the field and the fowls of the air," seek out the works of God
and take pleasure therein. — If you study Mineralogy, you will better
understand the power and beauty of the Apocalyptic description of the
New Jesusalem, — if you study Zoology and Botany, you w'ill better
appreciate those numerous passages of Scripture which are illustrated
by animals or plants. You will be able to draw, from the natural world
around you, many striking illustrations of spiritual and divine truth. —
You will have it in your power to correct many erroneous notions
prevalent among the people and remove unfounded and sometimes dan-
gerous prejudices. — If a parishioner brings you what he calls a petri-
jied honey comb, you can correct his error, and tell him that it is only a
singular species of fossil coral, and then if you are not afraid of your
reputation as an orthodox divine, you can give him a lecture on ante-
Adamic Geology. — If he brings you what is commonly called a petri-
fied snake — you can remove his Adse idea and instruct him in the na-
ture of Jlmmonilcs. — Thus the petrified frot^s^ and intestines of a sguir-
rej and mulherries^ and hulPs horns and nr.sls of serpents^ which are

ADDHESS by Dll. MOIiUIS, 13

I

found, you will be able to explain and give ihcm their proper character
and name.

You will find these studies a source of constant and most whole-
some relaxation, and probably be the better and certainly the more
liealthy man, for attending to them.

Arc you destined for the law ?

You will need some recreation from your dry and crabbed studies
and perplexities, and you will no where find them more abundant and
innocent than in the study of Natural History.

Do you intend to devote your attention io the cultivation of the
soil?

You are the man who should especially pursue it. — The depreda-
tions of animals on your crops, — the ravages of insects on your grains
and fruits — the nature of soil — the character of vegetation — and the in-
fluence of seasons — all these, and other subjects more or less remotely
connected with Natural History, are constantly presented to your mind.
Your observations and notes on the insects, injurious to vegetation, might
lead to important results and your study of the plants or minerals, on
your farm, might contribute to the promotion of science.

Thus every man, it matters not what profession he pursues, will
find in these studies an exhaustless fund of instruction, utility and
amusement.

I hope that the completion of this Hall will give a new impetus to
our zeal in the cause. We must now exert ourselves to increase the
collection, many objects of value may be found in various places which
their present owners do not perhaps appreciate, which they might be
disposed to deposit in our Hall. Let every one of us then, set himself
diligently to work to collect not only objects of Natural History, but
also scientific books, paintings, engravings, casts, medals, coins and ev-
ery thing that can contribute to refine the taste, delight the eye, im-
prove the heart and cultivate the mind.

Thus, we shall have reared a temple worthy of the name of the
great Linne, — the most illustrious naturalist that ever lived or probably
that will ever live, — whose delight it was to see young men engaged iu
his favorite pursuit, and to guide them in their studie?. By our energy
in prosecuting this work, — by our zeal in furthering the interests of the
Linnaean Association, — by our industry in increasing its cabinet, we will
be promoting the cause of sound learning, the prosperity of Pennsyl-
vania College, and the solid enjoyment of those who shall succeed uy
as Sludouls, Professors or Trustees of this institution.

OtlO^fU

m

05-12-05 32180 MS

LB2325.L77

Obituary addresses delivered on the

Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library

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