Address of William Bingham Lynch to the Dialectic Society,
[between 1855 and 1859]
Lynch
The relative importance of a branch of education is determined by its tendency to
promote the great objects of all education — the storing of the mind
with useful knowledge, & the development & culture of the
intellectual & moral faculties. Does the study of the Ancient Classics,
then, contribute its proportion to the attainment of these objects?
All the important knowledge that we receive here & throughout life is
communicated to us through the medium of language, — of words rightly
put together. An accurate knowledge of the rules, principles, & powers
of written & vocal speech lies at the foundation of all advancement,
intellectual & moral; it is indispensable. He, who would express
exactly what he means & comprehend exactly what others mean, must have
a complete knowledge of the infinite minutiae of the machinery by which ideas
are conveyed. This knowledge is not a spontaneous growth, but is obtained only
by assiduous & long continued application; every day of a long life
time may add to its store; it admits of
indefinite increase; but labor, toil is its watchword; well-directed, systematic
labor is indispensable to success. No study requires a more constant &
active exertion of the mind; no study opens more channels to pour their rich
stores into the mind; no other study brings so actively into exercise all the
faculties of the mind. And why? simply because the study of language is the
study of the fabric which the mind has built, has built for her dwelling place,
& adorned with all the strength, beauty, & symetry, which her
vast powers could command. In all its parts it exhibits the handiwork of the
mind; the skill & wisdom of the builders are every where displayed.
Through the vast dimensions of this palace-like building the mind moves with
ease & grace; a passage is opened direct to every point in the huge
structure. A knowledge of all the apartments & intricate passages of
this building is a knowledge of language. And how is this knowledge obtained?
Evidently by the dilligent study of the great principles of language,
— princi — which pervade all language, for every tongue or different branch of language obeys the
same great laws. These laws are exhibited most clearly in the best specimens of
language & can there be studied to the best advantage. To this all will
agree. Then the course for the student evidently is to apply himself
unremittingly to the study of authors whose writings furnish these best
specimens of composition — language which possesses the essential
properties of correctness, conciseness, force of expression & beauty of
style. All will recommend the careful study of our finest English Classics
— Shakespeare, Scott, Milton, Addison, Pope, Young, Gibbon
— Hume; because these authors afford us language of great beauty
& strength. But learned men are almost unanimous in asserting that the
great principles of language are never thoroughly mastered untill those purest
of all tongues Greek & Latin are acquired. Let us consider this as an
assertion perhaps too broad & not well maintained; but certain it is,
that, if we are in search of the most perfect
models of language, we will not find them outside of the Greek & Latin
tongues. No one who has the least correct acquaintance with these languages will
for a moment doubt this. Then certainly no student will stagger at the
difficulty he may meet with in acquiring these languages, when they &
they alone, present him with what he is in search of; & especially
since the very difficulty in mastering them is a recommendation to their study.
The solving of an abstruse problem in mathematics is not a more seaching
exercise of the mind than the solving of many difficult passages in the Latin
& Greek authors. All the excellences of language are incorporated in
these noble dialects; they are precise & copious in their idioms; rich
& expressive in their vocabulary; happy in their collocation; clear
& comprehensive in their structure. Greek & Latin writers
present us with examples of the most exquisite beauty of thought &
expression, united with inimitable simplicity;
they convey their meaning with a brevity, a clearness, & a force which
have never been equaled. Then surely, if it is desirable for the student to
become acquainted with language as an instrument of thought, & if it is
desirable for this purpose to select the best specimens of language, he will not
more certainly secure the desired end than by the selection & study of
the ancient Classics; in every particular they meet his wants.
And besides every advantage, which a knowledge of a foreign language furnishes is
furnished by a knowledge of the Latin & Greek languages; &
very sure it is that an acquaintance with a language diferent from our
vernacular, is a stand-point from which we view to the best advantage our own
language; there are beauties in language which reveal themselves to the observer
from this point, of which observers from all other points must remain forever in
profound ignorance. On becomingacquainted with a
foreign language we enter a scene where objects are entirely new to us; new
phenomena in language present themselves; we have the advantage of comparison by
which the beauties of both languages are more clearly seen &
appreciated; the taste is cultivated; our perception is quickened; we
discriminate more wisely; we are enabled to discover the defects as well as the
beauties in our vernacular. So that of the two great objects of education
— the one the discipline of the mind is attained the highest degree
& in the most pleasing & attractive manner; the other
— the acquiring of useful knowledge is most signally accomplished; a
knowledge is obtained without which all other knowledge is beyond our reach,
with which the loftiest eminence in literature & science may be
attained; — a knowledge I say of language of its laws &
principles, of its beauties & power. And let no one say that a
translation answers the purpose; even if the translation were perfect, it cannot afford the mental discipline. But no
competent judge ever imagined that a translation & especially a
translation of an ancient Classic gave an adequate idea of the original. The
facts it is true may be exhibited in our tongue; but their native exquisite
beauties can never be expressed in another language, & must therefore
be hidden treasure to all except those who can hold communion with the original
writer in his own tongue.
But if this knowledge of language is obtained simply by an acquaintance with a
foreign language, why, it may be asked, do we prefer the Ancient Classics to the
many classic modern languages? We answer — if it is necessary to
study a different language or languages from our own to understand thoroughly
the essential principles & powers of our vernacular tongue, certainly
it is wise to select the purest & most perfect languages in our reach;
& it is acknowledged without a blush by every nation kindred
& tongue that the Latin &
Greek languages are the most perfect instruments of thought the world has ever
produced. The peculiar circumstances of geographical situation, climate,
government, war, of intercourse with other nations & among themselves
all conspired most happily to the development of these languages. In them
Language has made her mightiest efforts, producing inimitable strength
& beauty of style; &, as if wearied by the exertion, overawed
by the arduousness of the accomplished task, content with her triumphant
success, she steadily refuses to stir herself to similar exertions. They are the
standard by which we measure all excellence; the magnifier through which we see
the huge dimensions & countless numbers of the imperfections in our
vernacular tongue, the panacea which removes them & gives to our
language comparative health & vigor & beauty. The eloquent
appeals of the Greek & Roman orators, as long as time lasts, will not
only engage the admirationof the world, but be
considered models, an approximation to whose excellence will be the highest
achievement of modern language. The sublime touching thrilling strains of the
Classic poets will ever find the sympathizing heart, the bosom hearing with
emotion, the soul elastic to their divine touch. As long as elegance &
beauty of style, conciseness, directness, clearness & force of
expression shall be admired & studied, so long will the writings of the
Latins & Greeks be invaluable to the orator the historian &
the poet; so long will they remain the teachers — the dispensers
— of all that is beautiful harmonious chaste & attractive in
language. And it is asked are they worthy of the
attention they receive in our colleges. As well might it be asked is the food
which supplies bone & strength to the animal frame worthy of the labor
men undergo to procure it. Starvation & death is not more certainly a
consequence upon total abstinence from food thanthat a mortal wound would be given to the cause of education by abandoning the
study of Greek & Latin languages. Thwarted be every attempt to expell
the ancient Classics from our colleges! May a second attack not be ominous of a
second return into the darkness & ignorance of the Middle Ages! May
Classic Literature never again be confined to the cloister to a crafty
priesthood giving them such an ascendancy over the minds of their fellow men
that they shall again enslave the world! Or if the Classics are abandoned, let
her alumni no longer respect their Alma Mater! Let her not then perpetuate the
folly & falsehood of issuing diplomas!