第20章

Had not mankind been misinstructed from infancy on this subject，making it necessary that they should unlearn what they have been taught，the simple statement of this truth would render it instantly obvious to every rational mind.Men would know that their predecessors might have given them the habits of ferocious cannibalism，or of the highest known benevolence and intelligence；and by the acquirement of this knowledge they would soon learn that，as parents，preceptors，and legislators united，they possess the means of training the rising generations to either of those extremes；that they may with the greatest certainty make them the conscientious worshippers of Juggernaut，or of the most pure spirit，possessing the essence of every excellence which the human imagination can conceive；that they may train the young to become effeminate，deceitful，ignorantly selfish，intemperate，revengeful，murderous of course ignorant，irrational，and miserable；or to be manly，just，generous，temperate，active，kind，and benevolent that is intelligent，rational，and happy.The knowledge of these principles having been derived from facts which perpetually exist，they defy ingenuity itself to confute them；nay，the most severe scrutiny will make it evident that they are utterly unassailable.

Is it then wisdom to think and to act in opposition to the facts which hourly exhibit themselves around us，and in direct contradiction to the evidence of our senses？Inquire of the most learned and wise of the present day，ask them to speak with sincerity，and they will tell you that they have long known the principles on which society has been found to be false.Hitherto，however，the tide of public opinion，in all countries，has been directed by a combination of prejudice，bigotry，and fanaticism，derived from the wildest imaginations of ignorance；and the most enlightened men have not dared to expose those errors which to them were offensive，prominent，and glaring.

Happily for man this reign of ignorance rapidly approaches to dissolution；its terrors are already on the wing，and soon they will be compelled to take their flight，never more to return.For now the knowledge of the existing errors is not only possessed by the learned and reflecting，but it is spreading far and wide throughout society；and ere long it will be fully comprehended even by the most ignorant.

Attempts may indeed be made by individuals，who through ignorance mistake their real interests，to retard the progress of this knowledge；but as it will prove itself to be in unison with the evidence of our senses，and therefore true beyond the possibility of disproof，it cannot be impeded，and in its course will overwhelm all opposition.

These principles，however，are not more true in theory than beneficial in practice，whenever they are properly applied.Why，then，should all their substantial advantages be longer withheld from the mass of mankind？Can it，by possibility，be a crime to pursue the only practical means which a rational being can adopt to diminish the misery of man，and increase his happiness？

These questions，of the deepest interest to society，are now brought to the fair test of public experiment.It remains to be proved，whether the character of man shall continue to be formed under the guidance of the most inconsistent notions，the errors of which for centuries past have been manifest to every reflecting rational mind；or whether it shall be moulded under the direction of uniformly consistent principles，derived from the unvarying facts of the creation；principles，the truth of which no sane man will now attempt to deny.

It is then by the full and complete disclosure of these principles，that the destruction of ignorance and misery is to be effected，and the reign of reason，intelligence，and happiness，is to be firmly established.

It was necessary to give this development of the principles advocated，that the remaining parts of the New Institution，yet to be described，may be clearly understood.We now proceed to explain the several purposes intended to be accomplished by the School，Lecture Room，and Church.

It must be evident to those who have any powers of reason yet undestroyed，that man is now taught and trained in a theory and practice directly opposed to each other.Hence the perpetual inconsistencies，follies，and absurdities，which everyone can readily discover in his neighbour，without being conscious that he also possesses similar incongruities.The instruction to be given in the School，Lecture Room，and Church，is intended to counteract and remedy this evil；and to prove the incalculable advantages which society would derive from the introduction of a theory and practice consistent with each other.The uppermost storey of the New Institution is arranged to serve for a School，Lecture Room，and Church.And these are intended to have a direct influence in forming the character of the villagers.

It is comparatively，of little avail to give to either young or old 'precept upon precept，and line upon line'，except the means shall be also prepared to train them in good practical habits.Hence an education for the untaught and ill-taught becomes of the first importance to the welfare of society.and it is this which has influenced all the arrangements connected with the New Institution.