The value and importance of Mechanics'Institutions : an address, delivered on Monday evening, the 29th of May, 1836, before the managers, teachers, members, and friends of the Sheffield Mechanics' Institution / by Charles F. Favell.

  • Favell, Charles F.
Date:
1836
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The value and importance of Mechanics'Institutions : an address, delivered on Monday evening, the 29th of May, 1836, before the managers, teachers, members, and friends of the Sheffield Mechanics' Institution / by Charles F. Favell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    to admit, that although the lectures are both interesting and instructive, they are not nearly so instructive as they ought to be. By this obser- vation, I think I shall not be accused of intending any personal disre- spect to those gentlemen who give us their aid in this important depart- ment of the Institution ; neither shall I be charged with an intention of detracting, in the very slightest degree, from the value of the lec- tures with which they favour us. No ; my own individual reputation is too closely bound up with the matter to allow of me thus committing myself. What I mean is, that the subjects are too miscellaneous to leave that amount of benefit which would be likely to result from a more extended series of lectures, on a limited number of subjects.— When the attention is directed to such a variety of topics as were brought before you last year, for instance, the mind becomes confused; and the subjects, for the most part, must be treated in such a very ge- neral and popular style, that only very few persons can be really bene- fitted by their attendance. In other words, I fear that the lectures are rather calculated to afford amusement than instruction ; and hence, that many persons come with an expectation of being amused, instead of with the hope of being edified. If brilliant experiments, or oratorical display, are to be introduced in the course of a lecture, the room is crowded; but if there are to be none of these extrinsic ornaments,— if the lecturer, despising these artificial aids, should stand before you, relying solely on the importance and dignity of the subject of his address, he will very probably speak to nearly empty benches. Mechanics’ Institutions are, essentially, schools for the instruction of the labouring classes, not only, as I have before observed, for the ju- venile, but also for the adult population. Now, looking upon them in this important point of view, they present an aspect of very great in- terest. WThat, then, ought to be the kind or course of subjects brought before the members ? I will enumerate a few which I think ought to occupy a very prominent place in our proceedings. There are many others which might be incidentally introduced with advantage. First, it seems very proper to direct the attention of the members to the nature and constitution of the world which we inhabit. By the good providence of God, we are placed in a world which, on every hand, bears marks of the wisdom, and beneficence, and power, of its great Creator ! But how very few reflect upon, how very few can appre- ciate, the beauties and the wonders of creation ! I think I may say that we can perceive them just in proportion as the eyes of our under- standings are penetrated by the light of science. Yes, science will at least unfold to us the wonders of creation, if it will not (and, alone, it will not) lead us to praise Him by whom all things were created. An enquiry into the nature and constitution of the world, will lead us to notice—1st, the animal kingdom. I cannot, however, enlarge on the several divisions of my subject, which, like a mighty ocean, stretches itself before me. Let me, however, in illustration of my remark, make one or two very brief observations. Who, but a person to some extent acquainted with the doctrines of the conduction of heat, could perceive the beauty of the use of feathers as the clothing of birds ? —or who, but one so acquainted with conduction could see why the
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