Review: Book on the Soul. By Rev. T. H. Gallaudet [pp. 145-157]

Book oz the S,oul.
agree to suspend our judgment on this point, until the author
has proceeded further in his analysis; but we have a strong
impression, that the best method of conveying to ignorant
minds the true knowledge of God, is not to proceed systematically, but to rush, as it were, into the middle of the subject, and to present such ideas as are most likely to seize the
attention, and engage the feelings. If light is let into the
mind from any radiant point of divine truth, it will illuminate
every other point which has any relation to the one which is
the object of primary contemplation. Perhaps we have taken
up this idea from the facts which have been reported by the
Moravian missionaries, in relation to the methods of instruction which they found most successful in their attempts to instruct the ignorant heathen; and which have been generally
pursued by other evangelical missionaries. But we are not
sure, that this idea may not fairly be deduced from the practice of the Apostles themselves, who made Christ crucified,
the centre of all their preaching. M3ethod is a very excellent
thing, and knowledge, to be most useful, must be reduced to
system, but we doubt, whether, in the earliest acquisition of
knowledge, the systematic order of ideas is useful; we are
rather inclined to the opinion, that it will often be found best
to begin with whatever is likely to interest most, and to make
the deepest impressien.
The remarks last made, suggest to us what we believe will
be found to be the most material defect in these elementary books. They will not be so attractive to most children
as is desirable. This opinion we have formed, not merely
from the nature of the subjects treated, but also from some
trial with children of a somewhat volatile disposition, but fond
of reading entertaining stories. They read these little volumes without any manifest dislike, but did not seem to have
their feelings much interested: and while some children
of a serious, or contemplative turn will not only be gratified but delighted with the dialogues, the Vmajority will
not be so much interested, as, of their own accord, to read
the work a second time. Now, we would respectfully recommend to the author, that he would stady some embellishments or attractions, which might bc interspersed through
these books: and if anecdotes or parratives could be introduced, which would bear to be connected with the didactic
matter, it would be so much the better.
The truth is-and it is an important fact in education, as
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