The Reverend Temple Chevallier (1794–1873) by Charles West Cope (1811–1890). In 1874, the Royal Astronomical Society published a warm Obituary tracing his remarkable career as a clergyman and a teacher of mathematics, astronomy and Hebrew, chiefly in Durham. “This notice must not close” R. J. Knight ended “without recording the still higher qualities which Canon Chevallier displayed as a sincere Christian. He embraced with childlike simplicity the Scripture Revelation. He was imbued with a deeply reverent spirit, and his life was one of consistent piety and large Christian benevolence. He has been the liberal friend of very many. Many a poor student at Durham has he taken by the hand and helped through his College course. His genial, kindly character made him a favourite with all who knew him.”
THE pride of reason frequently acquires a most pernicious ascendency over a mind which is accustomed to find the difficulties of science yield to its persevering enquiries. And there seems to be sometimes a fatal tendency, in a philosophizing spirit, gradually to remove from consideration, and at last to deny, the existence of any final cause.* Now this is an error against which the student of natural philosophy cannot be too much upon his guard.
If scepticism be the fruit of ignorance, the enquiries of an ingenuous mind will soon detect and expose it. If it appear invested with the character of impurity and licentiousness, the very vices and turn of thought, by which it is accompanied, afford sufficient warning of its dangerous nature. But when the insidious poison is infused into the cup of science; when the hand which prepares it is one which has long led the enquirer through the pleasing intricacies of philosophy, and lifted for him the veil which covers the face of nature; it then comes recommended with such authority, that its most noxious ingredients are eagerly imbibed.
From ‘On the Proofs of Divine Power and Wisdom: Derived From the Study of Astronomy’ (1827) by Temple Chevallier (1794-1873).
* A philosopher’s religion-neutral term for God. Technically, a Final Cause is the purpose or aim of an action, or the end towards which a thing naturally develops. Theologically, this is God, the Being that gives purpose, meaning and completeness to everything. Chevallier’s sense of holy wonder was shared by a famous neighbour among the northeast coalfields, the civil engineer George Stephenson: see The Grand Mechanic.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Chevallier warned that the Enlightenment had made mankind intellectually proud, to the point that it felt it could do without God. Religious doubts that arose from ignorance could easily be cured; those that were an excuse for immorality soon disgraced themselves; but doubts spread by respected men of science were deadly because the public hung on their every word. (59 / 60 words)
Chevallier warned that the Enlightenment had made mankind intellectually proud, to the point that it felt it could do without God. Religious doubts that arose from ignorance could easily be cured; those that were an excuse for immorality soon disgraced themselves; but doubts spread by respected men of science were deadly because the public hung on their every word.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, if, may, must, otherwise, ought, since.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Expose. Mind. Nation.
2 Into. Its. View.
3 Dissatisfy. Sufficient. Very.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Lead. 2. Long. 3. Still. 4. Last. 5. Live. 6. Kind. 7. Man. 8. Object. 9. Found.
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Appear.
2.
Deny.
3.
Great.
4.
Kind.
5.
Most.
6.
Over.
7.
Pleased.
8.
Recommend.
9.
Striking.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding dis-.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
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Your Words ()
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