4 THE NEW METHOD 



Herbert Spencer in Europe, and Agassiz, Russell, 

 Colburn, Calkins, Sheldon and other educators in 

 America. 



These distinguished men, as well as many others, 

 have spent their lives in introducing throughout 

 Europe and America the principles of educational 

 science and reform which I have, with such ability 

 as was given me, humbly sought for the last twelve 

 years to inculcate in the minds of the young people 

 of Milford. It may not be improper to state here 

 that my education was directed by several of the 

 above named men, at normal schools and colleges, 

 for some years before I came to Milford, and that I 

 was appointed by them to do the work somewhere, 

 that I have been doing in Milford. 



Society has nowhere recognized progress as a pri- 

 mary principle of natural law. Kings still strive to 

 reconcile their subjects to effete systems of govern- 

 ment. Obedience to old forms is held forth as a 

 virtue. Like natural organisms, every human device 

 must have a growth ; it cannot be born perfect. The 

 more complicated it is, the slower its growth must be. 



But there are those in every community who 

 imagine the "Ark of Truth" to be endangered 

 whenever any change is made in the management of 

 any branch of human interests. Opposition is awak- 

 ened, as if truth could be overthrown by error. They 



