OUR OBLIGATIONS TO GREEK THOUGHT, 
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OUR OBLIGATIONS TO GREEK THOUGHT. 
BY THE REY. PROFESSOR CHAPMAN, M.A. 
(Read November 8th, 1877.) 
As we look upon our modern civilization, and note in detail the 
varied elements entering into its puzzling complexity, the question 
naturally arises whether we can get a simple classification of the 
inter-blended forces; and if so, whether we can trace each class 
back to its original source. Leaving out of consideration altogether 
the activities embodied in commercial life, it may not be far from 
the truth if we arrange the other elements of our life under the 
terms Religion and Morals, Law and Civil Order, Science and Art. 
The native energy through which these find expression, is, in the 
main, British, though, as they exist amongst us, these elements are 
manifestly of foreign origin. It is scarcely to be expected that 
every nation can be original with respect to the leading lines along 
which human nature manifests its intellectual and moral powers; 
and, therefore, there is no necessary derogation of our good fame in 
the supposition, that we have derived from external sources the 
principal features of the modern order in which we take such 
justifiable pride. The conflux in us of the blood of Briton, Scot, 
Dane, Saxon, Norman, has had the effect of creating a highly 
varied receptivity of nature, by which the characteristics of civili- 
zation derived from other peoples assume a freshness and com- 
pleteness not to be found in nations sprung from a single stock. 
It would require very extensive knowledge in all departments 
of literature, and the skill of a master hand, to trace back, with 
any degree of precision, our ideas, institutions, and achievements to 
their fountain-head, distinguishing in the meanwhile the develop- 
ments that are to be ascribed to our own national peculiarities. 
The purpose we have in hand just now may be subserved if, in this 
respect, we simply note the broad historical fact, which has been 
insisted on of late years, that, speaking in general terms, we owe 
