The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Mutual Instruction. We would call the attention of our readers to a notice in this day's paper, of a meeting at the Masonic Hall, on Friday evening, the 21st inst., for the purpose of considering the subject of forming an association for mutual instruction. We hope to see this meeting fully attended.

We have heretofore expressed our opinion of Lyceums, and a wish that one might be established in this town on a broad basis. We are satisfied, the same beneficial results would grow out of it which have from those in successful operation in Europe and many places in this country.

We consider it unnecessary to enter into the details of the subject on the present occasion: our end will be answered, if the few suggestions we are about to make, influence our men of wealth, of leisure, and of science; our numerous and respectable mechanics; and every class of our citizens, to engage in the enterprise with a zeal which shrinks not at opposition, and a determination to persevere till the object is accomplished.

Perfection in an art or science, is the study of a man's life; hence the superficial knowledge which many persons have of their profession or occupation. We make our acquaintance with the business we pursue answer our purpose; so did some of our ancestors the practice of putting a stone in one end of the bag to balance the grain when they went to mill; but we are not to infer from this, that our mode is the best one, or we in possession of all the knowledge on the subject which can be useful to us.

It is no uncommon occurrence for ingenious mechanics to spend months and years and a great portion of their substance in perfecting machinery, which they honestly consider they are the original inventors, and bringing it into use, which was known to the ancients, and long since laid aside. The utility of these machines are lost to the present generation from the circumstance that operative mechanics are not in the habit of reading, or on terms of intimacy with scientific men who read but do not understand from their want of a practical knowledge.

The mutual advantage in bringing these two classes of men together, and an unreserved interchange of opinion on subjects of this character must be obvious to the most superficial observer; and we would enjoin it on our citizens, not to suffer the present favorable opportunity to establish a Lyceum, which may be the means of improving our moral and mental condition, to pass unimproved.