New-York tribune., 1841-11-09
NEW-YORK LYCEUM.
oneninp Of the Winter Course OF Lectures.

The Annual Course of Lectures before the New
York Lvcesm for the ensuing season was opened
last evening at the Tabernacle, before very large
auditory OF our citizens in defiance of unfavorabIe
weather. The exercises commenced with an In
troductory Address BY DR.. JoHs H. GRlscoM,
President OF the Lyceum, explanatory of the OBJ
jects ana prosperity OF the institution. The fol-
lowing are the principal points of his Address:
The principal difficulty Of every new enterprise
lies where all difficulties generally are fsund-in
commencing. The beginnings OF ,niags are not
onv hedged abou; wiki difficulties, bat are also
enveloped in painful uncertainties. It requires
the exeriion of power nothing short Of creation
to originate deve!ope and fully carry out with
p ac,ical operation, new principle, method or
system. The means the agents b. which it IS to
be effected, all become interesting and anxious
subjects of Inquiry"
This truisrn uttered at the last sitting of the
Young Mer', State Association oy its Presideni,
has been realized ~ the Directors OF :he New
York LyceuE; and a the end OF tho beginning OF
this enterprise is not yet they are still in measure
realisng il The creation OF such an inst, ution
with the attempt to SCI in action an untried prin-
ciple bv those VINO mad the lish, of experience
10 guide them, was en- undertaking bringing no
ordinary anxiety and demanding no common per
severance They travelled IN a Rew and untIled
path. but keeping their eye steadily or their polar
star anA aninat-d by the sacredness and the mani
i-st usefulness OF their principles, but above all,
cheered on by the generous voice of public conl-
dencc. the present Board are the happy witnesses
of the successful results of those ahora.
In presenting their yousg charge now the third
time before their Intelligent fellow citizens, they
have to acknowledge degree Of public favor
which, without hypcrbole, is unexamPled in the
history of any similar institution in this city.
Commenced By handful of yeung men, for TWO
long wears it struggled in anxiety. doubt aud OBJ
scurity till public exposition OF their enets a
tracted the attention, not of the wealthy or the
influential but of the pcopic-the very ones
whom it was their desire to benefit Il we may
Judge by the result OF abors bestowed there
perhaps has rarely been more emphatic in
stance of public appreciation of sound principle
than the NewYork Lyceum presents. With no
other pc, unary aid than tRat derived irem Its own
proper eperations the lecture and membership
fees, this enlightened public has enabled us to
place our Institution upon tlrm and we trust a
durable basis. Il takes its stand now by the side
of the venerable and the learned in the regards OF
the public. and addressing itself 20 the mass without
distinction OF rank, occupation or sex, 1t has re-
ccved flom all a response Of the most gratifying
kind.
We fervently hope that our further efforts, and
those of the officers whe will succeed US, may be
crowned with like prosperity-more we may
not, we cannot reasonably expect.
short time prior 10 the close Of our last course
OF lectures The Library and Reading Room of the
Lyceum were opcEed for the use of the members,
since which time there has been a steady increase
to the list. The number added siace February Sd
is nearly 800, and of these female friends con-
s,itute very far proportion; and we wish to ex-
press our especial qualification at finding our mea-
sures seconded 40 efficiently by those who give to
life and all It's undertakings their sweetest solace.
The females of this great community hold con-
trolin 9 influence over the moral destines OF hun
dreds upon hundreds of young men. The theatre
and the gaming house entice with seductive allure
ments to ruin many noble spirits, who, il persuaded
to visit the Library the Lecture and the Reading
Rooms may be made ornaments and blessings IN
stead Of a disgrace to humanity; and what, we
may ask, can enforce an attendance upon them so
readily as female persuasiveHess. The present is
a critical period with vast number of young men
in this city: Tie TWO hours per day additional lei
sure, allowed by late change IN bu,iaess habits,
i, fraughi to them with imminent evil or PER-
manent good Shall the Lyceum and other kin
drcd institutions win them their shelter, or will
they taste the poisoned chalice of tie theatre, ard
lis degraded, destructive accompauiments The
intelligent females of New-l possess a silken
but reslstcss power over many of them, and will
they fail 10 use tho influence winch Providence
has placed in their hands, There is no institution
similar to ours in this great metropolis, and speak
it with regret, where ladies permitted so much
Here only they enjoy the ad-
vantages of wellstored circulating library; here
only can they set the proper example to the other
sex. By giving us their aid they enable US to ex-
tend still farther the benefits of association,
and ct the same time they show their male friends
the course they should pursue.
Our Library opened with about 500 volumes
it now numbers 1000. and additions daily made
Many of them are donations and deposites from
gentleman whom tits our pride to call friends
While the collection embraces works in every de-
partment that can raise. redeem, cnnobe and en-
tighten, we have been faithf; TO the requirements
OF our constitution, and excluded all works not
strictly founded upon truth. Upon our cscutcheOn
the serpent.crow.cI head of Aledusa has given
place to "TBU rH'-our motto,-and fidelity
thereto contributes the g5cat hope OF our Ultimate
success. We have taken our stand, and thus far
have triuuphantly s;emmed the broad torrent Of
fiction pouring from he press, our strengthincre
ing with each successive wave.
1t is probably no; generally known that there IS
in this State association composed Of represen-
tations from the Lyceums, aid Young Mems As
sociations throughout the State, which assemble
once a YEAR ami l. called the " Young Mems
State association Ii was me language Of this
Association which quoted at The beginning OF my
remarks. It's object to blend the Interests Of the
popular literary institutions, with which the En-
pire State abounds, To nciie each other BY a near
acquaintance to increased abors, and to enlarge
each others capacities for usefulness hy mutual
aid Al the last annual meeting held Sen,embec