Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-02-11
REPORTED FOR THE GAZETTE.
MARTINABURG LITERARY AsSOCIA-
TON.

7
| On Thursday evening, the 28th ulto., the
second lecture was delivered before the Asso-
citation by the Rev. WmLIAN LOVE, and we
believe the only feeling ofregret experienced by
any Of the large congregation in attendance,
was that all their friends were not there TO en-
JOY the rich intellectual treat given to those
present.
We dare not attempt to give any thing like
a report" Of the lecture; our inability forbids
us even TO touch upon many of the numerous
facts and principles embodied in the lecture
A lecture must be heard to be appreciated
and but faint idea can be had of il by adop-
ting the ideas of another respecting it.
| The subject of MIR. LOWS lecture was
l"Friendsh,p," which is. as he truly represen-
ted it, the grand fundamental principle iInplan-
ted in the breast Of every human being, bend
| ing all mankind in s'socal compact" which
| is the "great brotherhood of the human race
lit binds man TO his fellow, nation TO nation,
and all to its Great Author. Differences in
physical condition Of mankind caused BY diff.
ference in climate, modes of life, degrees Of CT
vilizaton, or in the moral condition, caused by
the variety Of creeds adopted, and their adhe-
renee to, or disregard for the Truth, cannot Sc
yer a link in that chain which binds alas
members ofthe same family-as limbs Of the
same body, when life's blood flows from the
same great heart.
He spoke OF certain endowments and ac-
quirements which have bsen supposed 10 con-
stitute the true "bond of union between man
and man," as language. reason. virtue and
education, &C., and remarked that to no one OF
these, nor TO them all, can be ascribed that in
nuence which makes us feel as others feel,
and weep DER others woes This belongs ex-
clusively TO principle which lies beyond them
as the principle Of life lies concealed in the
! form that contains it-''it is the offspring OF
Natures soul and is called Friendship"
He observed that the terms Friendship and
Love were often misused and misapplied, and
may be supposed to be different, yet they were
one and the same. and the emotions they pro-
duce like in kind differing only in degree, which
we know from the fact, that friend Of man.
kind and loreY of the human race, is the phil
anthrophst, the friend or lorcr Of his country,
the patriot, the frieud or lorey OF his children
the good parent
| Thelecturerd welt upon the fact that God has
stamped the great seal Of "Frxndship" upon
our race for our good, it being the true source
! of all our happiness In our intercourse with
each ether, and were there no other God than
this il would be much more reasonable to wor-
ship it, than the God whom infidsls adore, viz !:
Reason, the servant Of Frendship-it being the
divine centre from which emenates all OF
the earthly good that we can enjoy. This
principle was recognised and felt by the Ro-
man orator CICERO, who says "There is one
true and original law conformable TO reason
and difused over all. which is the same in all
the same at Rome as at Athens, now and
in the ages before and after. Sovereign over
all, and everlasting as that God its great Au-
| thor"
The lecturer illustrated this subject by s,xi.
king examples Of the effects of this divine
principle, as in the case Of the French officer,
and NAPOLEON, who conceived a strong friend
ship for his guide while ascending the St Der.
nard, showing that true Friendship excludes
all haughtiness, and is egualzing in its effects.
He traced this principle through all its many
ways Of ministenng TO the happiness Of man
kind-its effects upon Nauons, States, families
and individuals, binding each 10 the other.
F., The eloquent and learned lecturer closed his
lecture by saying that we may be truly linked
TO each other, in what is good, and interviewer
as il were with God, so as to be filled with the
spiri, Of Friendship. Our Creator must be our
Friend and the friendship must be mutual, and
thus the rock ofthe affections is the solid appro-
val of reason. Friendship fills all Heaven
| God being the source and center, as our Creator
we contemplate Him in wonder, as our Benefac-
tor and Preserver, we feel grateful, as our Faith
er we reverence, as our King we obey, ms our
God we adore, but as our Friend we love him.
And thus it is that this principle
| 'Serves the viriuous mind to wake,
As the small pebble strs the peaceful lake,
The center movs ed. a circle straight succeeds,
Another stih, and still another spreads.
Erie a,whh frat oil uhvas