New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-07
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS;
BY REV. JOHN LORD. OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IReported for The Tribune.

BY REV JOHN LORD. OF MASSACHU SETS.
Reported for The Tribune.
The Fifth Lecture of the course before the Mer'
camille Library Association was delivered on
Tuesday evening, at the Broadway Tabernacle,
by Rev joins LORD, ID. of Medford9 Mass Not
withstanding the unpleasant weather, there was
r large audience in attendance. The Lecturer
chose for the subject of his remarks the History
and Character OF Gustavus Adolphus King OF
Sweden" Among the many wonders olthe HVlth
Century, said Mr. Lord the appearance of
a new Star in the Northern horizon, which shone
at first with a feeble light, but continued to in
crease in brightness until it even surpassed the
planet Jupiter, and changing its color to deep
crimson. faded from the sight. The most inter
esting circumstance connected with it is, that It
never changed its position. In the infancy of
Astronomical Science it was deemed more desi.
rable to ascertain its perfect character than to
account for its presence. The hero who forms
the subject of this lecture was the person whose
birthwas supposed to be ioreshadowed by this
mysterious occurrence, and when consider the
extent of his couquests, his influence among the
Princes of Europe, his great abilities, and the
melancholy circumstances OF his caiamlto0s
DEATH we may say that the Astronomical prophe-
cV comes down to US with the stamp OF fulfill
ment. He was not merely great military
prodigy, but profound statesman and Christian
ruler; he was not only the first great hero OF the
thirty wears war, but the greatest that Protest
antism has ever produced, with the eXcep,
ton OF Oliver Cromwell alone. The lecturer
here said he would contne his discourse
to that part OF the career of Gustavns
which represented Professionalism struggling
oyoipet thn daSnAtic nj CothSlICcm
The interest attached to heroes and battles said
the lecturer, does not depend upon the number OF
the Combatants so much as on the greatness of
the principles with which they are associated.
1t is the magnitude OF the cause which gives to
the character OF Gustavus Adolphus al lis fame
and greatness and claims the admiration Of the
world, He is intimately connected withthe great
struggles Of the Protestant Reformation, The
Thirty Years W ar was unquestonably the boldest
and most important which Europe has seen since
the Ctusodes, and like them it was n religious
war, since religious ideas gave rise to it. twas,
however unlike these wars in this respect, it was
neither aggressive in its character, tanatcal in its
spirit, nor unfortunate In Its termination. Its
ultimate result was glorious, tor it secured the
balance of power in Europe and religious liberty
IN Germany, which latter is more to be priced
than the hives and fortunes OF whole generation.
This was an inevitable event for Protestant Ger
many, burning with an enthusiasm which we can
with difficulty appreciate, must in time have
yielded to despotism, religious and political,
to Rome and Austria, or have resisted to the
death. It's people We're doomed to be slaves to
priests and kings without hope for long coming
ages, or were to be given over to an angry,
savage and cruel contest. The Emperor of Ger
many and the Pope, with their numerous allies.
spiritual and temporal, had resolved that Luthers
doctrines should be suppressed aud that the lib
efty, which his adherents enjoyed Of worshiping
God according to their own convictions should be
taken away from them. OF course, the liberties
of an enlightened people were not to be taken
away with impunity. Their tyrants would not
listen to reason, and the emancpated millions
would not yield to error snd superstition; the