Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-01-31

} HiisHtu pcH VI iIleHu, TeldtlVe lO LT.
Woods recent lecore hefore the Mecban.
les Association We we've absent from
town when the lecture was delivered, and,
Of course, are unable to say anything in
regard to il ourselves. One thing 10 very
certain. there is no man whose character,
mind and motives are more mi su derstood
than Percy Bysshe Shelley. lie was a
man Of great, magnificent intellectual ow-
ers and these abilities have stretched so
lar into the FUTURE his discussion of ques-
tons was so deep, so metaphy sical that
people have been lost in mist, in a,tcnp-
ting 10 fa,hom him, and hence he has
been uncerimoniously demo uncel as an in
flel. a man OF purer moral character, Of
greater refinement of intellect, and of more
actual reverence for the divine character
Of Christ, has never lived. But his wor'is
are too deep to be popular, and heIce he
has been denounced as dangerous man.
Mr.. EDITOR -
IN common with all our citizens, ! en-
joyed, highly, the classical and eloquent
Discourse of DR.. Woods, delivered before
the Mechanics Society OF this town. From
the remarks Of Philhelenist and Philalc tn
list, in the Newport Advertiser, il would
appear that DR.. Woods lecture has sug-
ges'ed many interesting topics of conversa-
ton and controversy. hold this to be the
true use of Lectures, and shall offer no
apology for making a few remarks upon the
course of argument pursued by DR.. Woods
He took for his text remark thrown out
by Shelley calculated 10 disparage Christian
ty, and to deny lis influence in promoting
social progress. He took this remark as
his text, because it is an universal nfid
not ion, ha, Paganism is more favourable
than the Christian system 10 the Progress
of Humanity. Now there we're but two
courses for DR.. Words to pursue. The
first as sugg estyd by fii'Lellenist was TO
meet the assertion OF >'aley by coun,er-as-
ser,ions. If he had adopted this course
leave YOU to Judge what qualification he
would have afforded to his hearers, and
wha. applacse would have followed the
close Of his lecture. The second course 10
pursue, was TO come out like man, and to
contras, in the vivid light Of truth and his
tory. Pagan civilization with Christian civ
4 IA NJ
sued proper line of argument to confu'e
Shelley, by showing that in Pagan civiiza-
tion as represented by ancien, Greece and
ancient Rome, but more particularly by ar
cient Rome, there were sure and certain
elements of decay, ruin, and barbarlsm, -
His lecture was confined to this first por-
tion of the argument. But if time had al
lowed, instead OF leaving the argument to
be completed by every mans experience,
and reflection he ould have followed TO
its conclusion, the train Of thought that he
suggested, and shown that in Christian civ
iLation there are sure and certain elements,
ensnring the continued Growth and per-
manont progress Of soc,ty. To establish
his position, and to carry cony icion TO tho
mind, il was necessary for him 10 take
near view of Pagan Sorietv, in It's best es-
tate, and to demonstrate by the ties, mOny
of history. the radical imperirctions which
entered into the constitution OF that society.
lie gave mastery exposition of the rc.a-
tions which subsisted between the different
classes of individuals, Incorporated into Ro-
man society, and of the tyranny, unhappi-
ness, vice and misery that grew out OF those
relations. Candor must lead 10 the ac-
acknowledgement, that the organ zallon OF
Roman society was uniavourable TO social
well-bcing. 1t did not contribute TO the
development of individual man. 1t crushed
the affections and stlfed prolific source OF
individual excellence. 1t presented no re-
liable means Of cuItivating mans moral
powers, and thus fitting him for self-gov-
ernmen,. Ancient polty regarded man as
a creature born to live and die for the state,
seldom recognizing that immortal nature
which gives to mans existence lis great
value and its tue dignity, 1t must be ac-
knowlcdged, however, that the apolhesis
| and deifcation Of Heroes and distinguished
uen, in Greece and Rome, exerted an ele-
| vang influence upon character. The no
| be games of Greece, too, praised by Phil
| hsenist. awakened a generous desire for
excellence, ard stimulated perhaps not un-
frequently, to gland displays of heroic ac
ton These usages, however, be must
considered as imperfect methods of securing
the supremacy Of justice, honour and vir-
tue. DR.. Woods illustrated the principle
of tyranny, and the principle Of servltude
| incorporated in Roman civilization. lie
referred to the law Of Debtor and Creditor,
and asserted that it was exercised with tre
mendous cruelty upon the Plcbians at Rome.
AS an example of p; trojan oppression un-
der this law, he asserted, that, at certain
period of Roman history, under certain
conditions, the cred tor nigh; take posses
sion of the Debtor, might put him to death,
or sell him on the other side Of the Tbcr (;