The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-13

fully directed He was by nature ana in act true
reformer. The subsoil OF his mind was OF deep
" religious cast. Aristdes before him possessed
ere ater moral epthusissm; Aristotle after him,
more subtity and logical analyss; but Socrates
hsd faith 10 the right dviae, eternal and this gave
him his wonderful influence. He was the Luther
of Athens, and found out In questioning bis own
soul the question of social reform, and saw that
in q corrupt society he himself must effect that re-
form.
Among the Athenians the Delphc Oracle was
tie public representation OF Divine WIN, the
great religious embodiment and exponent. That
Oracle pronounced Socrates the wisest OF men
and impressed with the conviction that it was the
voice OF God, he went forth to his peculiar WORK
He felt himself thenceforth missionary to labor
with the wicked, maynard Afhenlans. (Want OF
time preventod the lecturer from here giving Soc
rae7 version Of his evil ge1ius) He went forth to
show the difference between knowledge and opIn
ion. He then dedicated himself to his work-re.
strlcted his desires to the simplest wants OF nature
went barefoot AMI wore the coarsest clothing sum.
| mer and winter. He could not affect ascetism,
| however. He was simply indifferent to the lesser,
grosser cravings OF nature. Though cold water
man generally, he could d link a whole company OF
bottle-heroes under the table and go forth ia the
| morning perfectly unmoved and as if nothing had
happened to discuss in the workshop, market
places, and schools of Sophsts He would take no
gifts, not wishing to be indebted and supplied bis
| lew desired by his own manual labor. Great as
was his wise ON, it consisted not in knowing mole
than others, but in being conscious CT ignorance in
those particulars where he mad no real knowledge,
and in applying himself to acquire in the clearest
extent, that knowledge. He went from place 10
qiace, from man to man in society, ready TO talk
with any one upon any sui ject. His manner was
| so simple frank, and communicative, that no one
could refuse to listen to, or answer him
lie would sit down in the workshops aad mar.
ket houses first entertain with light topics and
humorous jests, then gradually in tones OF string
| melody he would unfold t. eager listeners, views
of eternity Of mans accountability and the future
existence. But to the unfortunate S0phists W. o
would undertake to argue with Socrates Com
mencing with simple questions, a profession 10
| learn, he would gradually encirce his bewildered
antagonists with web OF argument from whence
they could not escape. Then he would torture and
execute them as it were, until finally mortified and
beaten, they were glad to make their escape from
his tongue of IRE and the jsers of the popuace. He
the idol of large circle of intellectual young
nen-yet, by his open rebukes and broad political
retor matory and regious teachings, large amount
of grudse gradually accumulated against hin.
Alter conducting this wal fare for more THAI 30
years against the sins and toies OF the Ahenians,
Socrates was finally arragned a state criminal
a. seeking to overthrow the social political and
theological views of his fellow citzens-was con-
cemned to die by public council, and suffered
death at the hands of the state from poison. We
have not space to give the affecting description OF
the eloquent lecturer of the heroic, fearless and
christian action of Socrates when on trial, when
awaiting death and his last hours. He met death
without fear and died as he lived consistent ex'
ponent of the right and true. We have thus given
a feeble outline of an address which We trust yet
to see in full in print.