Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-31
For the Eastern TimrS
Lectures before Lyceums.

Mr.. EDITOR If you can afford the space
in your valuable sheet, please allow me room
to say word about lectures and lecturers in
general, and of our Lyccum in particular.
AT meeting of the members of the Lyce-
um, EeId in the Council Room Friday evening,
March 25th, the following gentlemen were
chosen board Of officers for the ensuing year:
John Hayden, Esq, President DR.. Israel Put
nam, Vice President f. S. ]. Nealley, Esq,
Treasurer and Collector Hon. F. HI. Morse,
Hon. B. Randall, Hon. d. G. Magoun, ]. B.
Swanton, Esq, J. T. Gilman, Esq, Curators.
1t must be source of qualification to all
who desire the elevation of society, to see the
growing interest manifested in our Lyceum.-
II speaks well for the city, and will serve 10
remind our City Fathers that larger and more
convenient place is needed for its accommoda-
ton.
No medium of impariing instruction to the
people is so sound, judicious and efficient, as
these lectures, when they are directed by lib
eral views, supplied from minds well stored
with erudition, science and polite learning
yet nothing is more easily abused, and in
nothing ought the public to be more cautious,
than in discriminating between the frivolity
and Opinion-tinted character of these lectures,
and the genuine banquet newly prepared by
the rich mind and fruitful genius.
The great ia of lecturing is yet desidera-
tum II wants moro elevation and loco snner-
fciality more Of solidity and substance and
less of sound and show; more of ends and
aims and less Of opinion more Of principles
leading to correct modes of thought.
There IS philosophy of life worth cultivat-
ing. There are spiritual entities around US 10
which we are linked by ethereal chains
There are higher sources of enjoyment than 10
heap up piles of gold and ingots Of silver
There is something besides bread and water
to be cared for in this probationary world of
ours, inhabited by living spirits.
The discipline of the mind, the symmetrical
development Of mans higher powers, the @s-
thetic evolution of himself, the brighter gems Of
literature, the clear fountains of knowledge and
religion, these are the streams in which man
should slake his qnenchless thirst and it
should be the object of these lectures to expand
the intellect, enlarge the heart, and impress on
society more of the lineaments of the skies,
and bring it nearer to its great Original.
Some of the lectures which we have had be-
fore our Lyceum, have been of high order;
such for instance as the Rev. t. Starr Kings,
Rev. j. S. G. Abbott's, Rev. Mr.. Hedges,
Rev. A. l.. Stones, and the two poems by the
Rev. Mr.. Pierpont and John G. SAKE, Esq.
We are glad to see growing interest in our
city, in the sublime idea of poetry. ...-
To the poet, the unseen halls of paradise
On his glad sight are opened wide;
And all in fancy's land that lies
Is viewed, as in some crystal tide.
lis worth an age of worldly power,
To live the poets thoughts an hour.
PIERPoNT.
Is there bard whom Natures self approves,
Whom Genius honors, and whom virtue loves,
Whose pensive lays, with noblest impulse
fraught, n .4
Enlarge the mind, and elevate the thoughts
lis Pierpont-bard of New England praise,
Unsullied minstrel of degenerate days
Thou. fit to stand where Shakespeare stood of