New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-10
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
The Social Life OF England, as bearing upon
Popular Education, about the Times oil
WielH and the Lollnrds.
ny PROFESSOR MAIIAN.


Popular Education, about the Times oil
WieIiT and the Lollnrds.
BY PROFESSOR MAIAN.
The closing lecture of the South Brooklyn
Course was delivered on Tuesday evening. by Prof
MAHAN He said that the subject he had chosen for
this evenings lecture was the 3ocs Life OF England
bearing upon Popular Education, about the times Of
Wielif and the Lolards He remarked that the period
was highly poe,ical one, and has the advantage of
being illustrated by one of Engands greatest poets
Chaucer 1t is also period Of Progrc5s-it Is work
Ing age Men were everywhere waking up from the
Crusade fever which had long engaged their greatest
efforts and their best energies and were beginning TO
learn that there was field home wherein they
could GO work and correct the numerous abuses under
which Europe was everywhere groaning. And this had
been one OF the incidental good effects OF the cruaing
spirit Men returned from their long pgrimages 20 tho
East something better thsntbey went forth While they
ost,ther enthusiasm they had purchased IN as stead
store Of good sense aud had learned 20 use their own
eyes-and this knowledge was put out 20 interest and
put to good in the progress of society The lecturer
remarked that he might prove this by numerous In
stances but single would be sufficient and would,
perhaps relieve the edousne's OF this lecture, and
show the moral bearing OF the Crusaies clearly
than any reflections ON the subject The lecturer here
read copious extracts from Chaucer describing the
enthusiasm Of Joinyle when starting his first cru
sadC and he remarked that these little extracts not only
show the spirit with which the better classes Of Crusaders
thousand sonnets But The good knight (Joinvlle re-
turned from the CusGdes asadder aud wiser man than
when he set forth He had gone out 20 do the Lords
work but he returned, fully satisfied that tho Lords
work WINS to be done home. The very excuses
OF the Crusades had produced in many minds decided
revolt against the system of nposure by which they had
been ftered This we NAV zee by the evidence of those
who Travelled there Thus Vaudeville enumerates
four places in which John the Baptists skull was kept
and then says: "On which Of these places IL Is 10 be
found the Lord only knOweth but whichever Il be- the
Lord IL doubtless well pleased
FIVE look more closely OF the times which form the
subject ohs lecture shall see that there was IN Eng
Hsh society a system Of Popular Education which
far more effective than apt TO think possible At the
present day and which those who up the period be.
fore The Reformation under the title OF Dark goa will
wonder at BY a system Of Educa'ion do not mean a
system of Common Schools. Primers, states spellsg-
booke &c were of course unknown In the times OF the
Lollards When speak Of Education would apply 10
TO any process by which the mind u awakened and tina
elements OF truth end morality developed In ths sense
society was in the times Of Wclh, vast perpatetic
school, and every teacher. Ths elements OF
society flowed together "a freely and mingled with each
Other az naturally the FREQ and easy HE u the
camp The eject Of all this in producing general intel
lgence may be readily Imagined. Wherever men wero
collected they surrounded by innumerabe teach
ers In the camp in the held and IN the shop-at home
and abroad they were constantly brought in contact
with army Of frari and priest and teachers, and
rnnsrels and host more Of experienced Vagaoonds.
In these days "the schocmaster was truly abroad
fLaughterl And II men wanted 20 be sarnct,
hey had only % keep their eyes open But the learn
ipr OF those days was NOT very great Whatever
were ts Deficiencies, however had the merit Of max
in itsef popular and generally accessible Learning
mingled on easy terms with the moses Il was 40.
afraid Of selling It's clothes Thus s. Francis d Ass
went on day 70 talk with greatl0rd upon alearned
subject when he told to 20 70 the pigs, and wal
low in the dirt with them and tell them the principles
he had 70 ably discussed" He went his way and the
fret drove Of swine he across, Ibid down and wal
lowed with them and Their returned and told 40" ne
had obeyed the command This il tolerably cor.
rect picture Of the part tcted By learning In that age
Thus al Oxford. most OF the students were young
men who had TO work their way along ~ begging by
turning Ministries. CEAucer very naypy uescEiDes th1
elsfs oi students
"A CLERK Of oxensorde also,
That unto loglke hadde long ygO.
AZ lene was his horse - Ia rake,
And lie Yves rot nght undertake"
Think az we may Of this sort Of men, Elro1s was
sur led with every so OF teachers, and their ssfans
was repeatedly difused among the masses Wn1eyeF
profession men adopted whereby 70 obtain iEs-'
hood they sure 20 traced They would roam ron
cour,to court and unyefsiyto university Among INC
hundreds Of thousands WHO went 70 Jerusalem and 70
Rome in courts universities and eanps these men scre
busy in hen several ayoeatioEs, discussing snd yea
All through the Day and finding every hero wlnnin3
.,reDtve audiences AZ 20 the Domestic Life OF ta 20
rod there was hardly enough Of known 70 make osI
APPRECIATE all It's blessings and eomforEs All 1855
felt theuseves to oepgr sad 90 a.
Ideas Of Hone foaed before their visions Only a. si
srres which IL was impossible 70 have reaiized Hsf
e,heIess there enough Of order 70 enable AZ 20
ckfrnt
.-nsi,ion Of en- old bachelor was - well sp2TecAted
80 Ar the present day. Hear what Chaaeef saysof
-1'- Thew live bat bride or a. a 0easts,
II fcer,e ard under none areste,
Therss a welded u his ertat
Iiveth sfe bisaf1l aud orc Eat
TrnSer tie yoke OF marriage ybonrd:
WEI LAY bis heart N Joy and bliss AROUND
Ae, lew more remarks the lecturer closed bis ds
eo,-,e AZ fllows TIE passion fer lectures, which has
ten 10 he 60 prevalent IN this century seems TO indi
es,e so1nerhing Ike rs,1gn 20 the more ancient sys
,en Of populag edueationthEt oy mesns Of Ord ia-
strsct.on The great masses Of worknginen would
rather have the substance Qf BOOK reeted 10 hem
nan read Themselves. Id potics and religion this
iss always been Ulderstood AID ia some measure acted
upop. PeThnps tie tune u no. iaT distant when every
kin4 OF kEOwleige VIII be tsugnt in the same way
go we shan have immense advantage sver al oer
sres In this way, friness Of information and scsH-
ray also VII be able 70 go hsDdnhsnd Bat bssging
the nlu. sLee Of the audience Ior having detained t5en
80 long over the grave Of ancient nation VIII pow
eose h Ieere hoping that the hour may NOT have seen
wholly misspent q well for us 20 ponder NE teach
nzs of TIE past; and gain therefs0u foc ne pressns
What shakspere ssys OF individuals y sth more Frse
OF nations:
"The EVIL men DO lives aiser them
The good a Oft inferred with taeir eonss
We should al mprys tme-and especially me
- t.. tina le