The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-30

Inc nrss lecture OF the course provided by the
above excellent society, instituted for the purpose
Of adding to the stores of historical knowledge, and
of making American youth familiar with the history
Of their own country, was delivered on Thursday
evening" ct Knickerbocker Hall, before the officers
Of the society and large and respectable audience.
The subject selected by the lecturer for the eve-
ning-the Rev. Alexander H. Wright-was 'Irish
Protestants at home and in the United States" The
lecturer commenced by giving an extended view OF
Irish general history, comprising the period from
the first settlement Of Ireland in the remote ages Of
antiquity, down to the present day. OF course, in
such vast field of history, spreading over
so maby ages the historical sketch which
Mr.. Wright gave to the audience was
necessarily neagre Of detail and consisted of little
more than an enumeration of dates and names. 1t
is true that the lecturer as he passed rapidly over
ages, and disposed Of the history Of centuries in
moment of time, did not neglect to give his opinions
and draw his conclusions pertinent to the matter.
But in history the historians opinions are worth
thing without ample supply Of facts and details
to show their correctness, creating as it were the
opinion in the mind; nor are conclusions in histor
cal matters, even on any subject, admissible, I'M
less supported by a regular chain of previous de-
monstration The want of facts is the great Of
false reasoning and this want together with its
sequences was painfully predominant in this lecture
How, indeed, could it be otherwise? How can lee
turer present facts to his audience, when he under
takes to grasp within the limited time Of brief lee
ture range of history embracing sphere Of some
thousands Of years This defect, which spread over
the whole lecture might have been avoided had the
lecturer confined himself to more limited area,
which would then have admitted Of some minute
ness OF detail, which constitutes the real
charm of history. The fault of the lee
turer is characteristic of the Western World
it is like the graspiDg conduct of the single
handed farmer who undertakes the cultivation Of q
few more hundred acres of land than it is possible
for him to cultivate properly. 1t was an error Of
judgment which detracted much from the interest Of
the lecture. Much erudte research was manifest in
all this vast expanse which Mr.. w. undertook to
pass over; but his labor and research would have
produced better effect had they been more concen
traed. Bad concentration is in political affairs and
in governmental concerns it ia valuable and in fact
indispensable in literary productions.
Mr.. w. in his rapid review OF Irish ancient his
tory took too much for granted. Some, no doubt Of
his hearers would be led to suppose that early and
remote Irish history Is not most OF it merely egen-
Diary and merging on the borders of romance,
but that is all well ascertained instead Of being
security and contradiction.
Among other conclusions drawn by Mr.. w. there
was one which 1t would require more proof than he
presented to establish. MIR. W. laid down the posi-
tion that Ireland for many centuries, during which
all the rest OF Christendom was submitted to the
Papal rule, maintained Pertnacious opposition to
that universal religious empire. Ireland, as the lee
turer maintained, stood Alone and was evangelical
in religious principles; in other words, she was main
ly Protestant. We think that few persons can be
fouDd who will agree with this view of the case.
Whatever Ireland might have been before the COM
pefe establishment OF the Roman hierarchy, he
would be bold man who would deny that during oil
the period Of that extraordinary empire, Ireland was
one OF her most devoted vassals. The very reverse
Of the lecturers extraordinary assumption won
seem to be the fact. With the exception Of
the Greek church, no other church possessed name
or visible existence in all Christendom but the
Church Of Rome, after the subjugation Of the Al
bigenses and Waldenses and tue independent religion
lists existing the South Of France.
While all Christendom was subjected to the moral
rule Of the Roman church, and ali minds engulphed
in the sane mental seivirude, we are well rounded
in assuming that the Irish were much more jealous
towards Rome than other nations. The ardor,
warmth and sincerity OF their character suggests
this and precludes the suspicion of lukewarmness
their side in any cause they take up. We have no
hesitation in saying that during the ages OF which
Mr.. w. spoke, and in which he claimed for the
Irish partial, II not an entire, disafection and hos
tlity TO the Papal See, they, the lrish were more
bieoted devotees OF Rome than even the Spaniards;
nasmrcn as in religious matters the sincere and
warm hearted are mole earnest and consequently
more bigoted than Others. That the Spaniards were
less devoted Ronansss than the Irish Is proved by
the establishment of the Inqusition that people
which was rendered necessary by the great amount
OF dsaftction existing in Spain.
The universal dominion OF Rome over Western
ChIisendom, was, we believe, fully established In
the later part OF the ninth century, and from that
period till the days Of Ietze not breath Of heresy
20 called, was known to respire in Ireland. Yet the
lecturer warmly asserted that during the acknow-
lo1r 0f fhQ - nf Rnraa and fnr
many centuries formed an exception, and was what
Mr.. W. called evangelical" 1t would be diff
cult TO find out and locate any one of the many
centuries Of which Mr.. W. spoke confidently.
During these many centuries Ireland possessed,
according TO Mr.. Wright, the primitive vigor and
purity OF Christianity AS II was IN the days OF the
apostles while all other nations were subject TO the
predominant superstition. The idea Mr.. w. desired
to impress upon his audience was, that Ireland was
in fact Protestant for some centuries, and that
before the establishment OF the Papal dominion pure
Christianity was what is called evangelical, or
evangelical Professionalism, in the present day.
As c0iollary TO this proposition, which, with all
due defertDce 10 the lecturer, we can only regard
an arrogant and gretuitous assumption, II would
follow that 10 put down the Papal dominion and es
tebsh Professionalism, would be to solve every diff
Guilty and restore Christianity In all it, primitive vir
tue and truth. Mr.. W. has fallen INTO the common
error Of the Protestan. priesthood, who suppose,
and, HDbappily for mankind, incucate, virtually az
an axiom, that they, as Protestants are necessarily
In the tight when they prove that Others (the Ro.
man Cathoics) are in the wrong. This self-Rstter-
ing sentiment inyeterate with Protestant teach.
ers that for ages they have chiefly devoted their la
bors and preaching 70 attacks upon the Church Of
Rome and Der doctrines taking il for granted tiat
after proving their opponents TO be wrong they we've
necessarily right and that there existed no other
truth and right than their own system. Hence
they have dispensed with teaching Temperance,
Righteousness ard judgment to come, accoidiag to
mems conduct and behaviour" thinking, in their
pride and self concet, that to put down the R,man
tel act Va 10 MIA xqfftI iuQ
OF their teaching has been, that as the Roman
church Is manifealy wrong, ergo, Their Protestant
ism is necessarily right and there is no other alter
native, 10 other right way
Such, virtually, was the idea which pervaded the
whole lecture OF that evening. Mr.. w evidently be.
lieved that IL ProtestaLtsm or Eyangelicanism
should he fully established and the Papal system al.
together overfhrown, we should then be- all OF ms
who became evangelical, inst such o. we ought to
be and ali that IL MeIe good 10 lie. We shnnld be