Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-02-07

DR.. Bethune's Lecture.

| ne LECTURER commenced with dlsSertatiof
on the moral and philosophical structure o
words. In pure; incorporated language
like the Sapscrit, there are no synonyms, bu
as language becomes corrupted by admix
lure with other tongues, each word comes it
have several shades of meaning. Controver
sialists are often censured for battling abou
words. but words are The representatives. O
ideas hence he who wins the battle Of words
wins the battle Of ideas. Many quarrels have
been engendered. many legal-disputes arisen
in consequence of an indefinite application Of
terms. Every scholor ought 10 do all in his
power 10 remedy this want of precision in con-
versation and literature. Mathematics are the
foundation Of all learning, because they deal
in definitions.
The lecturer then informed us, that the SUD-
ject OF his lecture was contained in two words'
Work, and Labor. Work is the act OF some
Intelligent being beyond himself, for some
chosen purpose Labor is effort accompanied
by pain. That this difference is recognized
10 certain extent, is apparent from the fact
that the phrase ga skilful workman" has re-
ceived the sanction of common usage, while
we seldom hear of skilful laborer An au-
thor would not ieel flat,ered if you styled his
works labors, ihooeh the criticism might be
more palatabe, if you substituted the word,
elaborate. M -i2fi y ssggls lns .sloe3 ar
Work is conducive to health, mental, moral
and physical. We ought to love to work.
No man works eminently well, who does not
love to work. And the earnest worker for the
good of his kind, though he may meet with
present ingratitude, will receive the plaudts
ofposterity. 81 h -ra y a1A 1.a.ai
After speaking of the works of God, he
proceeded to criticisc certain style Of ser
monizing. The Bible contains English enough
for any sermon, and the speaker wished most
heartily, that ministers were not allowed 10
use word that was not contained within the
lids of the Bible. Ii a preacher was thus re-
siricted, he could preach the Gospel, and that
was all he ought TO preach. Such course,
however, would take the wind out of many
loud sounding document, land it would collapse
into pucker of nonsense.
The love of gain was supposed by nations
abroad, to be the handspring of our endless
activity. John Bull often sneers at our love
of money; but we inherit it with other Brit
ish traits. Any person who has travelled in
England, has discovered that an Englshman
thinks at least five times as much of guinea,
as Jonathan does of dollar.
The lecturer then spoke of the necessity of
frequent relaxation. Our amusements ought to
be such as will stir the life blood, and call the
muscles into activity. Out of door amuse-
ments are preferable. Ladies should exercise
more in the open air, and men should engage
in athletic games. As an instance of full and
perfect enjoyment of play, the speaker quoted
the following lines from Wordsworth's poem,
entitled the Kitten and the falling Leaves =
+" See the kitten on the wall,
Sporting with the leaves that fall,
Withere1 Observation-Disclosures three,
From the lofty Elder tree. 5r
Through the calm and frosty air,
OF this morning, bright and fair
Eddying round and round. they sink
Softly, slowly, one might think
From the motions that are made,
Every little leaf conveyed
Sylph. or Fairy, hithor rending.
To this lower world descending -.r. Ia.
Each invisible. and mute.
In his wavering parachute.
But the kitten, how she starts,
Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts,
First at one. then at its fellow,
just as bright, and just as yellow,
There are many now-now one
Now they stop, and there are none, .I.-.
What intenseness of desire
In her upward eye of fire,
With tiger leap halfway --- .7-a
Now she meets the coming prey,
Lets it go as fast. and then .-.-z.
Has il in her power again.
Now she works with three or four
Like an Indian Conjuror. .4
Quick as he in feats of art,
Far beyond in JOY of heart,
Were her antics played in the eye
OF ia thousand ISLANDERS by, .-.
Clipping hands with shout and stare,
What would little Tabby care,
For the plaudits of the crowd, .-
Over happy 10 be proud, ...
Over happy in the measure
OF her own exceeding pleasure"
In conclusion, the lecturer remarked that
work had received the stamp of nobility, from
the example of the Great Architect Of the uni
verse, and The humblest worker is honored by
the thought that the Great Framer of worlds
unnumbered, has displayed in grain of sand,
blade of grass, the tiniest insect, miracles of
skill.
O. The following resolutions were passed
at The Lincoln District Convention, held at
Wiscasset on the 2lth ult. uI va a7st
l. Resolred, That the Democratic Psrtye as
a National Party, is opposed 10 all agitation of
seriiunal questions and issues.
2. Resofrod, Tina, the principles of popular
sovereignty we're enumerated and adopted by the
Pilgrim Fathers, solemnls aproclaimed in The
Declaration Of Independence, recognized and
established in the Constitution of The United
States, sanctioned by the Congress Of 1850 and
that of 1858, and are now acknowledged as one
of the chief articles Of faith in the political