The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-05
LOCAL MATTERS.

, LOCAL MATTERS,
Mr.. Barbours Lecture The Lecture of r. John.
son barbour, Esq, before the Young Mems Asso-
ciaton OF this city, attracted large and intelli
gent audience. It was heard with profound atten.
ton and evident satisfaction The encomiums be-
slowed upon the lecture indicate in this as in pre-.
vious cases the high appreciation entertained in
our community for the efforts of the Association.
in this behalf IT is felt TO be gratifying circum
stance that this institution has been enabled In
procure from distinguished Virginians such testi-
monies for our common Christianity Lectures
ike these, carrying with them the weight of emf.
nent ability and high position must prove impor
tant uxiliares for the diffusion of those catholic
principles of patriotism and christianity upon
which this and similar associations all over our
country are founded.
hir. Barbour commenced his Lecture by an ailu
sion to fragment found in the Library Of the Va.
tican in which the celebrated Longinus after ann.
merating various philosophers. mentions s'pasl of
TArsus, the patron of an opinion net Yet fully
proved" This lie said should Indicate the eo,Ir,e
Of his remarks. Paul, on Mars Hill, amid dead
statues and living philosophers. had answered Pla
to's question, what is virtuel-and Pilates what
is truthf-wlth two words, Christ and the Resur
rect0n. Willie to iinger around these ancient pLi-
losopLera, which exhibited man searching Tor God
might convince the deuded victims OF modern
systems that their notions but the revival of
ideas that had besn tried and found wanting he
proposed TO deal with the objections ot modern
u
70 the power Of Christianity upon the heart where
II giVes TO suffering humanity the hidden and hap
py testimony TO its divine origin, he gave brief
sketch OF ss triumph over every form of opposi-
tion. To the cry, why it has not achieved more he
found an answer in the perversity that prompts
the scornful question. -
Warned By the fate of Origen, who after eau
meratng as he thought all the heresies of his time
was Informed of an hundred more, and that his
own system was the greatest of all, he should not
attpmDt z Df al fha yutsa oh
evolve their doubts as to the authenticity of Chris
tianity From the discussions of Sir VIM Hamil.
ton and Cousin, leading to the conclusion that
God is still unknocn and unknora6le he argued
that the philosopy of the safnhy was the infinite
of absurdity. 4
In Geology, with all it's discoveries of deep and
suggestive interest," he found uncertainty still and
nothing for the Christian to fear. He described
much to the entertainment of his audience, the
controversy, which having passed the Old Red
Sand, stone. now involved the question whether
the Siberian was upon the Cambrian, or the Cam
brian upon the Sberian-"Pean upon Ossa" or
"Ossa upon Pelham" Astronomy presented moth
ing in her discoveries contrary to the Bible Hum
boldt, after volume upon volume and appendix
upon appendix to describe the business, was com
PEELED to confess that the best Cosmos is found in
the l04th Psalm. Mr.. Barbour exposed the absur.
dty of the Plurality of Worlds" and pronounced
its theory of Jumps, and sparks, and incandescent
masses as the substitution of irreverent nonsense
for the rolling periods of the 10Th Psalm. He
showed in the discussion of these themes the fol-
lies into which great inteleets run when endeav-
oring to penetrate beyond what God has revealed,
and the superior wisdom of the Apostle, content
to say, none knoac ip part He quoted the beau
tiful and impressive language of Coleridge, the
great metaphysician, who after roaming amid
doubt and darkness, came back to . simple and
child like faith in Christ as the only rest for the
human soul Mr.. B. described with much elo-
quence the condition of our world if God has left
us without word of command, or token of love,
Introducing in this connection the dream of Rich.
ter, men crying 1--WE have no Father" and the con
ception of Lucfetius which describes creation as
ever falling into hopeless ruin His illusions to
the power of Christianity in healing the broken
heart of the penitent and giving rest to the human
soul, were pathetic and beautiful. He congratu
lated the members of the association upon the pc
culiar excellency of their organization In turning
to account all the available strength Of its mem
bers and saw in its library and rooms and pure So
cial intercourse, important aids to religion and
happiness. He b sought them to make Christiani
ty attractive He urged upon them the inpor
tance of selfconseousness the only security for
aim, consistency and beauty of disseminated
them to persevere, and warned them against that
excessive ardor which finds its grave in early dis
appointment We must labor and must wait, and
may rest upon the assurance that if our opinion
is not yet fully proved it is because the proof Il
in Heaven "J--
Gas Uorks-Under the skillfui management. oi
superintendent WYNNE, the new gas works have
been completed, and the city is now prepared to
furnish any quantity of beautiful gas to those who
wish TO consume it. When MIR. Wynne took
charge of the new works they were unfinished
and as they had been commenced and advanced
under the direction of another gentleman. Mr.. w
had some little difficulty in continuing the work
but with his keen foresight, fine business qualiti
cations and admirable mechanical genius, he soon
overcame all obstacles, and pushed it on to compile
ton as but few men in this community could have
done, turning out a job that would have done cred
it TO the oldest gas engineer in the country. AS
man for the post he fills, we doubt whether Thorn
as III. Wynne's equal can de found in the city. and
we really rejoice to know that Richmond has sue
cseded in finding one of her own sons fully coupe
tent to take charge Of her most important works.
LtlSine Houses-No. Fire Company is very
much in need of an engine house, and should have
one Immediately. The city can well afford to fur
nish houses for her firemen to keep their appaIa
tus in, and should do so at once. Ph9nix company,
from being one of the strongest and most energetic
In the fire department Is dwindling away contin
ually, solely becaure the members have no house
for their apparatus, and are unwilling to be put IN
stable. such as they now occupy Inc hremei
charge nothing for their services, and 1t Is there
fore as little as the city do TO give them cheap
comfortable houses TO keep their apparatus in.
Kossutk.-We invite attention 10 the advertise
ment of this celebrated trotter In another column
Kossuth is not only the handsomest light draugh
horse In the country, but he is one OF th'
best bred and fastest, as will be seen by refer
enee to his performances. II our farmers woult
turn their attention to bI eeding from such animals
instead of from the little Northern rams that occa
sonally flourish here for time, they would great
ly improve their stock of roadSters by adding xp
pearance. endurance and style TO them. kossuti
has twice taken the frat premium before the Stat
Agricultural Society, and good Judges pronounc'
| hin, vastly superior to any other horse for hsh
draught purposes in the State Of Virginia Hi
colts are head and shoulders above all Others Z
be found in this section of the country.
fmp4deat Eaeyants The residents Of Shocko
Hill have been very much annoyed 6t late by th
frequent visits Of two large male rnffiaps VIII
make 1t their business to call private families
when the ladies' are unprotected and demand foo
aud drink, ~ well ms money On Monday las
these two fellows entered residence on Leg
street. ask ed for the mistress Of the house. and o.
her making her appearance. ordered her 70 fur
nisa then, with dinners. Having rather NOR.
courage than ladies usually possess under sucn cir
cumstances, the madame summoned her servants
aud drove the ruiiiAns on These follows. Y
said are well known on tho hili. and as the u y
car do no more than imprisou them for . tuae. y
would be good policy in the neixhbors - eonsui
together, catch the infruders, and dose eaen o.
sh faxsf of sSyhfd