The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-15
The Independent Course.


Ic may be quite unnecessary to more than
call attention to this course Of lectures, which
are to commence on Friday evening of this
week. But we cannot refrain from impressing
with energy, the duty of sustaining the Course
as well as to allude to the pleasure that will
be derived from listening to it. i
1t is an unquestioned fact, that the series Of
Lectures of this course, for the three years
past, aided immensely in keeping The courage
OF the people Of this city and vicinity up to the
high and holy duty of prosecuting the war to
the bitter, and, thank God, the successful, end
1t finally reached. The line of argument ad-
Vanced by the accomplished speakers was i'm
pregnable, and was assented to joyfully by the
loyal bands, numbered by thousands, who were
swayed by their power. The good they did
will never be written, because, in its full ex-
tent, it has never been conceived. 'o Oh
The whole aspect is now changed. The
murky clouds of war are all dispelled. The
heavens, chung with black" are now arched
with the golden bow of peace. "The winter
of our discomfort is made glorious SUMNER
We may be apt to forget our duties growing
out of our glorious deliverance. Let it be
recollected, if there is that danger, that 'peacc
brings its duties equally with war"
The benevolence induced by the war was
nobly responded to by the Courses hitherto
delivered. The large overplus, carefully hus-
banded, did great work in a time of great
need.
But what now can be needed from such a
source, when ''the morning stars are hymning
peans OF joy, that peace again pervades the
land"? The answer is simple, but conclusive
Inc dwartsh slave has risen to the noble stat
ure OF mani The chains have fallen away
from the limbs of four millions of immortal
souls! They stand up erect, simple, artless,
Ignorant, but with beseeching tone which
should move the hardest heart, and crave that
they may be fitted for the position to which
GOD IN his goodness has elevated them. Not
for ourselves, they say, so much as for these
children and youth-young men and maidens
who are, for good or evil, to be part and par
eel OF this land Give them life, as you have
given them freedom, and the philanthropists all
over the civilized world shall crown you with
shall return the blessing by the most devoted
service and love to the country that has
brought them out of the pit!
This is the work. Is it not sufficient to in
duce every lover of his land to lend his triAing
aid. The Course of Lectures is for this end.
Economy in every expenditure, and the result
to be devoted carefully in educating these op-
pressed children of the South. Teachers are
to be sent to them from this city; the good is
not to be far off and doubtful, but immediate
and certain. Whatever is gained from these
Lectures is to- be put into the hands OF the
Society here to send capable teachers to lift
these people Intellectually to that position
which for years they have been politically de-
MED. Is ii not sufficient? To be engaged in
any way in promoting the glorious close of the
war was an honor which will never fade from
the lives OF those who helped out the great
event. To be engaged in lifting these children
OF the South into intellectual lite carries equal
ly glorious results. Let every one of our citi-
Zens, who rallies under the banner of the one,
put himself promptly into the ranks Of the
other. Ills small thing comparatively; but
small things move the world. Let the profits
exceed those of former years, as this latter day
Is more glorious than the former.
The brilliant men and women who are to
lecture this season, need not a word from u.s.
Their fame has long since been established.
They will bring us American gold for our cur
rency. Enriching ourselves by their words Of
wisdom, We shall have the proud satisfaction
Of knowing how inestimable are the riches we
are comforting on others, in the very midst oil
this refined enjoyment. Let it be observed,
also, that the Lectures are to commence or
Friday of this week, and that those who would
secure season tickets, should do so at once,
that they may not fail by delay, of the great
treat in store for them. seJ
What more can we say F? What more need
we say? Only to enjoin it upon every man
and woman in our city who love their coun-
try, to see that this series of Lectures is sus-
tanned beyond precedent,-and the blessing Of
God and of His downtrodden children will,
follow for good deed done, as surely as the
harvest follows the sowing of the seed !