The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-27
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.
"A Reformor of the Fifteenth Century. :,

ga feicrmer of the Fifteenth Century,.
Quite a large audience was in attendance last
evening at the Forteth street Presbyterian church
to listen to the second OF course OF lectures de-
liyered by the Rev. o. b. rockingham. The subject
selected by the speaker was "A Reiormer OF the
Fifteenth Century,
When Luther, said the speaker, stopped az Worms
on his memorable pilgrimage he there saw In the
hands OF an obscure but devout priest portrait
which was the reproduction OF handsome features
That had once been famous in Italy. or the man rep.
resented In that picture is suggested re-
former OF the fifteenth century Italy 400 years ago.
when he lived was in all the wondrous beauty OF
her landscape. Whether in natural growth or In
her stately palaces ana imposing edlces, she was
stl externally in her Augustan age but her liberties
gone, and the rights OF ner citizens impaired.
Under condition OF internal anarchy the people
Ned from the country TO the towns, from the towns
to the cities and in each succeeding resort found
their rights still invaded ana the decay OF
thai in the thirteenth century Italy had a
population OF 100000, In the fourteenth
| but one tentn--lSo0 0O-and In the fifteenth
| spl one-tenth OF the preceding century. or $4,000
| only. Under the great relapse Naples suf-
tered, as dId Venice, and Rome fastened to pagan
! ruin. In Florence dwet and governed Lorenzo the
| Magnificent. lie lived IN luxuriance and feasted
among iabed grandcurs. He was the patron OF art
the stimulator OF literature and the helpmate TO
genius. HIS court was the most bril- liant OF hts time.
Among those who appeared upon the stage was the
plain, uDpretenulng and Jealous monk. AS
OF learning Lorenzo courted Inn. Soon the monk
grew IN power and influence. He had a
conscience and rlddled the abuses OF the time. He
was the Pere Hyaeintne OF his DAY. Soon Lorenzo's
fear was excited but death interviewed and destroyed
the monarch While in the midst OF his luxurious
pleasures. over the chaos and civil terror that sue
ceeded Charles viz OF France daring knight, de-
| scended from the Alps and swept over Italy with
SIXTY thousand men his march was VIC
halted by the pale face OF the monk,
who raised his crucfx and demanded
peace. The chief directed his band toward
The Eternal City, and the monk by the popu-
lar will rode into power and ruled Florence wisely
and well. His laws were Innovations, and his re-
forms new and startling 10 the people. The mob
soon deserted him, and through series OF struggles
III which he had the iicentous and mercenary Pope,
Alex andar w. for his foe he waned and was finally
condemned and suffered at the stake. such was
the immortal career of Sayonarola.
The speaker described the mnutest details OF the
great reformer's public life In thrilling words and
ms extremely melodramatc style was employed
with hue effect.
ssEnglish and American Literature.o
AT the Episcopal Church of the Reformation on
Gates avenue, Brooklyn, Mr.. George William Curtis
delivered very able, scholarly and interesting lee.
ture on "Literature.r There was large audience
who listened to the lecture from the commencement
to It's close with the deepest attention. The lecturer
confined himself TO very comprehensive survey,
chiefly OF English and American literature and refer
red to the complaints and bemoanings especially
in ls09 and 1899 aud throughout the commencement OF
this century to the Ednburg ReDielr to an article BY
Mr. Fisher Ames ana other writers that there was no
native American literature. The lecturer then re-.
erred TO the which were SAID TO be helpful 10
tho development OF national literature, and en-
deav0reu to Snow that there were incidents IN the
HISTORY OF America tnat were quite inspiring rs
those thntwere connected with English history. As
Illustrative VI this nc mentioned that that very
spot. Long Island, Nathan Hale, q captain IN tue
American cavalry, died as nobly for mis- country, and
~ a lua
defenders OF me pass at Ihorln0pyle Mr. Gurus
was OF an opinion that il WAS Disgrace 10 the Legis
lature OF America that the copyrights Of foreign
authors were not protected. Tie thought that was
Que reason ana powerful one, that we had
not larger number OF authors In America.
They had to compete with the cheap ed
tons Of the English standard authors. Fisher
Ames says shat the American mind has been too
much devoted TO the making OF money, and, IL was
true, the intellect OF the country had been devoted
10 ts and the extension Of political liberty. There
was another element wnleh was frequently omitted
IN lhis estimate, ana that was that Americans were
tue inheritars OF that which was the greatness OF
England and In the pages OF stuart Mil we may
ina CLEANS ~ q liberty that John Adams never
saw. la her VEINS was the blood OF the Pilgrim
Fathers, aud the literature oil England was dear To
her sons on that account America had established
her liberty and IA tnat liberty The heatt 81 England
hcat ~ sympathy. All that was required was that
her people should exercise patience, ana the songs
the wOrus, the fragments OF that winch was now
American literature would, " We waited with va.
tencc, be found be ultimately the seeds Of great
aud comprehensive literature
ALLEGED 0UrgAGIs ~ NORTH CAeOidNA-PRoCLA-
MkrIOS or THE uoyEKNoE.-6Oyerg0r Uo.den of
North Carolina, has published proclamation
threatening thar unless recent 0utlaRes M LeuOr,
Jones' orange ana Chatham counties cease he VIII
cal out the militia. The Governor says:--in Lemon
aud Jones various thelts and murders have been
committed jals nave been forcibiy opened ana the
prisoners taken thence have been murdered; an
urccr OF the law has been wayaid and slam ON the
pablo highway, and another onicer OF tile law has
been slam the open day while engaged IN ms ordt-
nary ayocations; private dwellings, have been en-
loied and the occupants terrified and some OF them
whipped or murdered; Others have been shot or
hanged cruelty beaten. In Chatham the jail has
| been forciby opened and prisoner has been
| liberated aud r. now at large IN orange she
| ja lias been f0rcbly opened and two prisoners
taken out and shot, ono Of whom has died OF his
wounds. Three other colored men have been hanged
untl lhey were dead, one has been cruelty mutiiaed
and otners nave been whipped. White citizens have
been injured. insuitod and terrded. Tho University
az the state, sacred 10 tho OF learning, has
been repeatedly Invaded by bands or armed men In
4 disguise on horseback and acts OF violence have
been there perpetrated on unofendlug citizens aud
II .AFY a. in