New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19
GOLD HOMER"-A LECTURE BY W. PARSONS, ESQ
A lecture for the benefit of the Crctans was


A lecture for the benefit of the Cretans was
delivered by William Parsons esq, the English lecturer.
at the Church Of tho Rev. Dr. Crosby OF Fourth
and Twenty second-st. last evening. The subject
was " Old Homer" Br. Crosby presided. The edihce
thronged with apprecative and attentive audi,
reverence-the Bibe-the book OF DOCKS ~ was hiter
the production Of the inspired books OF Moses mat lne
tanned within themselves the germs OF inc IN
mi smile Of Lord bacon i'm which he compared
the book TO ship-"H the invention OF a ship
which carries riches and commerce rom ono par oi tho
regions Ia thought noble, how much more should the
~ fine and brnes distant ages into contact IA the
ship the distant lands This the lecturer sald would De
his Law text and he called attention the old ship"
Homer which had sailed the vast deep for nearly
three thousand years When tho world was ia infancy
when there were no nations. and when savage men
trayersed the face Of Europe. this book or rather
tins saving ark, contained al tue wisdom dn
and the learning OF its day, and has ever since
then been drifting up and down through the world until
II has appeared In every haven and been read by strange
eyes in every recognized language OF the globe Alex
his campaigns, did julius Caesar. did Napoleon
but modern structures while Thebes was yet
defended by ts hundred gates and sesoss sat upon the
throne Of Pharaoh, this book had lie ana existence
aud that the light OF nations which II describes has
passed away and that great cities lie PROSTATE IN
TO US with more than the Egyptians art OF old
It comes down 10 u.s. while temples have crum6led, with
out the loss Of single letter Why did lvef Because
it the peoples book; because the heart and aspira
tons OF mighty nation thrObbed WITHIN the Nolune ana
because IL represented the spirit OF the more than
any book that ever afterwatd appeared The lecturer
described the relative position which Homer held toward
the Greek people and drew distinction between the
power which tho minstrel OF old welded and the lnnu
possessed by the modern author upon the class
of readers for whom he composed his books. As a
point Of interest connected with the old bard the lee
said that when compare the ancient de-
scribed by Homer with tho modern inhabitants Of
Greece the points OF resemblance very numerous
Not only was the language-the Romac-essensily the
same but 20 was the mode Of thought and feeling. To
This hour the Ionan maiden down with her pcn,Ne
pray by the sacred WELL but while her people have
preserved their customs condition OF the people had
been very sadly changed Every rock and every river
be haunted by the shades OF mighty dead preserved
10y the genius and tie efforts u this book, but
Self tehassmeut paved the way
To Vluin bonds aud drspois sway
AMER tracing the life and times OF Homer, and giving
some very interesting sketches 81 contemporary fauthors
the lecturer said that the Crctan should remember tho
precept OF the moralist The man Is never lost Ill no
abandOns himself and the people never ceases To 1--we
until ceases 10 aspire and ceases 10 hope cordial
vote Of thanks gwen TO Mr. Parsons at the close "
the lecture.