The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-07-06
A Tribute to the Memory Of
Dickens, by tho Rev. VIM.
r. Alger.

On tho Sunday following tho
death Of Charles Dickens, tho
Rov. Mr.. Dunn Of tho Beach
street PresbytcrianC Church, Boston,
preached sermon entitled CYAN
ity of Vanities," in which no at.
tempted to show that tho lifo Of
tho great genius has boon Ia
mcntablo failure. In tho course
of his sermon, he said: "AIr. Dick
ems may have written many noble
things, in which wo rejoice, but
he has written and read many u
line which is deadly poison. -
Whether tho sermon was duo to
n pardonablo ignorance or an un.
pardonableswish for q sensation,
or q mixture Of both, nobody
knows and nobody cares, for Mr..
Dunn is q man of no mark. Tho
true sentiments Of Boston towards
Dickens, wcro we'll presented yes
terday, by tho Rev. William n.
Alger, in the Music Hall, his sub
ject being "rho Sword and the
Pen, with tribute to tho memo
ry Of Charles Dickens" In allu-
ding to tho power Of novclists,
and secular writer's, ho said that
in tho pages Of the thcologians
the name Of Christ is constantly
used, but it stood for II character
Of hidcous cruelty. There was
more Of real Christianity and self
sacrificing love in Dickens do
scliption Of the child in tho Lon
don Hospital, than in all tho pom
de"ous tcncts written by John
Calvin. A high place among those
who havo distinguished them
selves as the best instructors of
mankind must be assigned to
Charles Dickens. His moral vir-
tue and tenderness WAS eXtraordi-
nary, and he cxccllcd Us II teacher
ofpietv and virtue; II proof. Of pi-
cty was manifest in every allusion
he made TO God, or tho unknown
aid infinite. Tho happy spirit
i'm which ho contemplated all OBJ
jcets, was central consideration
in his whole literary life. His
kindly pen photographed all with
a touch Of beauty. Ho never
dipped his pon III gall, but in tears
and his hearts blood. Tho vast
nlmbor characters with which
he pcoplod an enchanted world OF
li{h arc rcWarkablo for their truth
1lllnooo Of representation and NOR
ality Of effect. Such man puts
tho human raco in his dobt. lilo
emancipatcs and cnrichcs by the
sublime touches of his gonius.-
What sunshine ho shou into tho
homes Of mon what flood of
happiness ho dispensed TO tho four
cornors Of tho globo! Standing
bosido tho doad Dickens he would
say: Tread not on him. Peaco
Tho man is noble, and his fame
folds in tho orb Of tho earth. If
he did not bolievc tho orthodox
croods of tho Church, ho had rom
!derod great service to Christianity
by unveiling' tho fNllacios Of tho
Church. IIo had novor written
ono word Of attack upon morality
or religion, and he should not DO
subjected to tho miserable standard
of tho soctarian convccticlc. Dick
ems did writo for tho applause Of
tho world he sacrificed for truth.
In his writings ho directly copied
tho example Of Christ, who took
littlo childron in his arms. Evcry
touch from tho genius Of Dickens
in rctoronco to a child was OK
trcmely beautiful, and had borne
fruit in soltoning tho hearts Of his
readers. Dickens is dead, bnt his
works will live. These pages Of
tenderness, which no one could
road without tears, will always
receive love and honor.
We can scarcely express strong
ly enough our own entire concur
rcnco in every word Of tho above,
uttcrod in favor Of Dickens.
Charleston Courier.
L.