The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-27
Maj. Bingham's Lecture in Greensboro,
North Carolina.

An uncommonly able, scholarly, inter sting and
instructive lecture was delivered recently by Maj
Robert Bingham, of Mebaneville, N. c., before
the Greensboro Eclectic Reading Club and an in
telligent and interested audience. His theme was
"Some of the Claims of the Christian System on
US and our Civilization. Every sentence reveals
the thinking, the reading and the feelings of
scholar and a Christian The names of some of
the divisions of thought are given by Fl. G. H.,
in the North Carolina Presbyterian.
lst The value of the Christian System proued
from Testimony. lie quoted the testimony of the
ancient heatEen philosophers and statesmen, to
show their want of faith in their own religious sys-
TENS. He cited Scion, Socrates Plato Cicero and
Julius Caesar, to prove that the religions of their
day did not satisfy human wants. and as indirectly
attesting the value Of that Bible system which fully
meets man S moral cravings. He adduced the
tributes TO the sublime DOCTRINES faultess morality
and beDefcent fruits of Christianity, furnished by
such iDfidels and skepticS as Gibbon, Hume, Vol.
taire, Rousseau and Paine. He brought forward
as the best witnesses to the truth and worth and
power of the religion of Christ, some men who like
Locke, had cordially embraced and exemplfed its
teachings.
ID The speaker then argued The claims Of Chris.
tdntty, as the parent and guardian Of human free
dom, ana utetCectUJt QeCet0pnleRt.
3D. lie also touches apOn the influence of Bible
piety upon the social elevation of acon1an.
9th. The concluding head of thought was Chris
tdnity the moral antiSeptc Of modern cUilzattoa
This part of the ect possessed peculiar interest
and was presented with marked research and DOW.
err The lecturer affirmed that in the past but two
civilizations have existed, deeply impressing man
kind and perpetuating their results to the present
day. The first Of these was the Grecian, having
for its highest goal the development of esthetic
Taste. The second was the Roman having for its
chief oil jects the perecting of law and the unifca
ton of government Numerous and striking illus
trations were given of the traces of Greek and Ro
man civilization 10 be found in our own daily
language and practices 1t was argued that
these two vigorous civilizations of the past, hav
ing reached their goals, persisted. That they
died, as plants that have matured their fruits, and
that their ruin was fastened by that Individual and
social corruption, which pervaded all ranks in
Greece and Rome, when their power declined
The speaker then state mat third form of civil
zation is our own -ap to have for It's lead
ing object the nloStel material forces, The
question pressing for so.au0u is, how shall modern
civilization, having attained It's chosen goal, be
prevented from sinking into the ruin which has
oVertaken Its predecessors? Its principal aim,
material Development is comparatively low, and
may be soon reached. The very same moral cor
ruption which subverted the Greek and Roman
Commonwealth, and their wonderful civilizations,
is permeating all ranks Of modern society at pre-
sent What remedy have we for this natural and
spiritual decay which was wanting to the ancient
Greeks and Romans? The answer given by the
speaker was, that Christianity is only hope for
arresting the final destruction of modern civiliza
ton, by giving lottier goal to human endeavOr,
and by purifying the very fountain OF corruption,
mans depraved nature
He ended with some earnest appeals that how
the heart Of an humble and grateful believer. 1t
was fine and scholarly essay on the first part of
that comprehensive declaration of st. Paul in l.
TIM v: s: Goodness is profitable unto all things,
havtng promise Of the life that aOlo is, and Of that
which is to come.