The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-28
IRE FIFTH UNIVERsALIsT CHURCH.
Walter 'ot:. the Christian Man Of Letters

Walter 'of:. the Christian Man Of Letters
sermon by tic Hev. Charles r. Lee.
On the morning Of yesterday goodv congrega.
tlon assembled Ia Chicker,ng Hall, East Fourteenth
street. 10 listen 10 discourse from Rev. Charles F.
Lee on walter Sect, the Christian Man Of Let
ters." The nall was wei, flied by very respectable
audience, ana after PRAYER and singing the youth.
fu divine announced his text Proverbs X, IL
1.-THE memory Of the just is blessed"
Upon shis with the life oil his illustration
he delivered discourse which Is briefly reported
as follOws:-The 18th OF August - memorable to
the civilized world and especially TO the English
speaking races, as the birthday OF two OF the most
remarkable men OF the past one hundred years We
may say tnat both were conqrerors-one by the
force OF arms ana the other by that OF intellect.
The career OF the first was meteOnc IN lis, begin
ming; that OF the second was longer In rising
into notice, bat when once prominent shone with
ever increasing lustre until closed by death.
i refer of course, to Napoleon BOnaparte and Sir
Waiter Scott. Two years ago the centennial OF the
first was celebrated. and few days since that Of
the second. But now, in all true estimation,
TIE FAME OF THE MAN OF LETTERS
has outstripped that OF the man Of war. The war.
Nor yet lives IN memory, but his name has lost the
false glory which once giideI 1t. To-Day pOsterity
calmly accords TO him all praise that is due, but
does not hide from sight what errors and msdeeds
were his, nor the fearful price wnloh bought his
But how different the writer stands the lest
of real greatness
his FAME INCREASED
instead OF DIMINISHING ana the ceIcbrations or the
late centennial Only convince the more now truly
great man was Walter Scott. ] wish 10 speak OF
the
MAN OF LETTERS
this time because feel that The value ana Deuuiy
OF his lie both as an author aud as man. deserve
at least . passing mention iron the ChiistIan put
pr. We Ike ancient aud sacred characters enforce
q truth in religion, and | cannot why mOoern
characters not be OF similar service IL u well
to depart | tnina, from the ordinary scrlptu. al
themes OF the pu Dit and see how those OF more
recent origin are IN striking conformity with cn,
ana show the influence OF Christ upon modern
thought and acton. Briefly let us consider the lie
and character Of him whose centennial birthday
recently ceebrated. l will not occupy your
time Win
HIS BIOGRAPHY
any further than Is necessary 10 point the moral
have IN view-the beautiful harmony Of genius
Here followed brief sketch OF the life OF Scott in
which was shown that he see .Lcd 10 have inherited
from his father and mother his beauty OF character
and wealth OF mind. Following IN more critical
noie OF his lie the speaker SAID Let me ask you
- consider nc the chief GAINS OF Sir Waiter upon
our admiration. First, LOOK at the author.
what legacy he LETT usl There are few
wers pr 90 e ws not a ' phosop ne
nor ma1 OF science, yet ! believe he mas done
more general good than II ne mad been either.
Science and mcraphys sizes must be addressed 10 The
few, wDue the WORKS OF Scott win the general H.
terest oil the many.
without instruction, ana they may be safely read BY
ALL His works are as pure ID Thought as the paper
on when they are printed. They ma, be pe.n!ed
10y the Young as Wen y tue Old mariner. Tney
are Jnst the PAGES IL be read ny the farmer. No
yontn maiden, forming an acquainianc, with
literature can afford 10 overlook sir Walter ) ott
One hie salts action, then. IN examining the works
OF the author is The Tact uDat MS was
viRTUOrs PEN.
No one can say that 1t ever had corruptlng innu-
ences ON the contrary. us influence was highly
beneficial. 10 may he thought by some that purity
OF tune IS OF but small account II writer - only
genus. There ~ ~ greater 1alIacy tnon tnls
writer NAV gam the attention OF more. perhaps. DY
a depraveI style, but now snamctuliy he uoes so.
J lie crown mat sucn genus wears upon lis brow
has moi bee won ny true ami Intrinsic merit, but
by pandeflng TO the most contemplate OF passions.
LET NO ONE THINK
that sin Is cXCuSibc III genius. THIS makes IL only
tue more ne xcusable. II a man can sing IN sweet
numbers or pour form burning eloquence, Cos
makes so much more demand upon INN. He IS
Gods high priest, as IL wero and must keep his
sacred robes uns spotted. Of sucn nature was the
genius OF Scott. Win Soutacy, Wordsworth ana
Coierdge he showed tnat II was possible TO be good
as well as great.
CONSIDER FURTHER
the claims Of Scott upon our attention. As mere
RANK. lie was one OF The most original OF authors.
lie founded Il school OF poetry and school OF hcuon
which, though inactive now, perhaps. VIII always
live ia his great models. Not one or
TIE PEOPLE OF MS BRAIN CAN EVER DIE.
The knebily Ivanhoe, the noble Rebecca. faithful
jeanne Deans, If lney hcver eXis cd IN TACT im-
lmmor allied them ana called them out rom the
INST OF fancy into beings almost o; rea as ourselves.
THIS SHOWS that like shakespeare, ocUtt was a true
o. aeolus Tue world saw thIt she had IN him
one ol those rare gifts which only came once III
century
10 may be thought that, Deina chiefly writer OF
1ciiOD, scott has no claim mon The Christian puD-
lie. Because some novels are loOli hare dagger
ous-s MOI SAYING mat al novels are. Ficuon,
especially historical romance may Ue instructive, rs
was cir walters. Those tn whom the mere data OF