The New York herald., 1872-11-23
MACAULAY.

Lecture by the Rev. w. Morley Pun
shon, Last Evening, at the Hall of the
Young Mems Christian Association, ON
Thomas Darlington Macaulay-An Oid
Lecture with . New Face.
The fourth OF the Winter course OF lectures os-
| tablished by the Young Mems Christian Associa-
| tion was delivered last evening to large audi
| ence by the Rev. w. Morley Punshon, the eminent
and eloquent preacher OF the Methodist denomina-
ton. The subject OF the lecture was "Macaulay."
| an Old subject with Mr.. Punsh0n, 1t having been
selected as OF his earliest efforts In the lecture
field The title to the lecture in the printed list
of the association had the little word '.new" ap-
pended TO il. The ncwlccture proved to be the old
one recast by Its author, and 1t was presented to
the audience Of last evening as an old friend with
new face. and evidenced desire on the part Of
the lecturer to be less sensational and more
thoughtful than the older effort, and which helped
to achieve the early Of the lecturer in the
country 0f his BIRTH
Mr. Punshon commenced his lecture by q sketch
OF the birthplace and family OF Macaulay. The
former was stated to be a midland town, in Eng
land, and the latter was described as middle class.
The father of the hero OF the lecture Zachary Ma
cauay, was described as one Of the Capham sect,
and the lifelong purpose ofZacharys life for the sup
preston OF slavery was described in eloquent and
youth OF Macaulay developed into form which
brought him out OF the society OF the saints into
the society OF the whigs Hannah More, in one Of
her letters to him. rejoices that his casscaty had
not destroyed his poetry. tribute was paid to
Charles Knight as the first publisher who kindly
encouraged Macaulay, and whose early literary
efforts made their appearance in knights quar-
terry Magazine. His old love OF the ballad was
Naseby'' hurries away the most pcaceloving among
us with an admiration for war. Mr.. Punshon re-
cited with with great effect :, this ballad and
ton with with RuuS lie Edinburgh Sas Eeoie.o onWsc Was
told and its origin and progress were given in very
Punshon, each essay contributed to this Revteic
had its leading thoughts epitomzed SO thor
s,;ga oI;ghly that It resembed LED. one Of those
seen in its Completeness BY BY the aid
OF glass OF microscopic power. The admission Of
turer as lshering in life OF political consistency
and stainless honor. He might be safely set down,
the n
request lor o subscription to the races Afforded
Mr.. Punshon an opportunity to deliver volley OF
OF this lecturers STYLE ana in an urgent appeal to
his audience to keep intact their integrity, despite
al to he Lays OF Ancient
was Illustrated by a remarkably fine rendering
of 'Horatius" As the historian Mr.. Punshon
said, he was grateful to Macaulay for making his
tory interesting and taking from 1t the drearness
OF dates that resembed so much an auctioneer's
catalogue. The great charm Of Macaulay's narra-
tive was his wOndrous patriotism, the marvel
lous love OF country. The great defect
OF Macauay's life and writings viewed
from the Christian standpoint was his negativsm.
The enemies OF Christianity cannot claim him
from their own, but he tOnches subjects like the
solemn promise of the soul, its whence and its
WHITTIER, with a serene indifference. Itscemed as
though 1t never occurred to him when his hero was
saved from assassination. Did he never wish for
God that should evolve order from the chaos of
eventsY Did he never pant for spiritual lie or
| religious falh9 Alas that his writings on these
matters give no signl No Christian heart can
think Of this without deep regret. The parallel as
to the fame OF the son and the father, the graves
OF both in Westminster Abbey furnishing the
material for the reflection, and short summary Of
the principal events OF their respective lives re-
suited in the lecturers declared preference
for the more modest fame OF Zachary Ma
caulay, that had been consccrated in the
memory Of all good men by the earnestness for
good by which that life had been sanctified,
and which earhestness was striklngly and conspic-
uously absent in the more gifted SON. The death
OF Macauay, the final resting place and Its sur
roundngs, in Westminster Abbey, gave material
for the conclusion OF o lecture that was very elo
quent from its first sentence to the last.