, 1873-10-06
p" CHlVALRY."
An Exquisite Lecture by Rev.
VIM. r. Alger.
First Discourse OF the Kingsbury
Music Hall Course.
Tho scvcn Cardinal Principles tif
Chivalry Ann1yzcd.

LILO s7cFcn C3lTttlltstl IIlnC1plCb I'll
Chiyalry Analysed.
Tho Rov. William II. Algcr delivered his loo
turo on " Chiyary last evening to n fair audi
once ut Kingsbury Music Hall. The threaton-
Ing atato Of tho wcathor undoubtedly prevented
a largo number from attending who would o.h-
erwiso lavo been among tho most attentive and
Interested listeners. II would be impossible
without reproducing tho lecture in full, to giyo
any adequate impression OF its character. Not
only wnB tho nattcr most yivid'y interesting,
but tho ,nannor Of delivery isquito indosoribablo.
h{r. Alger stood before d Email
Liable, OH which rostod his manuscript,
and, thougl, using gost,1roa freely,
WAS 30 worry quiet md oasy as to romoro tho al'-
pearanco Of any attempt at oratory as commonly
understood, and got no ono could llavo given q
moro truly eloquent and impassoned address
thnu his.
THE BEAUTY OF THE LECTURE
WAS tho richness OF imagery aud metaphor, and
tho aptnoBs Of illustration. Tho audienco
seemed either chilled by tho cold or roprcaaod
by tho idea that applause On Sunday was not
wholly proper, for only WHOM tito lecturer
roachel climax which carried them into stato
Of enthusiasm in spite Of themaolvca did they
venture upon an expression Of thoir appreciation
Of his efforts. It Ia certainly to DO hoped
that Mr.. Alger will deliver this aamo lecture
again shortly undor moro favorable auspices Of
weather, when ho will learn that NIL Ohicago
audiences arc not 90 cold and unBympathetic ne
the ONO last night. It is impossible to give moro
shan baro outline Of tho lecture, O iargo por-
tion Of Which consisted Of pointed illustrations
of tho propositions advanced.
Mn. ALoER SAID
That ChiyalrY might bo analyzod into Hovon car
dina1 principles, each OF which bore compile
mentaly relations to all tho others. They were,
first, Courage. This quality WAS regarded as
the primary virtuo, without which tho others
would necessarily be imperative. 1t must
be present In the knightly soul in ali
places, oven Of the greatost danger, and in fact,
must never dosort him willie lifo remained.
Though shown moro conspicuousy perhaps In
tho Chiyafrio ages, examples Of tho highest or
dor were not lacking at tho present day. Aa
when Colonel in our late war after losing tl,ir~
teon horses undor him, and receiving torrible
woundH, rode forward to tho final charge, preas-
Ing baok his lungs with his loft hand, whilo With
tho right ho waved the order to advance, which
his lips refused to speak.
Tho second peculiarity of feudal chival1y was
A sunuruLous sEHsE OF HONOR.
Tho genuine son of clivalry Was incapable Of
basenoas or solnshness. The annata Of knight
hood sparkle all through with Incidents ilus-
tratiye Of this fact. Tho claim on Its present
dovotco is that he should carry into his duly
walks Of life the spirit OF puro unerlied honor,
and Bcorn to soil bis hands and dobAsa his soul
with questionable gains.
Tho noxt characteristic was friendship. Tho
Knights wela BWorn never to turn their bnckH
upon foe, nor forsako friend in nood. Who
I'll these degenerate days but has fclt lack OF
the fine communion of manly nature amid tho
rush Of society for power and wealth
But porhaps Chiyalry was as distinguished for
Its spirit of mercy "a for any other quality. Hata
lives not where the gontler passions live. Whom
IN antagonist waB diHmounted it was difficult to
thin.bladcl weapon waB made Which WAS callcd
THE DAGGER OF MERCY.
ItB name was due probably to two reasons,
Binco 1t mado death more merciful than 1t had
the yanqushed Knight made sign oyon for
marcy, tho dagger must DO returned to it's
shcnih, mud his life spared.
slil another elenont was dsinterostcdneas,
Or helf-sacrifce. Tho devoteo was ready to dare
DO the solf- donying and laborioua servant Of tho
helpless aud suffering. Has tLis trait become
extinct in our timo All! the Recording
Angel could, it he would, give tho names
Of thousands OF Sisters Of Charity and Brothers
pursuits and folds of labor, from tho cotton
factory to tho Senate Chamber, aro worthy of tho
highest praise for unHoldsh devotion to human
needs and suffering. How many Of our nurses
and physicians, with quite as much heroiHm as
THE KNIGHTS or OLD,
though with loss display and ostontation, have
gone ut the riHk of their lives, into districts given
up to famine, war, and infectious diaease How
brightly did this chiyalric spirit show forth in
James ousram, who, ut tho relief Of Luck
now, refused to ta!to from tho noble
Havolock tho honor OF tho action, but, aorving
as yoluntnor undor Ills inferior in rank. lod
the charge against the enemy, and. sprinkling
thereby to their Brightness and undying glory.
Still another quality Of chiyalry to Which tho
Knight was pledged WAS that Of
LOYALTY Oh OBEDIENCE.
Tho fertilizing and electric germ Of this trait
arose in tic foudal relations ot aorf to lord,
squire to Knight, and Knight to King. Surely
this ie . trait which will over DO praised. An
example Of tho rigid adherence to tho law Of
obedience % 1S, Mas shown ~ g. in the tho case Of
ster had beon ravnglng the country for milea
around, and Ind wounded or killed every Kulght
who had attacked him The Grand Master,
therefore, ordered that no Knight should en-
deavor to kill tho beaat. lost furthor fatal re-
young Knight. having aecretly trained himself,
bis horse and dogs, fually attacked the dragon,
and, after long 81 and bloody aght succeeded in
aaying him. The people gathered abont the
Knight with choora and praises, aud 1od him
back to tho Grand Master, where, in atato tho
latter waH Hittiug. Having hoard his talo+ tho
Grand Master told him that obedience was the
first VOW taken, and that, having violated this
law, he must bo
DlsAnaiED AND DANIsI1ED
forever from tho society OF true knights. AZ
the young victor laid oil hin Knightly arms aud
dress and turned sorrowfully to leave tho hall,
the Grand Master caught him In Ills arms md
restored him to fellowship, as by hia ready and
implicit obedience tllon, when flushed with pride
and victory, ho had shown TINT Ae had con-
Quorol AimBclf.
THE LABT ELEMENT
was that Of championship. The Knight WAS the
champion Of tho weak aud oppressed. Often
when cro,oI tyraut had hoped, in tho trial by
combat, to gain q victory In default Of
any oipponont 10 had boon surprised by
tho apparition Mt tho othor end OF
tie lists Of Homo good knight, armed cap-a.pio,
charging against him, M In tho case OF lyauAoo
when appearing for Robccca.
Over theHo Heyon olemonta Of ohivalry, thu
Christian element presided. It was. In fact, tho
matchmaking Of ~ niluencos in :mo!ding tho
character Of tho knight. Tho clarion notes Of
adventure md glory grow faint as they fall