The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-17

uIeuCo cOmPo1eu VI VIZ WV w.
intellectual circles OF this city gathered
ut the Chsplins street n. E. church
last night to hear the Rev. L. B. Car
penter lecture ION "Asceticism." The
high reputation of the lecturer had
raised the expectations Of his auditors.
and they were not disappointed. His
exordium was calm. thoughtful, and
candid. As q christian minister be
proposed to show that the christian
church, the most potential factor in ell
history. had not been without its gris"
vous faults. The enemies that had as
sailed it from without had never done
one-tenth the injury it hsd received
from it's foes within. After giving the
genealogical Specification Of the word
"Asceticism," he defined q religious
ascetic to be . person who believed the
Almighty to be an omnipotent tyrsnt,
and that thr o..ly way to secure hap
piness in the world to come was
to be just rs miserable as
possible in this world. The
Ascetic spirit became predominant in
the christian church at the beginning Of
the fourth century, and from thence
onward to the Reformation it had full
sway, settling down like pail upon the
dearest hopes OF humanity. His scath-
Jog description of Ascetic practices was
just, and is in every respect borne out
by the incoptsstible facts OF history. The
folly Of getting into hell mere in order
to avoid hell in the next world was
sternly and iesrlessly rebuked. The
horrible mutilations OF the body prac-
ticed by the Ascetics, and their hatred
OF every form OF physical happiness
were encountered 10 a manner that
evinced his thorough knowledge Of the
whole history OF religious fanaticisn.
The degrading estimate placed upon
woman by Asceticism, the intolerable
oppression to which it subjected her
both of body and mind, was shown up
with remarkable effect. The antsgon.
ism that existed between the Ascetic
spirit, and intellectual culture, the fine
arts, the beauties OF nature, and the
productions OF geniur, was dem.
onstrated with great perspicuity.
Here the eloquent speaker
drew a picture OF the Divine
benifcence, which produced thrilling
effect upon bis auditors. Becoming in
spired with the grandeur Of his theme,
fairly carried away in the earnestness
Of his soul, be poured forth torrent OF
impassioned eloqueuce such as it has
seldom been our privilege to hear.
Coming nearer our own times he
handled without gloves, the lingering
traces of that fiendish spirit which
would clotbe the God OF Christianity
with the attributes of a devil, and
would deprive man of every rational
enjoyment Referring to the celebrated
Blue Laws OF Connecticut which made
it unlawful for q husband to kiss
his wife on the Sabbath, he declared
that il he had lived in that time he would
have anticipated Patrick Henry when
he said: 81 care not what course other
may take. but as for me, give me liberty
or give me death" The lecture was
replete with sparkling humor. telling
hits and fearless thoughts. Every
body enjoyed it and went away pleased
aud profted. Mr.. Carpenter, by ma
ture and calling is . reiormer. He
dares to think and speak for himself,
without fear, favor or affection. His
perolation was a fine specimen Of
ornate composition and chaste thought.
1t was marked by resolute faith in the
God Of the Bible, by tender love for
suffering man, by a devout reverence
for all that is pure, holy, and true.
Those who did not hear the lecture
missed a rare treat. The next lecture
of the course will be on Friday evening,
January 23d, by Dr.. C. A. Holmes.
Subject: "Tbe Family and The Home"
The Doctor is very 6ne lecturer, and
we advice all who can TO hear him.