American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-28
CAPT WOOLDRIDGE's LECrUR E


ted INT few 1T the graceS OF uraiOry
but his matter WIS interesting and
Instructive, and mrrired "A mucl
larger attendance Apart from III,
! un'ortuna q circumstanre which de
priv.d INN of s. sht ami forced upo,
/, him this means of support, the lee
ture was more than an equivalent
for the price of admission. Til.
Captain, We think, could improve
his lecture 10y making it mere philo
sophie and less poet ic aud imasina-
tive. He seemed to stIIve too much
after pOmp"us dictior, high sound
ing periods and gorgeous imagery,
and which, at times, concealed his
thoughts under n supera"undance
of wordy images, making his style
too stilt ed and inflated. There was
too great ii Ir-I,onderanc- of the
ina ginative and poetic for the sub
jects discussed, showing clearly, at
least to our mind, want of some reg.
ulatiug principles; for whatever of
majesty as to language, or wealth as
to imagery, or perfection in scholar
ship, or extent of erudi ion the ora
tor may have, if he fail to apply
some regulating power TO all and
over all, his mental creations will
flash out, me,eOr-like, along the
heaven of thought, but leave no
line of light TO mark the track OF
their travel.
In this age of literary latitu,lIn-
ariauism, 1t is altogether 4 matter
of taste as to what kind of express
ion constitutes the best likeness
of the thought represented. We
have our different schools of ora
tory, poetry, philosophy and theOl~
ogy, aud each has Its disciples and
admin ers. We have no objection to
grandeur of words provided the
thoughts to be conveyed are huge
aud uplifting IN their character, but
then such words should be grand i'll
the sense OF fOrcible, expressive,
meaning. A little more serene con-
temptation aud quiet communion
will make his style less gorgeous
and more rand, and produce a
pleasing combination of beauty,
grace, strength and sub limIty.
The close Of the lecture, III which
the speaker referred to the battle III
which he los, his sight, was touch
ing IN the extreme, and drew tears
from eyes unused TO weeping. We
most earnestly commend Captain
Woodbridge to the kind favor and
patronage of the Southern peOi lie,
assuring them of his great worth
aud excellence, moi only as an enters
tanning aud instructive lecturer, but
as worthy aud exemplary chris
tan hero and gentleman.
AT the close of the lecture, Rev.
DIR. Furman, pastor Of the Prrsby-
terrain Church ut this place, occu
pied the stand, and delivered a
most feeling and eloquent discourse
from the text: And the Lord
said INTO Noah, come thou and
all thy house into the Ark"
This discourse, like all the
pulpit efforts of this worthy
minister, WAS characterized 10y
hoy zeal and energy that rendered
it peculiarly solemn and impressive.
His sermons always breathe ii di-
vine unci ION that comes over the
spirit with hallOwed influence, and
directs the mind of the listener to
that exalted source from whence his
own reverent soul draws its purest,
hottest inspirations. DR.. Forman is
man to be admired, loved and hon
ored, not simply because OF his G"d-
Iy walk and conversation, bat also
for the liberalltH of his views, and
the universal i,hilanthl Opy that goes
out from his large and Sanctitird
heart for the lost SONS and daugh
ters of Adam. Few purer or better
men dwell upon earth than DIR.
Forman, and his consistent life, elo-
quent ministry and pious example.
must exert II saving and rrde-ming
influence upon his cOngr- ga,iOn, aud
the community at large.
Wetrus the eff ,ris employed 10y
DR.. Furnan and Rev. Mr.. Jones to
lead the wandrrcr from the path OF
error, may be crowned with album
dant succrss. aud that they may he
the fla, Ored instruments, III the hand
Of God, of pluckIng the diamond
humanity from the rubbish OF sin,
aud caIsing it TO appear amid the
rOnsi citation of jewels that glitter
in the diadrm that enrirclrs the
brow of the Il drrm..r of mankind.