The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-01-17

TIE LECTURE LAST NleRT-A good
audience, largely composed Of the intel.
lectuGl slis Of this city, greeted Rev. L. B.
Carpenter, the eloquent pastor Of Fourth
Street II. E Church. In his lecture on
"Asceticism," at UhapllnO Street N. E
Church last night The Reverend gen.
tleman began BY stating that the Chris
tan Church was the mightlest factor In
the history Of the last eighteen centuries.
Her continued existence and triumphs In
spite Of almost insuperAble obstacles de-
monstEated her divine origin. Her great.
cot foes have not been outside but inside
her pale. BE tairly and impartially re.
viewed her history, and with Christian
candor acknowledged her manifold cor.
ruptionS In the past, clearly showing that
an organization hedged about by 90 many
enemies and could yet survive, guiding
and controlling the enemies Of the world,
was certainly under the special care Of
Almighty God. he defined Q religious
ascetic 10 be one who believed that the
Deity was an omnipotent tyrant, and that
the only way TO secure eternal hap.
pinees was to be Just as miSerS-
BILE ss possible In the present life,
he showed how from the fourth century
onward 10 the reformation, monasticistn,
and asceticism had full sway In the church
making It the instrument Of corruption
and tyranny, instead Of the sanctuary Of
God and the repository Of light, and Joy,
and salvation. His scathing description
Of ascetic pracsices will never be forgot
ten by his hearers. BE proved from in
contestable facts in Church history that
the ascetic spirit led 10 the most abomin'
able and pOlluting practices, alike un.
worthy Of man and dishonorlng TO God.
BE showed the degrading estimate 1t
placed upon woman, retardiDg her growth
and development, and subjecting her to
slavery Of body and mind, the like Of
which the world has never seen. BE
clearly demonstrated that asceticism was
opposed to intellectual culture, 10 the fine
arts, TO the beauties Of nature, and to eV-
erythiDg, In fact, which renders life de
sirable and happy. At this point his de.
scription OF the boundlesS goodness oil
God, as manifested in Nature and Reyela.
ton, was one Of surprising beauty and
matchless eloquence. Warming with the
grandeur OF his theme, he drew q
picture Of Divine love which thrill
ed every listener bowling TO more
modern times, he dealt powerful blows
against the lingering spirit OF ascetiCism,
which would deprive man Of every
rational enjoyment, and deiace the divine
religion Of Christ in such y manner as to
render 1t obnoxious 10 intelligent and
thoughtful men. His peroration was
inimitable, eVincipg the proloundesI
reverence for the good, the true, the
beautiful, the tendeTest love Of woman
kind, and the sublimest faith in q God Of
love and benefcence. AS whole, it was
worthy OF the highest need OF praise, and
deserves TO be repeated a thousand times
1t abounded with brislliDg facts, live
humor and scathing rebukes. Mr.. Car
penler is Reformer, and we hail him as
one Of the advanced and independent
thinkers Of our times. The more Of such
ministers the Church is blessed with, the
speedier will be the triumph cf the latter
day glory. The audience was delighted
and prohted, and bestowed many enco
NUNS on the lecturer. The next lecture
Of the course will be on Friday evening,
January 20. by Rev. DR.. Holmes, on "The
Family aLd the Home" We advise all
| 10 attend,