The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-25
M. L. A, COURSE.
Lecture by Rev. Robert Collyer.

The fifth entertainment in this course came
off last evening al City Hail. 1t consisted of a
lecture by Rev. Robert Collyer of Chicago, on
salt" Not large but very appre ,iative
audience was present
By salt he meant that principle in our lives
that keeps US sound and sweet wherever we 90
and whatever we do; that power that helps us
take hold of life and saves that which would
perish without it; the power to hold your own
in any free atmosphere, The lecture was prin-
cipally composed of anecdotes, humorous and
otherwise, illustrative of the virtues of this
salt.
The various shams of the day were touched
upon by the lectur4r who said that underlying
them was an absence of this salt or spirit of
life. The troubles in France show this want of
salt; they could not bring the blessing of Christ
on their sham. Tie salt of the spirit of life
sets its seal on its brow and sows the seed of a
higher life, and holds man so high, so pure and
so true, that although there be those who dom
because of the truth it places in him.
The lecturer then discussed the way we Get
salt in our natures and its influence through
life. Salt in the blood is courage, manlness,
square dealing, logged determination for the
right. It has come to us in emgrant ships,
labelled Smith & Dixon. What is wanted is
the right proportion and fineness of the salt.
to know where it can come in and what it can
do We may have this courage and be only
like John Morrissey. We must refine this
black salt of endurance and courage. We must
show an ingram heroism penetrated by gentle
Influences, giving it finer tone. This is brought
about by the influence of good books and good
company. 1t makes the right sort of men and
women to blend these qualities together. There
must be some bright, tender quality beside the
salt and then we can blend the two together
and have just the man we want
Out OF the home the social order springs, for
tar back out OF sight fathers and mother have
lived in homes quite forgotten, and toiled and
saved to educate children that have become
lights unto the world. The salt was in those
homes and it held good and sweet to be perpet-
uated through all ages. You turn back the in
duence through and through and you will find
it there. If it has chance to come out it will
as told in the lives of Greeley, Washington
Charming and the others on the great roll of
fame. The girls who come out of such homes
can take care If themselves il they have to,
1t seems in this we have the very soul of salt
in the nature-the secret lives in the home
Make your home rightly and raise your chill
dren in the good, wholesome, winsome way and
then you have done your share to solve the
problem of mans greatest usefulness; girls
will be fit for something, and positions will
seek the boys. There is an upward way and
there is downward way, aud the upward is in
our hands, in the salt that is in us; if we have
the right proportion of the darker and the
stronger, the lighter and the finer we can car
ry this nation to the summit of nations and
perpetuate the grandest and sweetest rationale
ty the world ever saw.