The Portland daily press., 1875-12-07
LECTURES.
MECHANICS ASSOCIATION COURSE.

MECHANICS ASSOCIATION COURSE.
Rev. George w. Bicknell delivered the fourth
lecture in this course last evening to large au-
dience. The subject of the lecture was "En-
thusiasm,' and it was closely listened to
throughout The lecture was plea for enthus-
iasm in all walks of life. easy people," as
they we're termed, received no encouragement
at the speakers hands, and if there were any
lazy people present they must have been I'M
comfortable to say the least. The speaker re-
marked that in each relation of life enthusiasm
appears in one of two conditions. The first is
that which we may style the healthy condition,
and the second is just the opposite, or the I'M
healthy condition. The one is governed by the
judgment, reason and experience, while the
other causes us to run wild after every new pro-
ject, without thought or consideration. The
enthusiastic man is the one to succeed whether
he has genius or not. Without enthusiasm life
is most insipid affair. 1t is not living but
merely staying. There Can be but little enjoy
ment and no success without it. Enthusiasm
is the author of greatness, and without it we
should not have the great men of the present
day.
The speaker illustrated this latter point by
large number of instances where men ofhumble
origin had by their own exertions risen to envia-
BILE positions 10 life. The delivery was enter
tanning and enthusiastic in the highest degree.
CONGRESS STREET M. E. COURSE.
The pastor, Rev. Mr. Bradlee, delivered the
last lecture in this course to fair audience, at
the church'last evening. The subject, "Punctu-
al People," the speaker remarked, is of vital
interest, embracing within its range Of thought
many of the gravest problems of life.
We find here the cause of most of life's great
mistakes; the reason for the numerous intel
lectual and moral downfalls, and the key to
half of the misery and degradation which
curses the earth. How many persons we meet
in this world who are always behind time 1t
is easy to recognize them. They are late for
breakfast their letters are too late for the mall
they come rushing into church about the mid.
die of the service, their sgueaky boots are in
variably heard in the lecture room. They ar
rive at the depot after the train has started,
and at the wharf just in time to see the steam
boat off. Irregularity is not their fault-never
too soon, always too late. Many characte r
has been ruined, many life forfeited through
the tardy action of some. Many people are I'M
punctual because of Observation-Disclosures but the
larger class through Incidence. Punctuaity was
the characteristic that gave our greatest gen.
erals success, and the motive power of every
important reformltio The lecture abounded
throughout in pertinent illustrations and pen
pictures of men and women noted for their
punctuality.
At the close the speaker paid an earnest trib-
ute to our late lamented Vice President, Henry
Wilson, holding up his life of punctuality as an
example worthy of imitation.
GRAND ARMY LECTURES
This evening the first of the course of free
lectures will be delivered at Grand Army Hall,
by Hon. S. L. Milliken of Belfast. Subject,
"The Crusades." The friends of the post are
all iHvited.