The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-08
NOTES FROM THE LECTURE FIELD
BY DR.. ]. L. YORK.

nit me, for the benefit of some of your
readers, to give a few notes of travel
from the lecture field.
On leaving Portland soon after the
State Liberal organization was effected,
early in July, 1 took up my work of
canvassing the State in the interest of
reform, filling first the engagements
made last fall and pending at the time
I was unavoidably recalled to Cali
fornia. My first appointment was met
at Forest Grove, giving five lectures to
large and intelligent audiences; in fact,
1 was surprised to find so large a num-
Der of liberal people whose hearts beat
in unison and respond to the gospel of
nature; and, best of all, the Liberals in
this west-side region are all good peo-
pie, and for moral status will compare
favorably with their neighbors who
profess religious beliefs.
My meetings here were attended by
the best citizens, and with the best
order except in one instance. A Meth
odist lady attended by her husband,
both of whom, was told, had never
heard liberal lecture, for the time be-
ing were quite unmindful of time, place,
and occasion. Had any one behaved as
they did in their own church, they
would have felt justified in appealing to
civil law. These ignorant people had
just walked up to the fact that there are
two sides to ecclesiastical dogmas, and
much depends upon the standpoint one
occupies as to convictions reached.
And fully forgive them the annoy
ance they caused to the entire audience
by untimely remarks during the dis
course; but I shall not forget soon the
withering look of hatred this lady gave
me as she passed on her way to the door
after the meeting was dismissed.
When opposite the speakers stand, in
full hearing of large number of peo-
pie, she gave vent to her pent-up feel
ings with good deal of JUNCTION in the
following style, directing her remarks
to the cause of her unrest: "Oh, I tUish
I had Divine Po1Uer! I lUouLd make
you SDaartG
The opportunity was SO good that 1
could not we'll withhold the remark:
'I am so glad, dear sister, that you
have not that power, as we suppose Di-
vine Power to be coupled with intelli-
gence, love, goodness and justice. But
am afraid if you possessed such
power, your unchristian spirit would
lead you to do mischief"
At our last meeting we organized a
Liberal Union with full board of Off
GERS, of whom ]. NJ. Hines is President.
Leaving the people of Forest Grove
in high spirits, met my appoint
ments at North YamhilI, Lafayette and
Dayton, speaking to large audiences,
and making the acquaintance of many
people of sterling worth; and 1 am glad
in this public manner to thank the
young people of Lafayette, and es-
pecially niece of the editor of the NEW
NORTHWEST, for the music and songs
which added so much to the interest of
the meetings.
had thought, from my former can
vass, that had seen the largest and
best portion of Oregon in the Will
lamette Valley from Salem to Eugene.
But not until my eyes rested on the
beautiful rolling plains of Yamhill
county, could I say Eureka |" AS
gazed entranced upon the landscape
spread out before me at North Yam.
hill, so rich in the golden beauty of har.
vest time, my mind went back to the
home of my childhood in Western New
York, so similar to this west-side in
richness and beauty; and 1 must say
rolling country has charms not to be
found in valley land, as there is some
thing about the rising and falling swell'
of an undulating country that rests the
eye; and 1 may say of this county, i
cheers the heart.
Having finished my work in thi!
county, occupying about four weeks o
lecturing almost every night and twice
on Sundays, 1 took leave of friends a
Dayton, and by steamer found my way
to Albany, where I was greeted by very
large audiences on Sunday afternoon
and evening. Finding that Professo
! Baldwin was to show on the following
Monday evening, deferred my lee
lures, and left appointments for thre,
weeks from that time.
have lectured at Lebanon, Harris
burg, Brownsville, Eugene, Oakland
and Roseburg. Four of the abOv
r places had never been favored or 10th
erwise" with liberal lecture on theol
ogy, and in every instance L was wei
received, and everybody was surprises
: at the number of Liberals coming t
the front.
OF Roseburg, 1 may say that Natur
] has been prodigal in her outfit. Like
/ gem nestled among the hills, she rule
like queen at the end of the railroad
I gave five lectures here to fine audi
ences, a large proportion of whom wer
young people and ladies. And this fac
8 is the most encouraging feature of m.
:, labors; as, when woman is Tedeeme
/ from the slavery of superstition, th
I children will be raised in the lap c