New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-11
IN ESTIMATE OF GOETHE.
ADDRESS BEFORE TIE GOETHE CLUB BY GEORGE II
CALVERT.

ADDRESS BEFORE TIE GOETHE CLUB BY GEORGE II.
CALVERT.
A meeting of the Goethe Club was held last
evening in Room No. 81 Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel the
principal feature being address by George H. Calvert
of Newport r. T. to whom reception was given by the
club after the close OF the lecture Among those III at
tendance were the Rev. Samuel Osgood d. d., L. {.
stedman, John Taylor Johnston, George Ripley, Parke
Goodwin exGov. Solomon, the Rev. o. b. rockingham,
Postmaster James, Frederick KLINE, the Rev. william
r. Alger Judge GOcpp, and G. r. Blanchard Many of
these gentlemen were accompanied by their wives Mr.
Calvert was introduced by tie President OF the club,
A. Ruppaner, who said that with this meeting the club
entered upon second year The organization was de-
voted to dissemination of knowledge of the works of
Goethe and OF German literature and art Following Is
an outline of Mr. Cayert's address,
Germany in the 90 centuries OF her vigorous life has
been rich in men, many OF whom were new llinn.na-
tion not only to Germany, but 10 the world. Luther
created the conditions that made Goethe possible.
Goethe great poet, and great poet IL always
great power. In hearts lie makes place. Shake
Srcare was tie greatest u poets and from him we have
poems which the richest eiit ever left to mankind
a gift OF light for guidance an uhce1SiE Dehcnccncc,
whose blessing is ever upon us. Goethe was cict
fsvOrite forin. Fortunate he was IN the time OF lis
BIRTH IN his parents IN ms friends ana ~ hlT ilie oi
genius He would have been distinguished anywhere at
any period. lie was many mirror IN the nidt
of a 1uciuaiiug world, rcNol,lDnaly snaIh IN
literature lie had the organizing capacity and To max"
things better need OF his mind. In G0cthes
performance there j. the charm OF hish art III mIGh
that he wrote almost aiistic ucriectiOn. HIS
tlc cIcarcss of his mind and his sincerity What he
wrote ne wrote from sympathy with his subject lie was
t,cn close into natures confidence. and lie lived Ia
ston intimacy with nature. THIS Is solid foundation
II coincidence in art II Goethe the poetic and tlc
scientific blended. He tie prominent German
pet-.age-at poetic and an intellectual lover "
nature il was very susceptible TO impressions from
wIInout. When Goethe could write poetry he wrote
tbat and nothing else lie eminent spontaneous;
he wrote iron an inward He o. The
yiSest IF men aud hiF wisdom makes the best attraction
of h, poctry He lived the highest life that an individual
man can live. MS writings form almost itfurc by
themselves and hie leter9 are tue most valuable ever
iub,. shed or p,nned He lived through his long life
being. There il nothing to say OF his faults, iOr
lis faults were temporary mi>dNccti0ns 0f sOuHd
ftcucs Tie was not VAN. proud, or CnNiOds he
asr., Dut ambitious o. aNdciOLs lie was Just
1:; ,iId a generous. and egNcnly re.Igoua tie car
1rd am ideal To Wi, he strGNC 20 conform his daily
dUugs-an ldcai which those Who st la advcr-. judy
m, III. could scarcely conceive, du1 could not
uudcIrland @rstiy. nOe"ur ab!, Icsplcndtnty cad
(;optGs work through his f0uSco:t year.. The last
words from ms lips, just DcOie he expired, were More
liGbt."
The thanks O the club extended 10 Mr. Calye for
his address by Rev. Mr. Ager OF the Church OF she
Messiah He referred 20 pilgrimage made by him L. or
IS years ago GCethes tomb. The great force Of the
Doet he said was that c could loose himself from routine
and custon he received every thing tine and good put
ting his own valuation dton thcm few remarks were
also made by Or. kipiey after which a collation. was
served to the members of the club and their invited
guests.