The New York herald., 1877-01-22
LECTURES LAST EVENING.
TO THE INTEMpERArE.


In tho Church OF the Ascension last evening the
pastor, Rev. John Cotton Smith, d. d., the last of
course lectures discussed the evils of intempeance
Dealing with what he considered the indescribabo
miserics occasioned the families OF those who had
become abducted 10 the use of Intoxicating
drinks--mseries which he deemed even worse than
those swhich were experienced by the men who
dranK-he came TO consldcr the pccuarties OF human
be ngs the different climates OF the earth In the
colder climates II sd been found that the use Of nox
icating drinks was most common, and that in them
the effects were most injurious. And yet the quos-
tons seemed TO remain not wholly decided. Was not
certain quantity OF spirtuous liquor good Tor
man I? and, Ought spirituous liquors TO be used
otherwise Than as medicInoy II was clear TO him
that the questions had yet been decided by the
recognized authorities such matters TO the cntirc
eatisiactlon OF those who needed well defined judg-
ment; but he felt sure, with the progress which had
been made toward arriving at o knOwiodge OF what
tor the best in human iic, that the early iuiure
would afford satisfactory rule. If that well founded
decision should be that there was, IN many cases. u
noed for a moderate uso o intoxicating drinks then
there would remain the necessity struggle against
Their excessive use. But, u the decision should be
that alcoholic drinks should only be used as u mcdi-
emo and not a drink, then there would be equal
necessity for struggle TO set aside their except
when ordered by physicians 1t was high time thut
decision had been arrived at Among the higher
classes degradation o, mind and BODY followed
Differing from the hgner class Of victims
were those who laoored Tor bread Tor
themselves and families and they often placed
the position oil feeling that they must have some
hiarant 10 enable them To perform the labor required
Tor the sustenance OF their families These men and
their families often resided in inferior tenement
houses where the existing conditions were not such
as tended ~ continuance OF the needed vitality. In
that connection he felt that there great need Tor
Improvement In the peculiar character OF tho
homes OF a very large number OF our laboriDg class,
to have them better ventilated aud mado pleas
IN other regards, that they could looked upon
by those who them as u substitute for the ale.
house. Concerning the condition OF the comparativ
wealthy who used alcoholic drinks he felt that there
great hope Tor improvement in the almost imne.
dato future; but Tor the poor he was conscious that
effort was needed Tor the improvement of their
homes and general surroundings.
THE NEW lDEA--Irs MEANING INTERPRETED
DY PROFESSOR ADLuR.
"a great confusion o beliefs IS being made, |" said Pro
fessor Felix Adler yesterday morning in Standard
Hail. ''ScIcnce is subvcrtng the ancient creed
of mcn now showing how they conflict with natures
laws. now proving how antagonistic they are to his
tory 1t bshoovcs U.S. therefore, 10 inquire into the
moral bearings Of this revolution. How shall we
alleviate those imd hearts who are seeing 80 much
they had believed lo DO among the varieties of lie
snking into the black gull OF uncertaiutyy These now
couccplions arc called 'rho New Ideal Does the
new reign leave us iceblo and forlorn or docs u
make us stronger In the battle for the good,
and wilhal Drawer and greater meu? The mcdsnvai
idea which the ideal is destined TO supplani was
Of supposttious and character By its
DEGREES the word was despiscd the concerns o THIS
HE dwndled into insignicance, whio the eye
the hereafter Tho ascetic ideas OF the Middle Ages
have lett their imprint upon the life and literature OF
all the European Dati0ns The new ideal is directly
opposed TO the superstious II teaches that there ia
nothing communicating IN itself; II s In thoughts
the evil lies. The now ideal seeks TO re.
turn to nature. not TO fec from II. In re.
atty, nature Is the most noeting and ethereal
Of all things. oi which We here and there
catch passing gmmcr through the facts and emo
tions OF this world In action and fruiton nature ap-
pears. SO docs II in the outward world and SO In
Whom we speak OF return TO nature mean that
higher Spowcr whose origin we know not, whose
essenccis mysterious, whose workings we fecl."
Professor Adler instanced many forms OF prayer In
both past and present tunes. "Among The HIndoos y
he said, 'such efficacy ascribcd 10 prayer that II
was believed the gods could resist It's appeals Tho
| priests could command them, and i'the innu
ence OF the priests became q superior power
| TO the will Of tho gods Against all these
| forms OF supplicatlon the modern view OF lift
sets IT'S emphatic protest. The world is order, wei
adapted. To pray for change in II Is monstrous, fo
IL IS to pray for It's dcstructUs Tho ram wher
u must como II all that s HIS work then tho drough
and the famine are also His. The gods help thos,
| who help thcmselvcs' We are placed IN a wcrld will