The New York herald., 1877-01-22
LECTURES LAST EVENING.
TO THE 1NTEMpERArE.


In the Church OF the Ascension last evening the
pastor, Rev. John Cotton smith, ID. D.. the last of
course ofectures discussed the evils of ntemperance
Dealing with what he considered the indescribablo
mserics occasioned to the families OF those who had
become addicted the excessive use of intoxicating
drinks-miseres which he deemed worse than
those switch were experienced by the who
dranK--ho came TO consIdor the pecuaries OF human
be ngs IN the different climates OF the earth In the
icating drinks was most common, and that in them
the effects most injurious. And yet tho quos-
toLs seemed to remain not wholly decided. Was not
certain quantity ot spirtuous liquor good Tor
man anu Ought spirtuous liquors TO be used
otherwise than as u medcinos 1t was clear him
that the questions had not yet been decided by the
recognized authorities such matters TO the entire
eatisiaction OF those who needed well defined judg-
ment but he felt surc, with the progress which had
been made toward arriving at q knowledge OF what
was tor the best in human lie, that the early future
would afford satisfactory ruc If that well founded
decision should be- that there was, many cases. u
noed for a moderate use oil intoxicating drinks then
there would remain the necessity or struggle against
that alcoholic drinks should only be used medi-
c,ne and not a drink, then there would be equal
necessity for struggle 10 set aside their except
when ordered by physicians 1t was high time that
some decision had been arrived at Among tho higher
classes degradation Of mind and body followed,
with its accompanying misery TO the family.
Differing from the ngner class of victims
were those who aDored for bread Tor
themselves and families, and they were oftcn placed in
tho position OF feeling that they must have
harant TO enable them perform labor required
Tor the sustenanco OF their amilies These men and
their families often resided in Inferior tenement
houses. where the existing conditions were not such
as tended To continuance OF the needed vitality. In
that connection he felt that there great need Tor
an Improvement IN the peculiar character OF the
homes OF very large number OF laborpg class,
to have them better ventilated aud mado pleas
ant IN ohcr regards that hcy could looked upon
by those who use them as substitute for the ale.
house Concerning the condition OF the comparatively
wealthy who used alcoholic drinks he felt that there
was great hope Tor improvement In the almost lmme.
dia'o uurc but lor !he poor he was conscious that
homes and general surroundings
THE NEW lDEA--ITs MEANING INTERPRETED
DY PROFESSOR ADLuR..
"A great confusion OF beliefs being made said Pro
fessor Felix Adler yesterday morning in Standard
Hall. Science Is subvcrting the ancient crecds
OF mon, showing how they conflict with natures
laws. now proving how antagonslc they are to his
tory. 1t bshoovos us, therefore, 10 inquire into the
moral bearings Of this revolution. How shall we
alleviate those timid hearts who are seeing much
they had believed 10 DO among tho varieties Of lie
einkng into tho black gull OF uncertauy2 These now
conceptions arc called 'rhe New Idoa. Does tho
new reign leave us fceblc and forlorn, or docs II
make us stronger in the battle for the good,
and wnnal Drawer and greater mcn : The mcdIlevai
idea, which the idcai Is destined TO supplant was
Of ana entail charncrcr Av ia
DEGREES the word was despscd, the concerns tins
ic dwindled into insgnIfcancc, whilo tho eye
the hereafter Tho ascetc ideas OF The Middle Ages
have lett their imprint upon the o and literature OF
all the European pati0na Tho new ideal IL directly
opposed 10 the supcrsttous II teaches that there s
nothing concentrating IN ITSELF u is In thoughts
the evil lies. The now ideal seeks TO ro-
turn TO nature. not 10 nec from II. In re-
atty, nature is the most noeting and ethereal
of all things, oi which wo here and lhcro
catch passing glimmcr through tho facts and emo.
tiona OF this world In action and ruition ap-
poars SO docs II In the outward world and In man.
Whom We speak OF return TO nature wc mean that
higher Spowcr whose origin we know not, whose
essencets mysterious, whose workings we ieel."
Professor Adler instanccd many forms Of prayer In
both past and present times 'sAmong The Hndoos,'
he said, "such efficacy ascrbvd 10 prayer that Il
was believed the gods could not resist It's appeals The
priests could command them, and&the innu.
enco oi tho priests became superior power
10 the Will OF tho gods. Against all these
forms OF application tho modern view Of life
sets It's emphatic protest. The world is order, well
adapted. To pray for change IN II Ii monstrous foT
" s TO pray for lis destruction rho ram when
II must como II all that Is HIS work then tho drought
and the famine are also HIS. The gods help those
who help themselvos' We are placed IN wcrld with