The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-09
Cor, of Religious Herald.
A RICHMOND CLERGYMAN IN N. YORK
Joseph Cook His Lectures.

Joseph Cook-His Lectures
New YORK, Dec. "a, 1877.
So much has been written of late about
Rev. Joseph Cook, your readers may be in
terested in some account of the man and of
two lectures l heard him deliver last week in
New York city. He is native of Ticonde-
roga, New York, and is about thirty-seven
years old. He graduated at Yale College,
at Andover Seminary, and spent several
years as student in Germany. He is six
feet high, weighs 100 pounds, has large blue
eyes, massive forehead, and an intellectual
face. Every Monday he lectures in Boston,
and usually lectures twice elsewhere during
the week, receiving $3.50 for each public ap.
pearance. He has engagements for several
months ahead, and but for robust conatitu-
ton, healthy appetite and much capacity
for sleep, would be unable to endure the se-
we're physical and intellectual strain. He is
Congregationalst, but his father, converted
after the son was, is Baptist deacon. Mr..
Cook attracts large audiences, is an earnest
and vehement speaker, has full, clear and
controllable voice, and not little humor.
Sometimes he uses notes, and sometimes he
reads. Trained in German methods of
thought, familiar with the philosophical writ
ings of England, United States and Ger
many, he is able to grapple with profound
and abstruse subjects, and has a happy fac
ulty of popularizing metaphysics. A firm
believer in the inspiration of the Bible, he
prefers in his philosophical lectures, to meet
the opponents of Christianity on scientific
and rational grounds, and to show that the
doctrines of the Bible are sdumbrated, more
or less clearly, in the constitution of the hu.
man mind, in necessary truths and in the
course of nature.
On the 2lst, Mr.. Cook lectured in the
large Hall of the Young Mems Christian
Association. William Cullen Bryant, ven-
erable, mild.faced, silver-haired gentleman,
the illustrious senior of American poetry,
presided and gracefully introduced the speak
er. Ultimate America, subject quite diff
ferent from his usual themes, was boldly and
elaborately discussed, and the possibilities
and perils of future America were portrayed
with skilful hand. The facts and argu.
ments we're not specially new, but the group
ing was strongly put, some of the sentences
were sharp, crisp, epigrammatic, while the
peroration was bold and magnificent. He
alluded TO the territorial area of the United
States as vaster than that of the Roman Em.
pire, and then tersely added, "Bigness is not
greatness; but bigness is opportunity, and
opportunity employed is greatness. The
amount of arabic land in the Western Con-
tinent was shown to be greater than that in
Europe, Asia and Africa, and hence was in
ferred the ability to sustain greater pOpu-
ation. This portion of the address was
fresh and striking, and deductions, bold and
impressive, were made from the physical facts
stated in the writings of Guyot and Maury.
The English language would be the medium
of thought on the Continent, and an alliance
of English speaking peoples might be expect
ed. The psrils of this immense aggregation
of men will be fearful. Civil Service Re.
form, as undertaken by our "revered Pfesi-
dent, !" was great need for averting some
evils that endanger our Republic. Five
great civiizing powers were alliteratively
Introduced, the psrlor, the pulpit, the press,
politics and the police; the parlor as com.
comprehending all social Influences; the pul.
pit, all that emanates from the rostrum the
press, as embracing all literature politics
and the police as including the wise admins
tration Of government in its different depart.
ments. For two hours, the lecturer held the
large and interested audience.
In the afternoon of the same day, had
the privilege of hearing less formal and
more interesting lecture before the students
of the Union Theological Seminary. Be-
sides the young theogs' were some invited
guests. In the seecs audience noticed
Dire. Adams, Hitchcock, Schsff, Shedd, Hall
W. N. Taylor, Hatfield and others of achOl
arly or theological reputation. Mr.. Cook
Iectured on the value of theological studies
to the young preacher. A summary of the
admirable "talk" you would not spare mt
the space to give. The need of philosophical
thinkers and teachers was emphasized. Al
kinds of weapons were needed by preachers
who should get, not an arc merely, but tn,
full circle Of truth into their thong hts
Proof. texts should be drawn from Old anC
New Testsments, and from the Oldest Testa
ments, the nature Of the universe. The mnC
must be open to differences that come from
the scalpel and the microscope as we'll as from
the Word of God. Natural religion was eff
ficient, but not sufficient. Self.evident truths
were to be admitted and rightly used. The
study of necessary and automatic truths wal
always safe. When the lecture was finished
questions we're invited, and little slips of pa
per came thick and fast from all parts of tht
room. Here the power of the lecturer Wai
displayed. The questions were of miscel
laneous character some foolish, some wise
some superficial, some sharp and thoughtful