The New York herald., 1878-03-25
SABBATH LECTURES
JESUS AND SOCRATES COMPARED BIZ MR..
FRANCIS L. ABBOTT.

rhANCiS Es AbbolI.
Mr. w. Seligman, president Of the Society for Eth
ical Culture, in introducing Mr.. Francis E. AbDos, OF
Boston, TO tho audience at Standard Hail. yesterday,
expressed his delight at the progress made by the
society since ITS organization. Mr.. Abbott In an-
nouncing tho subject Of his lecture ''Jesus and
socrates," disclaimod all desire convey the idea
that the comparison between these two great lights In
history was original with him. Tho English Or.
Priestly and the Freuch Jean jacques Rousseau had
both made comparisons between Jesus and Socraies
But since then the Christian world had been
entering upon great revolution, the elements OF
which had been gathering for 500 years past Here
toiore Christianity had only been met by other his
toric religions To-day It must meet the universal
religion OF man, broad and expansive in its scope 1t
like the great river Mississippi being matched by
the vast ocean. To-day the struggle Of the human
alter ideal perfection was longer confined to
isolated souls but entire peoples thirsting Tor
spiritual freedom. Hence the verdict In regard 10
Jesus and could be honestly rendered Today
Free religion could not possibly hold Jesus up as
combination OF all excellence, could not ascriDe to
Socrates the absolute Ideal which claimed tor hun.
The very TACT that mans own INDIVIDUAL soul IL his
lord aud master u an idea incomprehensible to the
true Christian.
FREE RELIGION MEANS TO RECONSTRUCT SOCIETY
Free roiiglou permlts no hero worship, aud yet OF
the twU religious ideals excmpied by these two his.
men It must regard Socrates the grandest IN
stance OF virtue known the word Ine conflict be-
tween Christianity aud Tree religion, now breaking
out all the world over, longer u OF phil
osopners IL meant lar more than the ABOLITION oil
rules, tho driving of the Bible out oil
the puolic schools, or even the temperance move.
ment, or reforms affecting labor or the question
ol woman suffrage. IL meant the total recon
struclion human society the basis Of
seli.reliance and universal nature. Tacnus IN
his writings styled Christianity superstition,
and NOBODY could tell how much historical
the New Testament. Xeuopnon ana Plato, how
ever, were eye and eur witnesses OF Socrates great
ness and hence the latter lar better known than
Jesus. II Christianity ever loses the gospel char
OF Jesus IL loses the corner stone oi ITS entire
structure; Tree rehglon, however, II II SHOULD be
proven that Socrates was man Of depraveu morality
vi It's stone, does not rely upon
at all. Botn, It Is true, aevoted themselves TO
universal ends; uut there some thing sublime III
the manner III wncn Socrates refused all conpeusA-
ti0u Tor SERVICES actually rendered. Socrates also
went AROUND uud did good amOug the people the
same as Jesus out botn also had their enemies
Jesus Pnarsecs Tor Ia opponents socrates The
Soph sts OF Greece. But the manner In whicn Jesus
condr mned Tho Pharlsees US class--men who we're,
after all, what might be called Tue consei vatives
among the HeDrcws-showed party spirit toward u
people who mud All ali-controiins lath Ia their own
mission. Like Jesus, So also uld socrates believe
himself sent by his god TO the Athenans, and hence
he muEt also 10 regarded as religious missionary.
Both were put to deatn by their own people. Jesus
prayed 10 his God 10 forgive His enemies Socrates,
however, iorgave Them himso. la proclaiming HIS
reigion 10 HIS people, however, Jesus, when com
pared to Socrates snoW cd an egotistcaI spirit In
making Himself Inc great II ANA spirit entirely
wanting IN the teachings OF Socrates rhe one
tablished religion upon monAI chicAl principles, Inc
other upon democratic principles.
BISHOP LYNog, OF CHARLESTON, ON THE LATE
AND PRESENT PopLs.
Bishop Lynch, Of Charleston. s. C., lectured last
evening at ST. Gabrlels Catholic Church. Thirty.
seventh street, srhe Late Pope Plus TX. and the
Present Pope Leo XIII " He dwelt on the long
and unbrokon lino Of tue Roman pontins, and the
many among them who were distinguished for piety,
learning and courage, and SAID tha. to take
tha MT tha hnltc
would be 10 ,uks away the history Of c,vilizA-
ton He drew graphic sketch OF the salient lea
lures The lie of tho late Pope and the wonderful
command he exercised over the love and esteem OF
all with whom he In contact Personally his
character might be summed up in saying that he
loved God with his whole heart and soul aud his
eighbor himself He was happy extending
the OF happiness among hIs fellow creatures.
As priest, oishop aud Pope the same cheerful
kindiy. bright aud devotsdiy pous maD
He had great trials IN ais time, but he bore himself
ever with Y sweet patience. He earnest and
laborious as head oi the Church, and IN his lifetime
accom- pished as much as score OF ponlllis. The
great events he Witnessed especially the passage Of
the dogma OF the immaculate conception and the
holding OF the Ecumenlcai Council. mark his ponlin-
the memorable any. he understood well
what would promote the welfare OF men, ana when he
ascended TIE PapaI throne conceived pan OF bernl
govern men that only Tor tno reckless conduct OF
agitatng inadeis might nave p0rne happy anu gori-
lruitlon. He would not make war on Austria be-
cause hc believed It would be UNJUST as Austria had
The violent revolutionary mob surrounded MIN IN his
palace and made to fly. HIS Minister anu
guards slain, but during that period of wild
anu lawless tunut Plus TX. preserved the same
Christian traits OIL character, the Same sweet and
pa,ience ana the disposition 10 forgive his enemles.
The speaker narrated tho scenes accompanying the
ihsurrcctOn In Rome and passed on 10 the subject OF
the spoiutlon Of the states oi the Church by King
Victor Emmanuel and tue Pope being a prisoner ior
ten years IN the Vatican How he bore that self
imposed confinement and how he never once yielded
ota OF his position On the rights oi Inc Church
The world knows.
THE PRESENT poNTIFF
The present Pont,n Is like Pius TX. IN many things
He is man o. dignity and Iearnins; different IRON
the aie Pope physically, as he Is tall and thin, but
Ike him Ia gentleness and piety, yet not without
made known. The leading incidents OF the present
Popes lite given and his character archbishop
dweit upon o give an idea OF wnat coul might
be expected IRON him in his present more exalted sta
ton
A. OAKLEY HALLS LECTURE BEFORE THE YOUNG
MEMS HEBREW UNION.
Mr. A. Oakley Hail delivered h lecture last evening
under the auspices OF the tho Young Mems Hebrew
Union, ut the Norfolk Street Synagogue the subject
beng "lhs Great Petcrsham VIII Case. - The lecturer
began with u description of Petcrsbam, town by the
sea. II hud the three chief elements oi civ
iizaton--a newspaper, opera house and
u cemetery. IL had bachelor million naire
named PheIim O'Kmansegg, who owned extensive
berry marshes behind. He UNCONSCIOUS deity
of restaurants and Thanksgiving Day dinners. lie
mad no krth or kin. One dry he read that the State
would get The property OF ono dying without relt-
uvea He determined 70 make Will, and bought one
OF those cobwebs spun by cunning legal spiders
Tor catching the money OF aymcn ncs, called
"Evory Man HIS own Lawyer" lie began
to make II Will out oi II and found 1t no 60 He
wanted to leave his money to charitable societies
He sought the Squire, the Oldest lawyer. The squire
was paralyzed with Tear at tho call II much
as his reputation worth make such Will! that
kind OF thing was gettng to be d,srcputabe. II
q mark OF insanity. II no wanted 10 make such
will he should go to Connecticut Tho woud-be
tator said he coudn't remove his oyster beds and
crauberry farm out OF the state. However, tho old
lawyer says u he is detcrmined to leave them to
hrs IL ga! skirts clear BESIDES lawyer
would ever live 10 see the end OF The contest 'What
contestY" Uver the will" But who's TO contest 2"
"Ob, somebody viii DC iound never fear"
PHELIM MAKES A WILL.