New-York tribune., 1879-03-07
BERNARD'S PERSONAL TRAITS.
THE THIRD LECTURE or DIR. sToRRS ON THE SAINT
OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.

THE THIRD LECTURE or DIR. sTORRS ON IIIE SAINT
OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.
The third of the series of lectures on
Bernard of Clalrvaux, winch the Rev. DR.. Storrs IA
delivering ID Brooklyn, given last evening before
an audience which ded nearly every seat in the
pleasant gallery Of the Art Association Building II
consisted of review Of the personal history and char
acterstics OF Bernard whom the speaker described in
glowing and eloquent language. Upon the platform
we're seated Henry F. Pierrepont and the Rev Drs
Charles H. Han, Theodore l.. Guy Ter and NOAH Hunt
schenck In the audience were many clerSYmen. law
yeis and professional men.
Bernard was born lecturer said. in his faher's
feudal castle IN Burgundy in 1901. He probably
named for his mothers father. II gOOdy land-a
Land of hearty hyers and merry Christmases. BOssuet
the most eminent French preacher since Bernard.
also borr there and Button, and Madame de sevigue
and DiderOt ana Lamartine. The skies Of Burgundy
nave rlprued wits as well as wines. Its political rela-
lions at this time with the French Kingdom. In
this province as the eleventh century dra wing
close Bernard born. His father was wealthy and
distinguished knight. He possessed kindly ran-
ners. cultivated piety, aud had an immense
strong in him. But II was Beruard's mother, Alice
most closely resemDled. and whose Intense re-
not revertnced and honored ii those times There
are examples enOngn TO show that noble women, blghy
placed out Christ we're known IN those days
They were devoted to the Church when lepregenied
Christianity 10 them restabed Ihe herce elements
and cruelty around them. Ihe stress OF thc
times tended 10 make them devOtees, and they
used their distinction and Influence for the Church.
The mother o. Bernard was gentle self-sacritclng,
holy woman. devoted TO charity. II ever mothers
WIS ics ana prayers determined the character O son.
those Of b rnard's mother determined his. He remem-
bcred words ana edtated on the plans whlch she
had laid out for him. From his mother he inherited
rare personal beauty. He Is described as above the
middle height thin, with transparent com
pIeX0n, hight halr aud red beard; his Whole aspect
war noble peISuas But ne inherited from his
mother more than personal beaulya spirit pTactio al
aud sensitive, and almost ethereal moral nature,
wnIcH made him the most controlling man in Europe
for "A whole generation He studied the Scriptures
faithfully. and lways had an open sense % the sweet
ness ana vaStnc,s OF Nature. His courage per
ccj a. uIS emotion quick more entirely sincere
his convictions, more unselhsh man on the
whole think, has not lited since the Apostles.
POUc, the Abbot Of tldirVdu3 dd not shrink.
when duty demanded, Ia speak as TO common man.
To have Had such man standing against tue violence
oppression anu al the savage powers whch had been
poured upon the lime from the previous ages-bimsef
TIE champion Of law, Of justice, of pety-no more Is
needed explain the regard in which IL was held and
The Influence winch he eKerted ON ms contempOraIes
he ruled ais monastery with hrmness and wisdom and
with marked succrss. He preached with frequency and
ferYur. Practical he to be lCOnOCldst, al
most "a Puritan, regard to church art. The cOntcm
platlve Bernard and the ecstatc never expelled
hs practical temper. Nothing too trihng
f,y Ei. a ITgnf