The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-12-20
PRrsrprsr TuoMpsoS IN Omo-HE

ICLE BAYS ABOUT THE LECTOkk--
THE lecture of President John X.
Thompson was well attended by
one of Carrellton's most appreciative
audiences. AS for ourselves, We
were greatly pleased with the subject
matter and in the manner of it's de
livery, and we have heard Of no one
refer to it in other than the most
praise worthy language. He had de-
livered the lecture but once before
in the chapel of the University.
The theme, Sovereignty of Man
hood" is a deceiving title for so mag
nificent lecture. For characters be
made general circuit of history
ancient and Notwithstanding from
the present time to 2000 years B. c.
These included eminent divines,
Horace Greeley, Alex. II. Stephens,
Abraham Lincoln, George Washing
ton, Sir Walter Scott, Emmett, Bun
yam, John Milton, Shakespeare, the
Apostle Paul, Scion, Socrates, Them
istocles, and many others whose
names are enshrouded in the misty
ages of time or are not so familiar to
the public. His definition of Man
hood and the characters he used as
illustrations would fill three columns
of our space, and an attempt to de-
scribe it would be doing the lecture
an injustice. The gist of the defini-
ton, however, was that sit does not
consist of superior physical strength,
the dazzling robes of power and au-
thority, riches and fine apparel, gen
ius, talent, or oratory. Men in
whom were found devotion, courage,
simplicity, honor, truth, constituencies,
kindliness, thoughtfulness, were
manly men'-'men of Manhood"
Manhood was confined to no section,
race, creed, or party. He illustrated
by the two opposites of Horace Gree
ley and Alex. II. Stephens. He re-
cited the simple story so well known
to all readers of the early life and
habits of Greeley--as poor printer
boy, how he tramped from a New
England office to New York to OBJ
tain employment. He dwelt with
tender pathos on the fact of his hav-
ing tramped long distance out of
his way to go home and bid his
mother goodbye. The boy Greeley
showed in that act of reverence and
kindness to his mother that he was
the making of a "manly man." The
first boarding house he put up at in
New York with friend would cost
him So per week. He couldn't afford
to pay that much and he almost i'm
medlately left to go to cheaper
house In refusing to take that
which he was not able to pay for he
again showed that he was "manly
man." The lecturer gave the history
of Greeley in full until he sank into
his grave, too sensitive over the un-
kindness and injustice of old friends.
Alex. II. Stephens was poor lawyer
in Georia; he educated himself, he
opened an office in part Of the city
where he could get low rent, he
swept out and made his fires himself
because he couldn't afford to pay for
it; in that he showed his "manliness.
He advanced rapidly, he gained
enough to buy back the old home
stead his parents had been forced to
leave, and put them back into it, &c.
Today he is mere physical wreck,
weighing but 81 pounds, and as he
is wheeled on an inyalid's chair
through the halls of Congress men
can look upon him and say in truth,
in the light Of history, that as boy
and man he has '..Manhood"-"he is
a manly man. The pastor of one
of the most refined and wealthy Eps-
copal churches in Boston was ex-
tending calls to members Of his con
gregation. He CHANGED to come
across a poor, sickly, fretful and
weary woman with nursing child in
the same physical condition. He re-
allied at a glance that the woman
needed rest, change of scenes il on
ly for an hour, little sunlight and
fresh air. He insisted that the moth
err should go to the Park alone and
leave her child with him. He took
it in his great strong arms, soothed
it by his magnetism and it fell
into a gentle sleep. The mother re-
turned with sunshine in her heart,
her mind and nerves composed, her
burden lightened. The act of the
minister was that Of a manly man"
that was one way of showing his
manhood" The lecturer asserted
that Manhood was irresistible-it
couldn't be obscured nor crushed;
there were no difficulties it could not
surmount. Manhood was Sovereign
for the same reason that sparks go
upward, water runs down hill, grass
grows, flowers bloom or birds sing.
The lecturers rendition of some of
ST. PauPs writings, and part of Wal
poles speech at the trial Of Warren
Hastings mark him an orator of great
promise. This will give our readers
an idea of his lecture. Those who
could have but didn't hear it made
mistake. AS member of the Lee
ture Association we favor having Mr..
Thompson deliver a second lecture at
some future day. Until that time,
we urge all to remember the moral
of the lecture and be manly men,"
"8e just and fear not:
Let all the ends thou aime5t ut
Be thy country's thy Gods and truths"