, 1879-02-09
THE GROVER LECTURE.

| prise.
To tbs Editor Of The Tribune.
CHICAGO, Feb. S.-TnE TRIBUNE Of this
! morning has communication signed A. e. 8.
! on tho Philosophical Society aud Grover, asking
| questions, to one of which I would reply as
President Ut the Society," He asks, "What Is
the Philosophical Society thinking OF in allow
| ing such diatribes to issue under their aus
! pices?" I am happy to inform A. e. s. and all
others that the PHILOSOPHICAL Society had MOTH
ing to do with the issue Of Growers scurrility,
nor, knowingly, with its original production. II
] the question could have been voted on in the
| Society I am sure that we should have tried to
prevent any outsider from knowing how shame
fully We had been imposed upon; we would
have kept the whole matter secret In our un-
fortunate memories. Grover had no authority
OF permission to link the name Of the Society
with his vulgarity. I do not think the protest
Of Tuesday signed "a Member OF the Philo-
sophfcal Society" was feeble disclaimer,''
though restrained in tone; and tor myself Qet
any one who knows me imagine how felt un-
der the in1iction OF the delivery Of that 'slect-
uze'' ~, have waited only that my wrath might
cool to the writing point, and that my protest
might appearin Sundays TRIBUNE The fol-
lowing are the facts in the case:
Grover has for some time wanted to lecture to
the Philosophical Society; and just at this time
the Executive COMMITTEE has had difficulty In
filing their list OF lecturers, none OF those who
were engaged being ready. On the evening Of
DR.. Thomas lecture was authorized to an
nounced that Mr.. a. J. Grover wonld lecture
the next week upon The Doctrine of Equali-
ty," topic selected from our list; or, 1t was
said, he might change tile title somewhat to e1-
mis-
week he informed the Committee that he would
lecture on "Sone OF the Causes Of Intemper-
ance." Saturday morning first saw the printed
announcement OF his theme, "Intemperance:
Christianity Its Ally: Science the Rcmedy.'' In
the evening small audience appeared, partly
brought in by the complimentary tickets we al
ways give the lecturer; not more than fourth
OF the members OF the Society were present.
On rising to speak, Grover said he was like
woman on washing-day who gives q lunch Of
odds md ends: he had not had time to write the
lecture he had promised, SO he wouid give us q
hasty article hc had written for publication.
Then came that fearful mess OF irrevcSencc,
false statement, bad logic, and scurTilous abuse
of Miss Frances E. Willard, an hunore1 lady Of
whom We may say as Lowell did OF Mrs l.. VI.
Child
II her heart at high floods swamps her brain now
'Tis but richer for that when the tide cbbs again.
rrhough the lady bears nv name, have not
the honor OF claiming her rs 4 rclutiye.) We
we're taken by surprise. Every one criticisiug
tile lecture including some anti Christians. ex-
pressed dissent. both from the arenmeut anu
the spir;t OF the .ecturc. A stranger who hnI
the courtesy Of the tloor allowed him. c. W.
Johnson. ESQ. Of Kansas. joined in the GENERAL
voice. 10 the criticisms Grover did not really
rcp}y but added some other irrelevant stuff
wien he bad The floor IN answer them.
Tie Philosophical Society is conuosei of
members of Ill shades Of oDinion. from Catholt-
cism to Atheism. L. triyes 4 free n)atform for
the presentation OF all sorts of opinions belfey-
inw that error will be most effect11aIv and most
wisely suppressed when tho light and warmth
of truth and free discussion arc poured upou it,
Said an English critic some forty wears ago, .sIf
The Devil be abroad anywhere. by all means let
us see him; for the Prince OF the Power 0! the
Air ever worSs most dangerously in the dark''
Nowana to protect our stores, we do not put
up shutters, but nut in large windows and light
tile gas
A. II. s SAYS: nIf the Society knew tbe
measurement which the best minds OF the CITY
l,avc uf them. they would not provoke th,.
Christian nuhlic u etc In his views. then. we
minds of the city" would do well II they
ceptct the free platform we offer, md give us
true philosophy and facts OH all sub jects within