The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-04-16
DR.. SMITHS LECTURE.
THE LAND OF THE PHARA0


A large, intelligent and apprs
ence assembled at the First
church, New Orleans, to hear
NJ Smiths lecture on the Monu
Egypt and the Exodus"
The lecturer wss introduced by the y
Dr.. Palmer, pastor Of the church, Will
few happy and pointed remarks, and open
by reminding his audience of the great in
terest of this subject, not only for the scholar,
autiqusry or philosopher, but also for the!
Christian, Egypt having been the home Of
the Israelites, the chosen people, for period
twice as long as this government has existedN
For the last twenty FIVE years, it has be.
come the fashion to attack the Old Testa-
ment record, and many Christians have been
silenced by the arguments of the enemies of
faith ; but when men have been slenced God
has compelled the stones to cry out. The
discovery of the key to the hierOglyphics has
produced results conGrmatory of the Old
Testament. Modern ingenuity has deci-
phsred those inscriptions which have proved
the mystery of ages, but which are now just
as easily understood as any other classical
languages, and which have been reduced to
a grammar aud are taught in all the school
Of Egypt.
Notwithstanding the immensity of the ms
terial, the whole history of Egypt is accessi
bic to all of US to-day. Y
The lecturer then turned bis attention to
the different monuments and structures of
that country, its pyramids of gigantic dmen-
siona, wonderful in the colossal splendor of
their very ruins of its obelisks, their shafts
covered with hieroglyphics, some of them ex-
lies in foreign lands; of tnsir dykes or
levees, which we're undoubtedly constructed
by an extinct race Of engineers-having
been built probably $500 years before
Christ, and still standing solid and unshaken .
to day, while We may often notice parts
the Louisiana levees mesndering down
Mississippi towards the Gulf of Mexico.
He gave detailed explanation of the
struction, dimensions, and measureun
the great pyramid, now, as we'll as 10
times, considered one of thlkyo9dE
world.
he then spoke Of the pc
gree of civilization whick
their knowledge of a.
forces, and their beini
highest art and refnt
considered learning q
honors or wealth.
sorry; this was exen
of picture represe
ing the bastinsdo on
the inscription that
back"
There can be no d
ence Of Egyptian lea
The Egyptian worship
pure. It is well known
the immortality of the
after death. The soul
great variety of experie
mons before Osiris, the
read some passages from
ual of the dead.
The civilization OF shhis and
to be brightest at the beginnin
nation is at the beginning. Jus
portion as you recede from the
DDS of the nation, her spiritu
corrupted. No nation can ris'
its spiritual faith. Egypt reache
of her greatness 1900 years befQ
England did sixteen hundred
that period. She placed her
ever she pleased. Phenicia
acknowledged her suprem
ceived the tribute Of Ninevl
But luxury brought decaz
into degrading POlytheiS
superstition. A mytholoi
the place of the spiritual
took away the veil that GOV,
the sanctuary you beheld q
dile. II is generally supposed
man or Grecian form of worship spy
an idolatrous germ, but Egypts j
apostasy. We see how nation NJ
to disseminate truth failed in its mis-
was then that through Gods sente
exodus was brought about, and He tod
the torch of truth from the EgyptianS(
put it in the hands of the despised IsraelitI
from whom it was made the beacon light
future nations.
With these words the reverend gentlem
brought the lecture to close and dismissl
the audience, after having thanked them fol
their attention.-New Orleans Times.