Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-30
Vermont Methodist Seminar.

Vermont Methodist Seminary.
The commencement exercises began
with the reception to the graduating class
on the evening of the 10Th. The examina-
tons were held on Friday, Monday and
Tuesday.
On Sunday morning. the ooh. Prof.
Southworth preached the annual serm n
before the graduating class in Trinity
church from Isaiah 40:3l.
On Monday evening the pupils in the
musical class gave very enjoyable ''pious
recital under the direction of w. A
Briggs, their very efficient instructor, and
gave evidence not only of the possession
of musical geuius of high order, but
thorough drill for the limited time that
was possible. The programme contained
selections from Beethoven, Mendelssohn,
Chopin and Shubut.
At 8P. NJ Tuesday evening June %. the
chapel was nearly filled with the audience
gathered to hear the lecture by the Rev.
DIR. Newman; the ladies' literary societies
were marshaled in double file in the hull
on one side of the chapel, while on the
other there were arranged the gentlemen s
societies; guided each by Eo fair leaders
the entree was from both sides, simulta-
neously keeping step to a march played by
Mr.. Hadley, and they entered the seats,
all standing before the presiding lady and
the lecturer; the presiding lady seating
herself was the signal for them to be seated.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr..
Sherburne, after which Miss Gale fur
nished solo accompanied by the piano.
DR.. Newman was then introduced to the
audience, by Miss Barrett, in behalf of the
society under whose auspices the lecture
was given.
We are sorry that we are not able to
give the lecture in full. knowing that such
a literary treat must be heard in order tC
be appreciated. Our notes are meagre
and we know that we are doing great in
Justice both TO the speaker and the lecture
by giving in the peacemeal style we arc
/ obliged to, such a grand, eloquent master
f ~ effort as was DR.. Newman's on this
occasion.
The doctor spoke concerning the as
sumption that there were other books con.
tanning as good moral teachings and sol
emn sayings besides the Bible. and that
. they should be placed side by side with
: the Bible. One thing, he said, to him was
certain, that within the next fifteen years
the Bible would be called upon to undergo
an ordeal hitherto unknown.
He proposed to discuss the comparative
7 antiquity of the sacred writings of all ma
tions, and mentioned the importance OF
this, and illustrated by referring to the dis
pute concerning the discoverer of Ameri-
ca, the sameness of lightning and electric
t ity, the art of printing, etc.
r, The seven Bibles of the world, he said
are the Koran of the Mohammedans, the
sacred works of the ancient Germans, the
writings of the Buddhists, the teachings ol
? the Chinese, sacred works of the Perslan>,
I Vcda of the Hindoos, and the Scriptures
of The Christians
lie would pass by the Koran rs compar'
IullNblN lloutll' Ouu WouNh ol'o"h hA tu''
n pv upon Mohammed since he regarIe,
o him as raised up for Il particular purpose
and the same with Socrates, u 'roaster
= Confucius. But the distinction which ht
would make between these and the Apps
Il ties was that the Apostles could show ere
Y denials of Il revelation from God.
. lie described the purpprted giviny .
- the Koran, and stated that Mohammet
: stood convicted before the scholars of lh'
4 present day of the greatest plagiarism eve
:. committed, excepting that of some mod
:, ern clergymen.) The doctor said he coul'
y, recount how Mohammed employed Jewisl
u Rabbits, and stole portions of the koral
from the Magans and other nations.
H The author of the sacred book of tn
T. Buddhists. the Tripetckas, was nuddha
who, among other teaching, declared
. against caste, but he said it could b
proved that these books were not in exist
is ence before 600, B. G.
- He mentioned that the sacred writing
of the Chinese are divided into live sec
tons; and concerning the boast that Tn
d Chinese empire was in existence wher
according to Moses, the earth and me
were being created, the doctor said tina
It eminent Chinese scholars agree that 200
wears b. G. the Chinese empire was not /
n existence, and that these had staked thei
O reputation on the truth OF the statemer
that there are no authentic Chinese rec
Re ords reaching back 100, B. c., and n
t. alphabetic writing 1900, B. G.
r The decalogue, he said, was the mos
- ancient writing, and the ten command
. ments contained all the letters of the III
IL. 1,N1,n tin in
IN originated with the Almighty.
The lecturer then spoke concerning Il
-, book which Mr. Conway had compile
)" from the sacred writings of all nation
es and mentioned that this Mr.. Conway WI
y formerly a Methodist minister, but hi
IN strayed, and made the statement that wht
no the devil entered an apostate Method
:: minister he pitied the devil.
IS The doctor then gave us some specimen
of Hindoo literature, including the blesslr
40 which Brahmin asks when about to ca
and laid great stress upon the fact tn
there was nothing of worth found in the
he sacred writings which was not found in I
gs Bible and what there was in these wrltn
not found in the Bible was not worthy
:, the Bible.
III We were told that the Hindoos are Il
Ill natives of India, but came into that cou
III, ltry 100, B. G. and that the writer next
on Moses was Zoroaster, but the lectur
showed, that Moses wrote 300 years befo
his follower.
lc' But the speaker conceded that the teae
Ell, ings of the writings were remarkabl
he and he stated that Confucius prophesi
ii, concerning the coming of man fro
n'' the west, and that the emperor of Chi
sent an embassy to invite Christ to CHR
With fine language the speaker spo
.ho concerning the separation of the descer
NV ants of Ham, Shem and Japhet; those
ier Ham going into Africa, where the 5
of burned their faces and kinked their ha
these of Japhet being the Anglo-Saxon.
or white; and those of Shem being the yell
OIL Ch;naoa. And noticed the meetinU of tn,