The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-08-05
The Rev. Joseph Cooks Lectures In
Great Britain,

Ireland, and S3 in England and Wales. |
His audiences have been of extraordi-
nary size, quality and enthusiasm. lie
has been repeatedly recalled to leading ,
towns to meet overlooking assemblies.
Mr.. Cooks topics have been more difit-
cult and serious than were ever before
carried through tour of similar extent
and success. His principal themes have
related to the chief questions now in
discussion between Christianity on the
one hand, and Philosophy and Physical
Science on the other.
MIR. Cooks first formal lecture in
England was given in London In the
Memorial Hall, November 2, to all i'm
mense assembly, admitted by tickets,
and consisting chiefly of foremost rep |
rcsentatives of Christian activity in the |
metropolis.
Previously to this occasion Mr.. Cook
had delivered brief address on Octo-
Der 13, at the meeting of the Congrega-
tional Union in Birmingham. AT this,
his first public appearance in England,
his reception must have dispelled in-
stantly any lingering doubt he may
have had as to the kind of welcome he
was to meet with in this country.
"Our representative" says the Chris
tan Age of October 20, "whom we had
strictly charged to send us particular
account of this stage of the proceedings,
is constrained 10 confess himself unable
to do so: the feeling in that great gat.
ering, and its demonstrations during
the next half-hour, he pronounces sim
plv ipdescribable. The whole assembly
rose and greeted him with loud and re-
peated cheering, and a storm of APP
plause followed the conclusion OF the
address,"
MIR. Cook delivered two sermons in
DIR. Dale's church in Birmingham, OIL
October IS, the following Sunday, when
the spacious Carr's Lane Chapel was
found too small for the audience.
Early in November Mr.. Cook went
to South Wales. Following this he
lectured in Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds,
and Newcastle, and his appearance
everywhere awakened an enthusiastic
interest in his topics. A most trium-
plant success, however, awaited him
in Scotland, where he arrived on the
22nd of November.
MIR. Cook gave five lectures in Edin-
burph during eight consecutive days,
and the audience crowded all available
room in the largest halls, and grew in
enthusiastic interest to the last. Charles
Dickens said that Boston audience
was next in merit to an Edinburgh
assembly; and this he considered high
praise of Boston, because, in his opin-
ion, an Edinburgh audience was per-
feet. 1t was a severe test of Mr.. Cook,
even after his $50 lectures in Boston,
to give five lectures in few days In
Edinburgh; but the success there was
extraordinary. The subjects were high
and difficult though timely, such as
t.Does Death End ALP" "The Decline
OF Rationalism among Experts" Good
in Conscience" "Is Christianity Cred
ible in its Doctrines of the New Britt
and the Attonement" At Free St
Georges, formerly the Rev. DR.. Can
dish's church, and now the Rev. DIR
Whyte's, when Mr.. Cook preached OF
Sunday, November 81, on "Secre
Prayer" the building was crowded tS
repletion, and it was necessary to admi
the regular congregation to its place by
tickets, half an hour before the service
began. On Sunday evening, Nov. 2S
although the weather was wet and in
clement, an audience of at least 2 ,5O(
men filled the great auditorium of thu
United Presbyterian Hall, Castle Ter
race, at the lecture on the New Brit
and the Atonement. Many hundred
applied for tickets and failed to obtail
them for want of room. A prominen
minister says, 81 do not remember Il
have seen such gathering OF Edin
burgh men, except when Mr.. Gladston
addressed the monster meeting in tn
Corn Exchange. And even Mr.. Glad
stone did not hold the massive AM
manly audience more spell-bound tina
did Mr.. Cook"
January 80 Mr.. Cook delivered i
DR.. Chalmers Territorial Church i
West Port, Edinburgh, discourse o
Chalmers Remedies for the Evils c
Cities, and afterwards addressed a
overflow meeting of those who ha
been turned away for want of room
At st. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh
where Mr.. Cook preached on Marc
16, it was estimated that 5000 wer
turned away.
At Glasgow, Mr.. Cooks lecture
was listened to by crowded and bri
liant assemblies. A discoursej in col
nection with evangelistic services, an
lecture on a subsequent Sunday ever
ing was given in st. Andrews Ha
before audiences of more than 400
people Notwithstanding the inclemenc
of the weather. In DR.. Andrew Bonar
Church, where Mr.. Cook preached, III
audience overlooked the building, All
great numbers were turned away.
four O'Clock in the afternoon of wee
day, at lecture intended for student
an audience of 5000 people appeared
St. Andrews Hall.
After leaving Glasgow Mr.. Coo
went as far north as Inverness, stayin
10 Ia f,,.ls
marnock, Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen
and Elgin.
Leaving Scotland at the end of ID,
cember, Mr.. Cook lectured with col
tinued success at Sunderland, Stocl
ton, Middleboro, Newcastle, Jarrov
Darlington, Keighley, York and Di
mingham.
AT Manchester, where Mr.. Cook d.
livered three lectures in addition
preaching on Sunday, fifty minister
sat down with him at q public breal
fast, and two days later he met sever
ty-five invited guests at public te,
At Bradford splendid gathering q
sembled In st. Georges Hall to liste
to an address on Sunday evening, Eel
ruary 20. The Hall seats about 8 ,0(
people, and crowd had to be turne
away for want of room. Not lit
difficulty was experienced by the lie
turer in finding his way TO the pla
form through the compact mass
standing people. The great AGRA, tw
immense galleries, and all the aisl'
were packed to excess. Mr.. Coo
spoke one hour and forty minutes @
"The New Birth and the Attonement
There was eager attention TO the las
and In the concluding fifteen minut,
there was hushed solemnity, as if
power, not of man, moved the hearts
the people. An immense audience