Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-14

AN Evening of Pure Literary Plea
sure.

We are well assured the Georgia HIstori-
cal Society will receive the wsrmest thanks
of the large and intelligent audience which
graced Masonic Hall last evning to hear the
announced lecture of Father Ryan, the
patriotic priest and the true Southern poet.
The spacious hall was we'll filed By q re-
hued and intelligent audience, numbering
not less than five or six hundred.
The stage was occupied by DR.. Charters,
Vice President, General SOrrel, Mr.. Bogart.
Mr.. Harden and other active members of
the society, the distinguished guest of the
society, Rev. Father Ryan, prominent as TO
appearance in the midst of them. His
features distinctly marked him as a notable
man--his kind, beniguant couutenauce de-
noting the true humanitArian-the forcible
aud eloquent teacher, and the true poetic
genius sparkling IN bis beautiful eyes. At
the appointed hour, s o'clock, Mr.. B )garf,
Chairman of the Lecture Committee, rose,
and IN the following appropriate remarks,
which we're received with applause, intro
duced the speaker:
LADIES AND GENTLEMRN-A lecture to-
night on so large and Interesting a subj ct
as "Modern CiviliZ ation," by one who,
though personally unknown to most OF US,
is no stranger to Southern hearts, and whose
name, as 8 scholar and poet, pervades our
whole land, is q privilege upon which you
may we'll be congratulated. The subj ct
commends itself to intelligent and thought
full people, while the method and manner
of fits handling will, | am sure, secure your
graiiied attention. | may therefore safely
predict as the result of our distinguished
visitors lecture here, as everywhere else, his
suditory's unstinted appreciation.
But more than this. There is a poem of
sweetest sentiment and of warmest patriot
isIu-consecrated to those memories of the
past that we love as our life. Is tones OF
pathos and its notes of triumph ill our
hearts; the saddest and yet the proudest
remembrances rise up in our midst as we
hear it's words and catch its music. Familiar
as you are with 1t on the printed page or in
the voice OF song, perhaps you will never
eri " it's language or IT'S sentiment so much
as when you hear 1t to night recited by the
melodious voice and the nervous spirit of
him who wrote It. May it's manly yet pa
tient words, its proud yet sad re QUEEN, never
cease to haunt the memories and to sustain
the spirits OF Southerpers forever.
Ladies' and gentlemen, let me. hasten to
present to you Father Ryan, the author of
the Conquered Banner"
Father Ryan rose and proceeded to elucI-
data his subject. "Modern Civilization "
The lecture was what we might call didac
tic talk, snd the distinguished gentleman,
with fervor aud logic strung together like
beads Of pearl on threads Of tenacious
argument, exhibited the various phases of
modern progress warning against true wis
dom, not only In political but social life
The true civilization, be remarked, should
express the true life OF a people and origi-
Dates In the development of the highest
aspirations of the moral nature, aud that
civilization which ignores the cultivation OF
the head and the material surroundings OF a
nation, to the ignoring of mans spiritual
elevation and just recognition Of God
which directs and controls human endesvors,
is a fraud, and howev. bright and glittering
| is unworthy of the dignity of the name.
In this strain of didscdc reasoning the
| distinguished lecturer touched happily on
some of the phases of what is called modern
civIliz alton in it's various exhibitions In poll
| tics and social &C lnomy of the present time
His sententious utterings were decorated in
beautiful language, aid sparkled with hu-
NOR or grew sombre in gravity as he pressed
them to the attention OF his audience. They
evidently came from the heart, as there was
a seeming total lack of premeditated prepa-
ration about them, which rendered them
sharp, incisive and telling.
In the course of the lecture the au horitv
of the teacher was often seemingly lost in
the idesIity of the poet. His beautiful
Lee. tx-President Jefferson Davis and other
distinguished leaders in the lost cause were
feelingly responded to by the entire au-
dience.
Farher Ryan wound up his lecture or talk
by repeating his beautiful poem, the Con
quered Banner" which was received with
great applause. and the audience dispersed,
doubtless gratifed at the literary treat they
had epj Dyed.
Father Ryan left last night Immediately
after the lecture on the ten O'Clock fast
train on the Central Railroad for Au-
gusta, where he is to deliver a lecture to-
night. He will return here tomorrow,
however, and viii deliver lecture to-mor-
row evening at Masonic Temple, under the
auspices OF the Catholic Library Associa-
ton. His lecture will be on subject other
than that which be SO elCquently discussed
last evening, having. we understand; only
been delivered in New Orleans, where It
elected the highest commentator and sp-
probation Of the people OF all denOmina-
| lions.
The lecture is broad and general in its
character, and is the argument OF believer
in God and a revelation against the assaults
OF the atheist sn1 iDfidel. The reverend
gentleman will also recite, smnng his other
poems, "In Memorism Tieke's NAV be
procured Of any of the committee Of the
association and at the several places named
In the Advertisement.