Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-10-16
Lecture and Farewell.

DIR. N. A. Swickard delivered his lee
ture on "Robert Browning" in the COL
lege chapel Monday evening to an az
preciative audience. The lecture is
one which has won the learned doctor
the laudation of the press and students
of literature wherever he has delivered
it. The doctor treated his subject
somewhat differently from what it was
generally expected he would, leaving
out biographical features and personal
study of the poet and considering di-
rectly his works. The dramas were
first taken up and analysed, the doctor
finding the poets great fault to be in
making all his characters speak too
much alike and in too nearly the same
plane. He found beauty in his abrupt
ness and i'll the granduer of the poets
Thought. Much of the so-called
mysticism of Browning the doctor
thought to be due to lack of knowl-
edge on the part of students as to the
poets method of work. which was en-
tirely syhthetical, and that Il study of
Browningas IL man rather than a poet
would throw much light upon many of
the passages considered unintelligible
by the average reader. 1t is as lyrist,
said the lecturer, that Browning is su-
preme. 1t is as singer he is immortal
because most natural. In his lyrics he
touches the chords of the human heart
and speaks in voice which every one
can understand. The doctor gave
point to his analysis by reading few
we'll chosen selections illustrating the
poets faults and beauties and closed
with short comparison of Browning
with other Victorian poets, placing him
easily first us u lyrist and thinker.
After the lecture DIR. Hancher was
called upon by the presiding officer, s.
| h. Wilson, to make a few remarks, and
in very facetious vein, mingled with
pathos of parting with the pastor ard
family, he presented Rev. Swickard a
beautiful gold watch, upon the inside
case OF which these words we're en-
graved: presented to Nathan A.
Swickard by members and friends of
the First NJ. Il. church, Oct. II, 1896.
Hot Springs, South Dakota" The sur
prise was evidently great to Rev. Swick.
ard, but he managed to collect himself
sufficiently to respond very feelingly
and thankfully for the handsome me-
mento. Then Dr. Hancher again pro.
ceeded i'll his happy mood, regretting
tina. Mrs. Swickard was not present.
but in behalf OF friends entrusted with
MIR. Swickard Is silver dollars to con
vey to Mrs. Swicisard, with which to
purchase some useful keepsake in
memory of her Hot Springs friends.
This was Il Us tol idea and was IL happy
hit, to which DIR. Swickara wittily re-
sponded.
Farewell handshakes and parting
words were then spoken in an informal
manner between pastor and friends,
and regretfully Rev. Swickard was bade
''good bye"
The following resolution was read
during the meeting, and endorsed un-
animously by those present by rising
vote:
Inasmuch as the Reverend Nathan
a. Swickard. for the last three years
pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal
church of Hot Springs, South Dakota,
has. by the authorities of the church
been transferred to the Dakota confer
ence and stationed at Aberdeen, South
Dakota.
| Therefore, We. the members of the
official board, in remembrance of the
constant and efficient service rendered
our church during his entire pastorat,.
and recognizing his pure and unselfish
devotion, as manifested in his relation
to our church and all of it's interests.
and realizing the deep loss the church
and community sustain in his depar-
ture from our city, do, most cheerfully
and heartily commend him to the
church and to all good people of the
city to which he has been appointed
pastor, as a minister of rare and fin
ished scholarship, of pure and spotless
life, of genuine piety; preacher of
unusual pulpit power and atrue Christ
ian friend, to be always depended upon
in every time of need.
Adopted by unanimous vote of the
members of the official board of the
First Methodist Episcopal church of
Hot Springs, South Dakota, in regular
session, Oct. Z, 1896.
II