The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-11
DIR. DANIEL LAST NIGHT.
An Interesting Lecture on the Life OF
John Calvin.

! BY special request of the Westminster
League, Rev. Eugene Daniel spoke last
night at the Presbyterian church on
"John Calvin" A large congregation
was present. 1t was an interesting ad-
dress, full of fine passages, and charmed
all who were SO fortunate as to be pres
ent.
The speaker began by somewhat ex-
planning the way in which he came to
deliver the lecture. 1t had been deliver
ed in Norfolk before the Matemie
League of that city. This led to re-
quest for its delivery before the West
minister League OF his own church; and
this body had kindly made SPECIAL effort
to secure the interesting audience be-
fore him, for whose presence he ex-
pressed his thanks.
At the outset. he made clear that he
should not speak from sectarian view
point, but would treat Calvin as one OF
the Reformers and his work rs part or
the great Protestant reformation.
He then proceeded to place Calvin in
his proper historical setting at the time
of his birth at Noyan, in France, in
1909. This was done by drawing an
imaginary picture. The newborn in
FAINT was supposed to be in the center
of a group of persons especially related
to him and his future life. Nearest to
him were put his parents. These were
described. Next to these, in circle
around him, were such men as Tyndale
and Conerdale, the earliest translators
of the Bible. After these. in larger
circle, the Reformers: Luther, then 20
years old; Zwingle, about %: Farel,
about 20; Melancthon, II, and Knox,
about years OF age. Each of these
was briefly spoken of. Last of all. in
n still larger circle, the monarchs of the
time: Henry VIII, then IS years old;
Francis I. then 16. and IN few years
to he king of France: Charles V, then 8
years old, afterwards to be Emperor of
Germany and King of Spain.
The speaker next rapidly traced the
life of the child ..us surrounded. He
ran the history through Calvin's edu-
cation ut Nayon, at Paris, at the uni
versities at Bourges, at Orleans. at
Toulouse He traced his conversion to
translation the Bible which fell
into his hands; spoke of his abandoning
the idea of becoming a priest and his
resolution to study law. and finally his
determination to work for the reforma-
ton. From this conclusion he never
swerved. His institutes" were origi-
nally written (at % years of age) and
addressed to francis | on be-
half of Calv:n's suffering breth-
rem. Calvin, himself prosecuted, fled TO
Strasburg, and finally, in 1886, to Gen
eva. He was banishcd from Geneva by
the Libertines in 1888. For three years,
he preached to congregation of about
] 500 French refugees at Strasburg. In
1912, the Genevese besought him,
through formal Occupations, to return.
He most reluctantly went back And
here he did his masterpiece of life-work
between the years of 1912 and 15G4,
when he died.
The speaker then described the moral
condition of Geneva as affected by the
fanatical wing of the Anabaptists anil
by The Iibertines He outlined the civil
and political government as instituted
by Calvin.
Having been through the history. the
lecturer then selected and signali2ed GER
tain features of it, and discussed them
in oraer.ns follows:
1.pCalvin as n Moral Reformer.
9. Calvin in his domestic relations.
3. Calvin as n Theological teacher.
a. CALVIN as related to 'Dervefus.
=. Calvin az man III hard work.
g. Calyiaaanaa Caivinism in history. as
nttcs'ed by Bancroft, - Guizat,o ana
Froude. sEHS@ cEf zps X4a4t JOG ~ - -l
The conclussorfa was an expression ~
congratulations TINT TIE speaker and his
audience live. not in the 10Th century.
ebut in the civil and religious liberty Of
our own day. ~.