Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-18
CLOSING LECTURE

George Il. Vending Closes tho I. u.
G. A. Course With Lecture,
Unseen Realities. =
The Fitting Climax to the Most Sue
cesslul Course Ever Given
Here.
The Railway =. NJ. C. "A. must be-
llieve in the child's habit OF saving the
best for the last, for the closing num-
Der OF this years entertainment
course. when the eminent orator,
George r. Vending. delivered his lee
ture on = Unseen Realities" was a fit
ting climax to the most popular and
most successful course ever given in
the city The association has reason to
congratulate itself and If Its modesty
!forbids the people of Marshalltown will
do it. Variety, which is the spice of
life. was not lacking In the makeup
of the entertainments and was among
the chief charms. The musical evenings
We're such as to satisfy the lovers of
the classical and the lovers OF the pop-
5ular. for those who could not appre-
ciate the Max Bendix concert or the
spiering Quartet, enjoyed the bright
measures Of the ladies who appeared
with the Fadettes. A popular lecture
like Hedley,s. a bit Of unfamiliar his
tory like Conwells and an interesting
acquaintance with the author F. Hop
kinson Smith--a better or more varied
course could scarcely be arranged.
The lecture of Tuesday evening was
the contribution Of the scholar and the
philosopher and it in nowise reflects
on the other lecturers to say that this
was the finest of all. For'many years
there has been no more polished orator
on the lecture platform than George r.
IWendling and his powers instead Of dis
minishing with the years have grown
with them, until his equal 1t is difficult
to find and his superior Impossible.
Weddings lectures are on themes OF
religion and spirituality, and while
many in the audience We're familiar
with his lectures The Man of Galilee"
and rs Death the End?" the one on
8'.Unseen Realities" was new.
Mr.. Weddings lecture should per-
haps be called more spiritual than re-
ligious, If we use the latter word in it's
narrow sense, for he brings to the at
tention the God, who is love and not
the Jehovah who has formulated a
scheme by which men are to be re-
warded or punished.
The great minds OF Darwin, Huxley,
Mill and Spencer brought message to
the nineteenth cent ury--the message of
inaterialism. But the world, unsatis-
fed. is turning away from 1t to the
higher message which the twentieth
century will bring. For the potent
forces are those which are unseen. The
sceptic and the Christian, fearful lest
his faith be shaken. make q mistake
when they claim that science and re-
ligion are antagonistic. Science teaches
spirituality, for all things are tokens OF
unseen and powerful agents. and as the
outside of things can not satisfy, sci-
ence bows to the unseenor becomes g
grsssire agnusticisnl. faith is the es-
sential element in mental and moral
growth, and the great men of the
carnated unseen forces in which they
believed.
Many have trembled at higher criti-
cism'' as others have done at science,
but however much Of truth the critics
may promulgate, their attacks can not
kill the New Testament, until poetry.
art. music and civilization are dead,
mot until the things which are unseen
become temporal instead of eternal"
There are many of the unseen reali-
ties public opinion, the power Of the
press. conscience, influence, magma
ton, honor--but the greatest of all Is
the conquering power OF love. The old
material law of the survival OF the fit
test Is giving way to the new law of
love. that the strong shall cherish the
weak. That Is the true law OF prog
ress.
All the unseen forces We're brought to
Life in the God man, who spent but
thirty-three years on earth, but whose
influence increases with the passing OF
the centuries, the immaculate Christ In
whom Is to be found all that man
needs.
The dignity Of the theme was not
marred by the Insertion Of stories
meant to be humorous, but the easy
flow OF beautiful English held the large
audience and his reference to literature,
art and music as we'll as religion and
philosophy showed the wide range OF
the orators knowledge. Elegance of
diction, purity OF pronunciation and
diction. purity Of pronunciation and
stIful thoughts expressed made the
evening one to be remembered as a
rare treat.
The lecture course has been q success
full one from financial standpoint, anG
Treasurer T. I. Wnsson, Of the Railway
r. n. G. A.. was asked this morning for
a statement. Mr.. Waeson saye that the
association Is ahead $4,000 as q result
Of the years course. The total receipts
Of the entire course OF seven entertain
ments we're el.577.So. and the entire ex-
penses OF the course were 3l,lsl.z1. The
prof,t All goes to the general fund os sths
associates. /,