The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-26

The final lecture in a series OF eight
which have been given under the auspices
of the r. /. Metaphysical association on
Sabbath afternoons during the past win
ter and spring occurred in Arcanum hall,
yesterday afternoon. before a large and
intelligent audience.
The speaker was Prof. Charles II. New
comb OF Boston. the well known author
and lecturer, and his theme, "rhe Song
OF the Sun" Previous 10 the lecture a de-
lightful musical program was given by
the Schubert Male Quartet and Miss
Edith woodley. violinist.
The quartet rendered a special arrange
ment OF Lead Kindly Light" and Near
r,My God. TO Thee. with beautiful effect
while the violin solos, "Traumeret" and
Romano sans Paroles" by Miss Wood
ley were executed with remarkable
smoothness and skill
At the close OF the musical program
Col Henry w. Taft, president OF the II.
I. Metaphysical association, gracefully
introduced the speaker, emphasiz at
the same time, the need and the helpful
ness OF these lectures on the higher
thought lectures which have led so many
people out OF darkness into light.
Prof. Newcomb's admirable lecture
was. In truth, gospel OF optimism OF
the most positive type and was listened to
with deep attention from beginning TO
end. The same was In part. as follows:
The commonest experience I'm life
which we are continually encountering
from the time that our consciousness first
dawns until IL passes from the material
10 the astral plane at death is the expe-
rience of discouragement 1 do not come
TO YOU this afternoon TO speak about as
coura cement, but TO speak about the
needlessness of all disbursement In life.
have been impressed during the last
winter as | took up the papars with the
number of suicides. and nave studied me
causes which were assigned TOR them' ana
in almost every case / have found that
no cause can be found for the act except
despondencY.
so this becomes a very interesting
question for us all, rs there any need OF
encouragement in life?' All disease. some
medical man has said, has its cause I'm
the loss of joy. | think we do not prop
erly appreciate the necessity OF Joy IN llls s
think we do not appreciate the need.
lessness of sorrow. Now the conmonest
songs of life are In the minor chords
over and over again We sing the song,
nv sorrow / fear. These are the songs
OF life. i went to dwell little while
upon what appears 10 me as the song OF
the sun.
II rejoice rejoice as a strong man
to run a race. The sun is the great
physical fact OF the universe. The soul
is the great fact of the spiritual universe,
and as the material universe revolves
about the sun, so that IL receives In every
part the heat thereof. so does everything
in life revolve about the soul. Napoleon,
after his defeat at Waterloo. during his
Imprisonment at st Helena, wrote the
autobiography of his life. and one of the
most interesting statements in IL was thu
explana ton OF his defeat.
81 felt the danger of my situation. l
began to doubt of my means. My body
was in state of suffering. my mind ir-
resolute. We were overcome.
Now every real defeat begins at the
point of doubt; begins at the point at
which We feet the danger of the situa-
ton. II we were never sensible OF dan
ger, II we were always conscious OF our
power, we would never be defeated, We
would never suffer
II know these statements, some OF
them, will seem to you little broad. and