The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-12
GREAT AUDIENCE
HEARS STEPHENS
Distinguished Scholar From Cali
fOrnia Begins Series OF Lectures
at Richmond College.
HERE UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT
Is Discussing the European Back
ground OF the Settlement at
Jamestown.

a large audience owd the chapel
~ Richmond College last night 20 hear
Professor H.. Morse Stephens. OF the Unit
versity % California. begin the twenty
hfth course of Thomas lectures. The
speaker was introduced by Dr. s. O..
Mitchell. and began by expressing his de-
lsut az being IN Richmond, tho f~ulnllrncnt
Of n long cherished dream. DIT. Stephens
compared the Thomas Lectures 10 the
famous lowell Lectures Of Boston. point
ing ort the honor-rou OF speakers on each
foundation.
The general subject or the course is
The European Background of the Set
Element at jamestown" and the theme
for the evening. France Under Henry
"" Professor STEPHENS emphasized the
fact THAT there was distinctly a European
public opinion i'm 1907, and rad been since
tho fifteenth century. There were three
countries Influencing public opinion
France. Spain and England. As yet there
were. In the modern sense, no Germany
no italy. no Russia. The sixteenth CEN
fury was the century Of spain. D. seven
teenth was the century OF France.
Henry Of Navarro.
r. tho seventeenth century the most
important person in Europe was King
Henry w. OF France. Henry Of Ma
varre.' He was a hero Of romance, as
wen as a statesman, a king OF deeds as
wei as of thought. He served a long
apprenticeship i~earning politics. and no
man Of his time learned 1t 50 we'll At
first a Protestant. he later became a
Catholic. Henry ". is noted for a three
fold contribution 10 HIS time. First. he
stool for tolerance IN religion. This
really secured his throne. He set the
state above the church. and made Of
France a state somewhat resembling an
Client Rome iE Cts religious liberation.
Second. Henry II. introduced into
France a highly centralized administra-
ton Tor the purpose Of improving the
lot Of the working people. The old
feudai system Of France had been local.
Henry believed IN "a government for the
people and not by the people. The people
must be taken care Of by those above.
and so Bismarck thought. The taxes were
to be spent for national purposes. and the
government existed for the prosperity Of
the people. Especially did Henry Ike the
country people. and by a sort OF demo-
cratic manner was ever a prime fRvorite
with the masses even down through the
days Of tho French Revolution. for his
statue alone IN Paris was spared.
Third. Henry ". strove 20 bring about
International peace. He had a hatred for
war HIS idea was that peace IS 20 be
maintained by a council OF fifteen repre-
sentatlyes from as many states. Indeed,
Henry was the peace-maker OF Europe
In the early days OF the seventeenth CEN
tury. This remind US OF the Hague on
ference to-day.
Henry ". was no hero in his own
eyes. but a jolly good fellow, full OF
honh0mie, hearty and rough. and true
90 tho little people" OF his land. And
80 he won the hearts OF his people. for
back Of his levtty was real love and a very
rare embodiment or public spirit
Professor stephens lectures on Thurs
day evening on Spain Under Philip III
and on Friday evening on Great Britain
and Ireland Under James T." The lectures
are freely open to the public DR.. Stephens
is a worldwide authority on the subjects
he is discussing. being the author OF
many volumes, and for years professor in
English universities.