Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-21
REV. JEFFREY
GIVES ADDRESS
M. e. PASTOR REciTEs HIS NOT.
ED LECTURE, IAN URN OF
GILpEp AsHEs.n
HUNDREDS ATTEN D
Speaker Takes Audience With Him
Through His Visit to the Ruins
Of Rome--ls a MasterfuI
Talk.

Before a large audience in the audi.
forum Of the First Methodist Episco-
pal church last evening, DR.. Thomas
w. jeffrey, the eloquent pastor deliv-
cred his noted lecture, "An Urn Of
Gilded Ashes"
DR.. Jeffrey's reputation as a lecturer
has extended to the gulf of Mexico,
where he was called several weeks
ago to deliver lectures in several of
the big cities. The lecture last even
ing was for the benefit of the Ladies'
Aid society Of the church and the
sum realized will be used in the work
among the needy of the city. The adj
dress was preceded by beautiful Sc.
lection on the pipe organ by Mrs.
John Ellmaker.
DR.. Jeffrey was introduced by J. X.
Dysart, who in a few appropriate
words paid many high compliments to
the Ottumwa clergyman.
"Urn of GlIded Ashes"
In his lecture, "An Urn of Gilded
Ashes DR.. Jeffrey has selected an in
teresting subject which deals of his
visit to the ruins of Rome, and he pre-
SCENTS the historical city as enclosing
much Of the worlds true greatness.
Interspersed in his address was much
humor, which caused ripples of laugh
ter to pass through the audience. DR..
Jeffrey declared it was appropriate to
give description of the old Roman
times and in descriptive adjectives
he told of Gods winds. which not
only destroy the work of man, but the
work Of Gods hand as well; and how
valleys, mountains and other things
of nature had been changed by the
rustling winds.
He asserted that the same change
was going on in human history and
he spoke OF the Peloponnesian war
which will be remembered by students
of ancient history. He then told of his
trip to Rome, the city of antiquity,
and how he patiently waited each day
until he could reach the city and go
back to the old scenes of battles, trag
edies and conquests. DR.. Jeffrey re-
ferred to his visit in Germany en- route
to Rome, and the beautiful pastoral
scenes of Venice were cited. He told
Of his visit to the city of Florence,
the home of Amerigo Vespucci, who
with Columbus had a dispute over the
discovery of America. This reminded
DR.. Jeffrey of the controversy be-
tween Cook and Peary over the dis
| covery of the north pole. He related
his journey along the line to Rome
and told of his visit to Athens, and
other old cities along the route.
Arrives at Rome.
The speakers first impression of
Rome was gained by moonlight when,
he said, mans mind is most active,
and when the mellow light from the
heavens adds a touch of uncertainty
and witchery to the scenes enclosed.
1t was under such condition that DR..
jeffrey viewed for the first time the
magnificence of the old city with the
seven hills forming a part of the hazy
background The majestic greatness of
the city appealed to him and in his
mind came the thought that Rome of
today is a great urn containing the
ashes of much of the worlds great
ness. Thus he explained the title of
his address, can Urn of Gilded
Ashes
In the decoration of the urn he used
the beauty and softness of the Italian
language, the relics of Caesar and
other great statesmen, the mute mon
uments, arches, temples and other sa-
cred mementos of the vanished great
ness as embellishments to the mantle
that shrouded the golden ashes with
in
When the urn was completed the
speaker turned his attention to its
contents. delving into the history of
Rome for his subjects. He led his
listeners ages back when the forum
seethed with the agitation of the old
Roman statesmen; back under the
shadows of the temples Of Saturn, OF
Castor, of Pullox. of Vespasian and to
the arch of Septimus. Brief sketches
of the men famous in ancient history
We're also given.
Lauds Caesar.
The awe of the majestic faded
when the tragedies of the rostrum and
the coliseum were witnessed. The old
scene that gave Shakespeare his
| thought for his famous productions of
julius Caesar was reviewed The
stormy session of the Roman council
was visited in person and where Gaze
sar fell at the hands of the conspira-
tors was tragically displayed, as well
as the scene that followed. Caesar
was lauded by the speaker as the
mightiest man of that time, the great
est military general of that day and
as the man of destiny. His vast NOV
ing armies assisted in the decoration
of this urn filed with the gilded
ashes of century.
The trials and agonies of the early
| Christian martyrs were enacted once
again on the bloody sands of the coli
scum where Dr. jeffrey said "for the
edification of the bloody Roman popu-
lace thousands of Christians were sent
up by hundred cruel paths to join
God"
DR.. jeffrey recited his visit to the
Pantheon, to the prison that still veil
! ed with sacred memories, the vault
where the Apostle Paul was imprison-
ed and from which he sent his epis-
ties to the Romans. He told of his
! visit to the catacombs, which he de-
! clared il put in straight lines six