The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-03-11

st. Benedict's fresh from a series of
most successful lectures at Villa le
Chantal, st. Mary's College of Notre
Dame, and the Catholic Woman's
League Of Chicago. and moro than
fulfilled the expectations entertained
IN his coming. Apart even from their
admirable literary content the four
addresses in a way had something
about them that made for pre-Lenten
reflection. The lecturer concerned him
self with more than the merely artistic
aspects OF aesthetic criticism, stress
Ing rather the philosophic message
OF the authors under discussion.
In his Introductory remarks. DR..
Beesley gave his own definition of
poetry, which had appeared i'm an
essay in the Catholic Educational Re-
view, as the basis OF his literary
Judgments, dwelling upon the neces-
slty for freedom and sympathy in the
exercise of the critical faculty. The
lecture on Cardinal Newman's "The
Dream of Gerontius" which followed
was somewhat in the nature of q
golden jubilee celebration of the
POEMS first publication in book form
in the late winter of 1866. DR., Rees-
ley devoted some time to clearing m
the respectable cumulus of myths that
mas grown up concerning the facts
OF the Dreams" composition. He
declared it to be inspired directly nv
nYtrQTnn1u iIyS1
which Newman had of his own i'm
mediate impending death. Some
striking artistic and spiritual parallels
between Newman and his favorite
musician, Mozart, were drawn by Doc
tor Beesley in reference to the
evidences of a musicians hand which
can be traced in "The Dream" itself.
A powerful and well-sustained inter-
probation of the entire poem con-
cluded the first evenings program.
Upon Tuesday afternoon and even
ing, DR.. Beesley took up the develop
ment OF the poetic and dramatic move
ments which characterized the end of
the nineteenth and the beginning of
our own century, after "The Dream of
Gerontius" had concluded the Vic
torian contributions to English litera-
ture by Catholic authors. Lionel
Johnson, whose collected poems were
published in this country just at
Christmas time, was the topic of the
second lecture of the series. DIR.
Beesley began with a brief sketch
OF the life of the author who, like
Newman and Robert Hugh Benson,
the theme of the evening discussion,
was convert and who formed one
Of that band of literary friends in
England about the turn of the present
century who were Catholic artists of
the highest type of whom Katharine
lyman is an example. He described
him as poet of rare devotion to the
classic ideals of literature and in many
ways a modern humanist. 'In fact"
said DR.. Beesley, chad Sir Thomas
More written poetry instead of prose,
one would have to consider Lionel
Johnson as More's second visitation
to this earth."'
The aspects of Monsignor Benson's
work which DR.. Beesley discussed
were quite fresh and unusual, namely,
his poetry and his play, which are
little gems in their way, and offer a
wholly different side of Monsignor
Benson's genius. The lecturers est
mate was critical yet sympathetic for
he had been privileged to know Robert
Hugh Benson and so presented the
autobiographical elements of the
lyrics and dramas in a new and inter-
esting light
In Francis Thompson's Poetry"
the last lecture, on Wednesday morn
ing, DR.. Beesley had his own favorite
singer for theme, and ended the
course with a tremendous climax.
The aspects of the lyrics which he
presented were in several instances
quite unexpected and the result of
his personal research at Princeton. A
dramatic rendition of the wonderful
Hound of Heaven" concluded the
lecture and the program of the
series.
DR.. Beesley's delightful personality
and charming manner, together with
his subtle and beautiful Interpretation
of the lives and works of these four
eminent Catholic authors made the
lecture course one of intense interest
and delight to the Community and the
Students.