YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2920, 23 August 1879, Page 2

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

IN consequence of the illness of Mr Neil Heath, whose lecture was expected last night, but who was unable to fulfil his engagement, the President of tho Association, F. Liirkins, Esq., came forward at a few hours' notice with his lecture on " Sir "Walter Scott, of Abbotsford." Mr Thomas Macfarlane occupied the chair, and tho proceedings were opened with prayer and a pleasing duct, the " Blood-red Banner," by the Misses Larkins, of Kemuera. Mr Macfarlano briefly introduced the lecturer with a few concise words on his illustrious countryman, Sir Walter Scott, who penned those exquisite poems, " Mariniom" and the " Lady of tho Lake," and who had tinged the mountains and glons of bonnio Scotland with tho golden hues of romance by his charming storios of " Waverley," "The Antiquary," and tho " Heart of MidLothian."

Mr Larkins was received with cheers, and after apologising for being iv the position of lecturer, in the place of Mr Noil Heath, proceeded to give n sketch of tho life and literary labours of Sir Walter Scott. The story of Scott's life and struggles was pleasantly told, considering the breadth ot the subject j for it is quite impossible to do justrice to Scott, even, in his less capacity as a poet, in tho brief space of a single lecture; hence 'he characteristics of Scott's genius were but very imperfectly sketched. Some of Scott's finest lines were quoted by way of illustration, nidi as "Breathes there a man" and the oft repeated " Death of Marmion," which were rendered with pathos and feeling, and received in a way that was creditable to the taste of the audience.

Breathes thero tho man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land! Whoso heart hath ne'er within him burned, As homo hia footsteps ho hath turned. From wannering on a foreign strand? If Buch there breathe, go, mark him well— For him no minstrel raptures swell. .

But despite all the posessions of such an one he shall go down, in the pathetic language of Scott, To tho vile dust from whonce ho sprung,

Unwept, unhonour'd, and unßung, This patriotic passage from the " Lay of tho Last Minstrel " was well quoted, showing that there was something sound and genuine beneath Scott's professed Conservatism. Truth lies deep and from tho depths of human nature well up sparkling truths to gladden human existence. Mr Larkins, no doubt, was in error in placing Scott above Burns as a poet, but this waß merely an error of judgment open to conviction. Scott himself had a high opinion of his poetic abilities, and consequently be abandoned the muses for his more successful field of romance, and how he succeoded all the world knows. The home pictures of Scott and his dumb companion in and about Abbotsford wore good. The lecturer was right in recommending a reading of Scott's novels even to tho members of a Christian Young Men's Association, who are generally fastidious iv their choice of books. Altogether, and especially in an introductory point of view, the evening was pleasantly and profitably spent Mr. Larkins, on resuming his seat, was loudly cheered. The Chairman stated that he had seen the good Sir Walter Scottin his life-time, and was familiar with many of the scenes so faithfully depicted in the Waverley novels ; he spoke with a Scotchman's enthusiasm on the character and writings of Scott. His pictures of Scottish scenery were as truthful as they were artistic, aiid lie united with the lecturer in his recommendation of them. The young ladies then rendered another duet, and the meeting closed with the benediction. It was announced that the lecture on Friday eveniu" next would bo " The Ncwmaus," by he Key. Allan. Webb. , ; ~ i