MAN'S GREATNESS

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 213, 10 September 1886, Page 4

MAN'S GREATNESS

ON Wodnosday night tho Rev. C. E. Ward deliverod an able .*ind instructive lecturo on "Man's Grontnoes," in tho Franklin Road Church. Mr Ward said :"It is not in his external aspect, distiuguiflhod as that is for eminent superiority to every other form of sontiont being, that wo aro to Book for the elements of man's grctitiiusa ; but in his mind, his mental attributes, his moral faculties, his capability of intellectual excellence and lofty virtue; in his power of will, of Belf-government,of subjugating tho passion to tho dictates of reason and Ihe voico of conscience, of trampling on difliculties which may confront his efforts, ami of vanquishing whatever is hostile to hi? highest intorest and purest happiness; in tho power of enshrining hia thoughts in words, of conveying his ideas to others many a time clothed with beuuly and instinct with the living lire of a burning eloquonco which inspires tho listener, anei entrances while it inspires ; in the power of giving form to his conceptions, wreathing into them tho soul, and investing them with the grucoful chtirras of poetry, pregnant witn imagination and rich in sentiment, or chiselling them in marble, till ltseeiiiert to breathe ar el soften into 11'.'Sh Boneitli tho touoh of forming art; or of fashioning them into tho diversified productions of utility, which minister to tho conveniences of life, or adorn it with tho decorations of oleganco and grace. Wo aro to seek for it in his power of admiration, of virtuous love, of intelligent joyousness, of reverential worship at tho altars of piety, and of rising in his contemplation of things invisiblo to tlio outer eye, but bright and radiant, to the purified virions of an inner sense. While amid tho unseon realities ho recognises the ,-iipert.al source of lifo and blessing—can know Him, enjoy Him, commune with Him in intelligible converse. It is among these peculiarities and capabilities of man's being that, we aro to f-earch for tho oleraont* of human greatness, and in our search wo shall soon find enough to coivinco us of the truth of » sentiment found in a Book only too muoli despised, 'Thou hast made him but a little lower than tho angols.' " Tho rev. lecturer explained that between man and the constitution of things in the midst of which ho is placed thero is a marvellous harmony - that tho world without and the world within are in exquisito unison ; and referred to his wonderful discoveries and knowledgo of tho heavens, tho earth, the sea, of animal and vegetable life, of tho manner in which man had subjugated the forces of nature to his use, and the way in which chemistry had penetrated the secrets of nature and liberated latent activities, which are conferring on man nn infinitude of bonefits. But it is in the scienco of mind, and in the oxtrci'O of his imaginative genius that man has achieved somo of his most signal triumphs, and won for hims-jlf some of his proudest distinctions. Mr Ward roforred to the eloquent and masterly works of Locke, Held, Stewart, Hamilton, Plato, ArLtotle, Cicero, Pnffoudroft, Selden, Coko, Bacon, etc. Ho referred to the marvoilous displays of imaginative and poetic powers in Homer and Virgil, and claimed that tho productions in the time of Elizabeth would boar comparison with thoce of any other ago, stating that our own Shakspero towers aloft in regal supremacy above all. He adverted to the wonders of croativo and plastic art produced, by the chisel and pencil, \Vhich have rendered the raines of Raphadle and Rubens,of Miclnel Angolo and Titian, and sculptors and painters of moro modern times immortal. Mo alluded to the manifestation! of mental effirt and diversified thought in tbo thousand forms of literature ; to tho wondrous and tremendous uowor of tho press ; to the intellectual power, constructive skill, cultivated taste, and suhlimeconceptionsin the various forms of architecture,both ancient and modern; to tho.'O stately and majo.-tic vessels which, for purposes of enterprise, commerce, or war, plough the 8?i»s ; and to the numerous edifices, railways, and bridges Look, in fact, where you will, explore whatyou may, turn your attention to the acejuisition of knowledge, to the discoveries of science, to tho systoms of mental philosophy, or the enshrinements of imagination, genius in poetry or tino arts, you will rind that Givnt men havo been among us— hands that pemi.d Anil tongues that uttered whilom. After speaking of man's moral greatness, when he mado special mention of Luther, Sir John Franklin, and Livingstone, Mr Ward concluded: -"Can it bo that this limited life bounds tho exietenco of a being so glorious as man is capable of making himself? No; the instincts of our nature, the dictates of reason, the testimony of the ages, and the voico of Revelation say No, No I Heaven is his home, and immortality is bis day.

Tho sun is but a upirk of flr». A transient meteor in tho sky; The soul immortal as ils *iro Shall never die. Pear friends and follow colonists, aspire affor true greatness. Be ambitious to excel, spurn the low, mean, grovelling existence in which so many aro contont to live ; strike for manly heroism of character—intent on victory over everything vilo, degrading, and contemptible. Scorn not to work, bo not ashamed of labour, do batlto with difficulties, seek know ledge, cultivate your reason, discipline your heart, do homage to conscience, commune with nature, worship God, leavo no excellence behind you, no virtue unattompted, and struggle towards that imperial dignity for which the good God has made you." At the cloao ahoart.y vote of thanks was given Mr Ward for his lecture, and to the choir, who rer.dorod somo oxcollent music.