RUSSELL LOWELL

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 8

RUSSELL LOWELL

Last night Mr H. D. Bedford lectured in Wesley Church, Glenaven, North-eVt Valley, on 'Russell Lowell.' Mx Bedford briefly sketched the American poet's life and ieferred to the stirring limes of antislavery agitation in which he lived. His zeal for slave emancipation showed itself in verse, which rushed out from his great heart like "molten iron glowing." Ho lifted into illuminating expression the sentiments and ideals of the cause of freedom. His claim to highest distinction rested upon the broad humor and keen satire of the 'Biglow Papers.' All the hypocrisies of the time felt the lash of these 'Papers.' The temporising politician, the canting Christian, the prostituted editor were handled with crushing scorn. Lowell's Christianity was of the sternly practical kind. Like Milton, he had no praise for a " fugitive and cloistered " virtue, unpractised, that never went forth to meet ils adversary. He was one of those mighty souls whose fervid moral zeal leverage the heavy world up. The lecture abounded in appropriate readings. At the close a collection was taken .up in aid of the Literary Society of the Glenaven Methodist Church. A vote of thanks terminated the meeting.