THE LYCEUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7222, 18 July 1884, Page 7

THE LYCEUM.

At tho Lyceum Sunday night there was no attendance of about 100 persons, and tho chair was occupied by Mr Bobertson, who briefly introduced

Mr J, C. Harris, who said ho wished to address the audience upon social matters. The progress of nature had always been from a lower to a higher state, and it rested still with the world, by freedom of thought and investigation to raise the standard still higher. There was au innate spirit of progress iu a divine spark, which had always urged him forward. A variety of opinions was calculated to induce progress, and au increase of knowledge. He eulogised tho earnest manner iu which the Freethoughfc Association had conducted and enlarged its sphere, adding his gratification that a dogmatic tendency which had manifested itself at the outset was fast disappearing. He alluded to the necessity for moderation, and illustrated from nature, who always did her work quietly. Also he urged tho conducting of all reforms with as little friction as possible, and instanced how mechanicians and engineers kept a main object iu view, the evolution of maximum force with a minimum of resistance of the working parts. Ho referred to the constant tendency in all ages to hero-worship, and instanced iu latter days Voltaire, Paine, lugersoll, and Bradlaugh. AU these men had done a great deal towards the improvement of the social mind, but they would undoubtedly have done much more had they observed a spirit of moderation and toleration to a greater extent. But they were not to be blindly worshipped for tbits but to be submitted ti» searching criticism. The time, it was to be hoped, was gone by when ideas were to be forced upon them by tbo exercise of brute strength. Mr Harris dwelt upon the dogmatic tendencies which had been so plainly exemplified in both science and theology. In allusion to Messrs Ingersoll and Bradlaugh, ho said they were both men who merited respecc fur their undaunted advocacy of tho ! cause of freedom and reform, but in each case was exhibited a preference for tho fvititer in re rather than the suaviter in modo. The former, he thought, would have attained bis ends, or at any rate greater success, bad he used his weapon, ridicule, more sparingly, Mr Bradlaugh had made a great mistake] iu outraging con veutiunalism, and in aflowinghis name to be coupled with that of Mrs Besaat in the publication of “The Fruits of IMulosophy.” Mrs Besant and Mr Bradlaugh, he believed, were to be acquitted of any evil intent ; but they hadplactd themselves in a position for which they had justly been censured. The lecturer dilated at length upon this part of hia subject, pointing out the demoralising and

mirchi •'.■mil tendencies of the work in <pic-. tj-n D would take a generation to nude *,h‘ harm that had J>~m done by sowing th* pv.mpiiM: broaden!: over th- world. of bothering himself abmt Makhusd.ri quesLions of population in a world with »-o many wide and waste places to he occupied by the dominant rices of mankind, it would have ji far better if Mr Bradhmgh had con-unrn.-d bii.ns -H with tho rooN of the ra-nes <■[ human misery—Hio drink question, ami the (x r-mos of ‘rimkm and pov-rty. For the first-, contimmd the lecturer, sweep away the evils of drink and the world would bo advanced five hundred years, aye, more. He e.h'J took exception to tho stand taken by Mr Bradlaugh upon the existence or not of a oreat creative cans©, a subject upon which air Br.vllangh could not by any possibility pronounce positively. Iu onoluuon, Mr /fanis urged the mernbirs to keep before them tho highest aim iu social, moral, and political matters—and add fie hoped to see, as he believed he should Ibis Lyceum income a great institution, not only socially, but politically. For in a political crisis like the present the association should take an active interest, and meet to discuss political questions. He hoped, too, that members would allow tho softer sex a voice in all these matters. (Applause.) The lecturer occupied over an hour in delivery. The Chairman, in proposing a voto of thanks to tho lecturer, said Mr Harris was a representative of the moderate party, Iu reference to what that gentleman had said about consideration of political questions, he might add that a movement was on foot among the various Freethought Associations of the colony in that direction, and he might add that the members of the Wellington Association, numbering about 100, would give a block vote at the ensuing elections. Two other gentlemen, who to have assisted in the programme that evening, were present and ready to proceed, but they considered that the better plan would be to allow Mr Harris’ lecture to remain uppermost, and the mooting would therefore he closed. The voto of thanks having been carried, aud acknowledged by Mr Harris, the Chairman reminded tho members that on Wednesday evening tho election of officers would take place. The proceedings then closed.