THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 5

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Otago Institute was held last night in the Museum building*. Bishop Nevill wa<3 in the chair, and the hall was nearly filled. The principal business cf the evening was a lecture by Professor Sale on "Religion and the Drama."

The lecturer commenced by briefly alluding to the objects of the Institute, and then proceeded to state that, in his opinion, popular lectures were useless and positively mischievous. As a teacher, he felt that it was his duty to forward solid learning, as superficial learning: was to be found everywhere. The local newspapers had spoken of the professors ias neglecting their duties, because they did not deliver popular lectures. Those gentlemen whose business it was " to write a column arid a half every day .looked upon talk as necessary to our ..existence ; but he hoped they did not' go to newspapers to learn their lessons. He admitted that ihere were many subjects which coukV be treated in a popular manner, but his point was that those with which he had to do could not be so treated with any advantage. This was by way of preface, and he hoped that the preface would receive more attention- than ithe lecture. The subject which he had chosen for his lecture was a very interesting one; but he wa3 not going to fight the battle of two centuries ago, nor to discuss the; question whether play - going was religious or otherwise, as that was si matter which each should settle with his own conscience. All the higher forms of /.art ,'were the children of religion, and he believed that art and religious worship went, together., He then explained the origin and peculiarities of the Greek drama, and referred at considerable length: to Thespis and his successors. Greek tragedy-was brought to perfection by .33schylus arid Sophocles, tho Raphael and Michael Angelo of the drama. Shakespeare and Sophocle3 were briefly contrasted, and the lecturer then referred to the effect of the, Grecian .dramatic performances upon those who witnessed them. He next proceeded tb speak concerning Grecian ; comedy, and then sketched the history of the English drama down to the time of Shakespeare, and in doing so read several anrusing extracts from the. miracle and morality plays. The first; productr of a leligious play was a schoolmaster, and the first writer of /a regular drama was a schoolmaster of Eton. Shakespearo and the English drama came into the world together, and : anyone who could -not sea in- Shakespeare a divinely religious teacher would not be. influenced by anything he could say, but he thought that the. Chairman would admit that as the, drama had its beginning so it also had its end in religion. The Chairman then made a few remarks regarding the lecture, and announced that the next meeting would be held that night fortnight, when several papers would be read. •'. •■/■.>''. ■