LECTURE ON TENNYSON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10291, 23 February 1895, Page 6

LECTURE ON TENNYSON.

A lecture by the Rev. Professor Keatoul wa3 delivered in Old Knos Caurch last evening in aid of the Technical Classes Association. Thers was an audience of about 200 ladies and gentlemen, and thu chiir was taken by Mr A. Burt, the president of tho association. In opening the proceedings, tha Chairsian gtitted that when th« objects of the. association were mentioned to Profe3sor Rectoul, that gentleman, who during his brief stay here liud mada many friends, very generously tendered his cervices.

The Kav. Professor Rektodl thea delivered a discourse which wan listened to with rapt attention and received with manifest approbation. After a brief bat bright biographical sketch, dealing principally with the childhood and yonth of the late poet laureate, his early surroundings, and a passing reference to his literary associates, the lecturer devoted himself to the explanation of the philosophy cf lite as contained in the workii of Tennyson, and to Tennyson as a prophet. It would bs utterly futile to attempt to give an epitomised report o£ foe lecture, which w&a a masterpiece of keen analytical criticism and sympathetic and eloquent exposition. We will content our»elvea with one brief passage, in itself a summary of a krga and important portion of the discourse. " Tennyson means," said the epaaker, " and bis message to his time is, that the soul, if it eh&U ever reach trueneas or crowning, must raise itself out of it? own saircencentratedness; out of the narrowing round of mere sentiment and mere selfish fancy; out of the self-interest and self-seeking. that are isolating it. It must cast itself into other influences aud vrider uses. It. must know kindredship to work and straggle and paia and disappointment, and the large inter-related uses and functions of life; getting partnership ia the higher and broader world of love and purity. This is the central message of Tennyson as a seer and teacher of his time."

At the close of the lecture a very cordial vote of thanks to Professor Eentoul was, oa the motion of the Hon. W. D. Stewart, carried by acclamation.