STUDY AND DISCUSSION SOCIETY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17088, 17 July 1926, Page 8

STUDY AND DISCUSSION SOCIETY.

An excellent paper was read to the members of the Study and Discussion Society on Thursday, the speaker being M. J.' G. Cox, and the subject "Voltaire."

Thd lecturer showed a minute and extensive acquaintance with the life and times and writings of the great Frenchman, the chief figure in the literary world of Europe during the eighteenth century. A full and imparial account of the incidents of Voltaire's life was givcr\, his schooling at the Jesuit seminary, his love intrigues, his ill-health from the cradle to thd grave, his two imprisonments in the Bastille, the continual burning of his books by tho common hangman, tho publication of his various works for the starre, and the difficulties attendant upon their presentation. Full and copious details wei'd also given of Voltaire's visit to England and his three years' sojourn in that country. Here he made the ac.qtiqaintanee of the celebrities of that day, with the poetry of Shakespeare and Milton., the scientific works of Newton, and the philosophy of Locke, introducing these, writers to his own countrymen.

Then followed, said Mr. Cox, Voltaint's lifelong friendship with Mme. Chateley at Cirey, and upon her death, Iho visit to Frederick the Great at Berlin. Tho intimacy of these two great men was given with full details, showing how they seemed unable to live apart from one another, yet could never agree for long when together. Then followed his life at Delicds, near Geneva, and finally at Ferney. Tho lecturer dealt at considerable langth with the voluminous writings of Voltaire in almost every department of literature, and also with his religions views, showing that contrary to the generally received opinion, Voltaire was a religious man, hating shams, but was not- the avowed enemy of Christianity. The discussion which followed was chiefly on the philosophy of Voltaire, and members quoted the opinions, adverse and otherwise, of both. English and French critics on the life and works of the great man. At the close of the meeting an. appreciative vote of thanks was accorded the speaker, by acclamation.