REV. J. W. INGLIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3380, 7 February 1879, Page 4

REV. J. W. INGLIS.

Tho Rev J. W. Inglis delivered last night, itt the Oddfellow**' Hall, the first of a series of ''Scottish Lecture Entertainments." Although the Rev lecturer laboured undor the rlisuuTuatuges that ho was lecturing to a frtnu.ge audience, in a hall with the acoustic Jivrangements of which he was unacquainted, :md that the premises almost adjoining were in process of destruction by a fire which had drawn a largo crowd to the viciuity, and l-'robablycaused mnnytobelicvcfchat the entertainment would be postponed, yet he succeeded in thoroughly interesting his audience .jind confirming tho favourable expectations ■which had been raised by the reports which hud preceded him. The lecture of last night, -tras that entitled, "Pen and Ink Sketches of the Pnst," and if it is a fair sample of the eerics there can be no doubt that intellectnnl treats of no common merit are in store for those who patronise Mr Inglis' subsequent entertainments. The lecturo conflisted, to a large extent, of well- delivered passages from favourito authors, by no means exclusively Scotch, introduced by appropriate remarks, in which the languago was as flowing and eloquent ns were the selections elegant and soul-stirring. Mr Inglis has a resonant, not unmusical voice, possessing great power of expression, and knows how to use it. His humour is as genuine as iB his pathos, and both he contrives to convey to the fullest extent to his hearers, while he has the knack of introducing a phrase or two nvhich by its personal application gives an air of special adaptation to what otherwise might be considered stereotyped. Aa an instance of this may be mentioned his allusion to the situation of Christohurch as justifying his quotation from Shakespeare, " the bard of Avon." Tho selections last night mere the following -. — " Wolsey and Cromwell," "Betsy and I arc out," "How Hovatius kept the Bridge," "Mansie Waugh's first nnd last visit to a play," "Death of Poor Joe," "Scotch Words," and "Cry of tho Maiden Shareholders." In delivering these Mr Inglis imitated tho Scottish dialect and the American twang with considerable success, being of course in tho former above the criticism of a .Southerner. The lecture was concluded by a glowing panegyric of religion as tho mother of freedom, and a fervid exhortation in favour of education.

The RcvJ. W. Inglis will lecture on Monday and Tuesday nights, tho subjects being, " The Songs and Music of Scotland " and " Bums, tho poet and the man."