Phrenological Lecture

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 119, 24 March 1885, Page 2

Phrenological Lecture

According WaWourioement, Ifo W. A. Ellis, President of the New Zealand Psychological Society, lectured last evening in the Public Hall on" " Phrenology, or the study of character by means of Psychortxetry." There was a good attendance, which would no doubt have been much larger but for' the inclemency of the weaker. His Worship the Mayor had been announced ' to preside, but was unilx^^ pectedly caUed- from home on' buainlessl ,_ In his absence; Mr E. H. WrigHt, C.E., by the request of several gentle-' men interested in the lecture, took 'the chair. . He read a letter of apology * from the Mayor, regretting his In- • ability to attend, and also this advertisement of the lecture from the Star/ , f and the extracts of the opinions of the Press of the Colony published in the same paper. : He then in a few suitable remarks introduced the speaker. Mr Ellis said he was not a professional lecturer, but a private citizen' of Auckland, where he was in the habit of speaking on . .Sunday evening* to ' audiences of from 300 to 400 persons; '•■ He had a few gifts which God had given him, and he felt it his duty to exercise them. He said he used his . own words, but took his ideas on Phrenology chiefly from that great authority on the subject Professor Fowler. He then proceeded to give an ' outlined explanation of what Ph^si- ' ofcnomy and Phrenology: we're, aJrid •'- --how each had come to be reduced to a:^ • system or science, his ideas here chiefly »:. being such as those who have studied . works on these subjects are already^ more or less familiar. His remarks on :• . facial expressions were botH truthful and amusing. He related a very laughable incident which haipfpened a short time ago in Auoklandof a young man under mesmeric ipfluenof. giving unmistakeablemantfestatiouofoeriiaui 7 - characteristics when: tiie '/bump*",. corresponding with these irar» touched.:. .. . Mr Eflis explained the pecu|iaviti»s [ of. handshaking, wia£kmg,laugHinjr., $0., giving the actions with' the words, and " ' causing considerable amusement, *v- '' did also his remarks when 1 gmng . young persons advice who were usiiking of getting married. ;. of character as shown by.;, the ~ } : «jfm, "*' • mouth, and even nose,., also tone. of, ■> voice, colour of the skin and hair, fto. v 4 , were dealt with. The lecturer then ' v proceeded to show the imTOiiance and practical utility 1 of the study of Phren- ■ plogy and what he called its sister science, Physiognomy . - : .-- r He then invited any person to com# ■" • ■ forward and give him an opportunity •'. •' of illustrating what he had been speak- << . :. ingof, but more espedatfyrf the^cienpe : ,-.., of Psychometry, which ke explained he . as ascertaining the menl*4.and plnrmcu, ?,;..; peculiarities of a ponon by sunpl^f . taking the paidenfsJiahd, and placinijf f - : it to hie (the lecturer's) forehead. T : Several persons then ; went upon the i ■ stage, and were (< operated ? upon and diagnosed by Mr EOis, who. aeeom. panied his . descriptions . . with . jnj * humorous remarks. Only one medval^ . diagnosis was given, which the subject however, testified to as being j>erfectly . oorrect. After this Mr Ellis announc^sa ihat he : would be- staying for a ; few ( days in town, and' might oe consult^ at his hotel by persons desirous itf ' knowing their mehtel and physical '•-•'■ peculiarities, : especially ••* invalids, •' &c. '• He then in tk few words dosed his - discourse. Had he not ooncluded ..- somewhat more abruptly than wa*.-..---expected, and left the stage, there it* ~. no doubt he would have received a hearfy vote of thanks for what was a "\ yeiyinterestmgajidinstructivelec^ure^ !