LECTURE AT THE UNION CHURCH.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 123, 7 July 1871, Page 5

LECTURE AT THE UNION CHURCH.

Last evening a lecture was delivered in the Union Church by the Kev. C. S. Koss, of Alexandra.

Mr. T. Baird bavins; been voted to the chair, explained the purport of the visit of the lecturer—namely, that a portion of the proceeds was to pay off a debt on the Alexandra Manse, and the balance is to be handed over to the Mount Ida Keiief Committee. The lecturer commenced his subject

with the names of those well-known classical heroes, Horace and Virgil. He introduced several amusing anecdotes and succeeded in rendering a ruther dry subject interesting. >Some merriment was caused by the description of a serious debate at a congress of ancient philosophers, as to whether a pig taken to market by means of a rope was driven or led. The lecturer denounced Holloway and Parr as impostors, and expressed surprise that so many thousands should allow themselves to be gulled into a belief that quackeries of the vilest sort should be efficacious in caring so mmy different classes of disease. He portrayed a scolding wife, and proposed the practising 011 the flute to drown the sounds of her discordant tongue ; but he softened the asperity of his sarcasms by recognising her many virtues, and the great literary talents of women of the early ages On the subject of dramatic performances he informed his audience that they were invariably scriptural, <ind on one occasion the hanging of Judas, though a mock ceremony, on the stage, nearly cost one of the actors (who was a priest) his life. The first English newspaper introduced in England was the ' Mercury,' followed by the 4 Tattler,' during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The lecturer coneluded his remarks with an account of some of the works of literature which first brought into notice some of the most eminent stars among our English poets, and he urged on his audience not to lose the opportunities afforded to all classes of the present day of studying sound literature. °

The lecture lasted about an hour and a half, and was attentively listened to by an appreciative audience. YVe understand that the Rev. Mr. Ross purposes delivering a lecture at St. Bathans to-night.