Gerald Massey.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 96, 26 March 1885, Page 2

Gerald Massey.

This gentleman delivered his lecture — the first of a series of three, 'last night. The audience was limited m number, and some of those present left before the lecture was concluded. Mr Linton, who should have presided, was unavoidably absent m Wellington, and the lecturer was introduced by Mr T. King. We must admit a feeling of considerable disappointment m the realization oi our expectations with regard to Mr Massey, the subject matter of his lecture, and his mode of deliverance. Possibly we were too sanguine, and had been led to expeot too much, but m any case he did not at all approach our expectations of the popular lecturer of whom we had; heard and read. His lecture was delivered from the book, without any attempt atelocution, m order to give effect to the subject chosen, and occasionally the lecturer (apparently Jrom want of sufficient preparation), had to re-trace his steps, and by correcting himself pick up anew the thread of his discourse. We could not help instituting a mental comparison between Gerald Massey and Charles Clarice, m any of his lectures, and certainly to the advantage ot the latter Mr Massey is very tame m his description, and so far as we could judge his lectnre failed to elicit sympathetic appreciation on the part of most of the audience, who listened attentively, but apparently did not regret its termination.:. There was nothing new m his story of Old England's seakings, how they lived, fought arid died — nothing 'but what almost every reader of English history was perfectly conversant with. We must re peat that we —and we think a majority of the audience were disappointed, as we expected something more brilliant from one of whose rhetorical powers we had heard a gopd deal. Possibly Mr Massey is better m some others of his lectures, or he may not have been m his usual form. Tonight hia object is " The fall of man , ac an astronomical allegory and physiological fable," and to-morrow night " The coming religion." Tho advertisement states that these lectures are *' the result of fourteen years original. research." Well, we should be °«ury to learn tbat he had devoted as many days to the lecture delivered last evening, as we should consider the time not spent to the be*t advantage by any means. 11l such case we may look for I 'better' things m his two lectures yet to be delivered, as their preparation must have occupied the larger portion of the said " fourteen years' original research" and should be better worth listening to. We can quite understand Mr Massey achieving a greater measure of success as an author, writer, or poet, than as a public lecturer, m which latter capacity he does not come up to our ideal by a very long way. At the same iime he has met with success elsewhere, so we are told, but for ourselves we would much prefer to read the productions of his pen m the solitude of our own chamber, than hear the talented author lectnre m public. Were he to compose and prepare, and one like Charles Clark deliver, then the result- might be different, and no doubt would.