THE REV MR GORDON’S LECTURE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9425, 1 July 1882, Page 3

THE REV MR GORDON’S LECTURE.

The Rev Mr Gordon delivered a lecture in the Volunteer Hall last Wednesday evening in aid of the organ fund of the local lodge of Good Templars. The chair was occupied by the Rev Mr Pee, who briefly introduced the Rev lecturer. There was a largo attendance, and the rev lecturer was listened to with evident interest throughout. The rev gentleman, after a few prefatory remarks, commenced by referring to the many advantages colonists enjoyed in this part of the southern hemisphere. They ought to get on in this colony, and there was no doubt that they would if they only studied how. One thing peculiar in this world was that there were born 106 males to every 100 female. Many people tried to account for this, but the ladies knew better, and asserted that the cause of it was that it took 106 men to be equal to 100 women. (Laughter and applause. J But that was not the question he had come to discuss. The subject of his discourse was how to get on in the world. Many people comp-ained of not getting on, and the cause of their failure was becaase they set before themselves no fixed purpose, they were more vacillating creatures who had no stability of character. There were three great things necessary to get on in the world. The first was to set some object before oneself and try to attain it. There must be concentration of thought on the object that is desired to be attained, The great men who had figured in the world’s history owed their success to the earnestness with which they concentrated their thoughts on the objects they set before themselves. The Duke of Wellington, the Iron Duke as he was called, and Napoleon used to see personally to the smallest matters connected with their armies, to the food and clothing of their men. They never never left anything to chance, and were always prepared for any contingency. This was the great secret of their success and this was applicable to every position a man may

bold. He must fix bis mind on the object be wishes to attain or else he will not succeed. It was the same with regard to study. No man can gain success in literature so well as a student. What was called genius was merely concentration of thought and fixity of purpose. There were many who believed that these men had genius, and gave up their efforts because they thought they could never get on themselves ; but what was ca'led genius was really only the concentration of thought. Gray occupied seven years in writing an elegy which could be read in as many minutes. Buckle was 20 years in collecting materials for his history. In the same way art and science were discovered. The barber who invented the spinning wheel was another example. One dry he was so absorbed in his studies that he left a man waiting to be shaved, soaped and all, till his wife reminded him of it, by breaking all the wheels ho had made. He never lived with his wife afterwards, and the result of his labors was that be gave to England an invention that helped to make her famous. Cyrus W. Field spent 12 years and a large fortune in his effort to connect England and America by cable. No one could get on unless he had some fixed purpose ; there should be no leaving things to chance; there should be no waiting for an opportunity. One should make an opportunity for oneself. There should be “ push ” or there would be no success. This was an age of competition, and the man who did not push would go to the wall. There were some men like the London butcher’s dog which was so fat and lazy that he used to lay down his head when he wanted to bark. Men of this kind would not get on in the world. No man who did not push his business and work energetically could expect to get on in the world. Besides what he had already mentioned, tact was necessary to get on in the world, A man who had a bad temper and drove customers away would never get on. He knew a man who had been left a large business by his father, but he was too proud to soil bis hands in it. He would not attend to his customers, and soon the business left him. There was another great thing required, and that was principle. Without that (here could be no lasting (Applause.) W. M. Tweed, or “Boss’ Tweed, as ho was called, rose from poverty to be one of the richest men in America, but his partner Fisk robbed 100,000,000 dollars from widows and orphans, and he had to run away from America. But he was brought back, and he died a prisoner, while his wife, rrliose wedding dress cost £IOOO, was reduced to the greatest misery. If they tried to get on dishonestly he would, warn them that their success would not last. Some succeeded in that way for a time, but their success would not be lasting, for there could be no succe« without principle, honor and honesty. Another thing that was wanted was courage. A great many who might rise in the world were kept back by want of courage, it was as necessary as any of the others, and if a man combined these qualities he would bo sure to succeed in whatever he undertook. In this colony there was a broad field, and anyone who exerted himself could make his way to - a foremost position. They might not be able to get rich, but there was no one who could not attain to a greater degree of comfort than he now enjoyed, and be happier than persons in higher stations of life. He would advise them to commence at once. The population of every country doubled itself in thiriy years, and unless they made an effort at once others would rise up who would leave them behind. He would urge the people of this district to keep these facts before them. If they would succeed in this district, j they must push and stir up enterprise, I for in this way alone could they make it an important place. In this way it might be made a great and glorious place of which all might be proud, and feel glad that they had taken up their residence in it. There must be push, and tact, and courage, or they would not /succeed. The men who sat down and played with their thumbs, and put one foot over the other, and prophecied about the weather, would never get on in the world. These men were generally to be seen walking about with their bundles on their backs. And now to conclude he would urge them again to push forward everything they could, and take up shares. (Great laughter and applause.) And if they did this there would be no doubt but that they, as well as the district, would ultimately succeed. The rev lecturer was frequently applauded, and judging from appearances his discourse made a very great impression on the minds of those present, especially the concluding portion of it in which he urged the people to be more pushing and enterprising. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Edmonds sang “Will o’ the Wisp,” with great effect, and was loudly encored, to which he responded by singing a verse of the same song. It appeared as if Mr Edmonds was not prepared >.for an encore. He ought to have known very well by this time that no audience would let him go without it. Mrs Rout created a very favorable impression by her first appearance, and was also encored, She is certainly a first class singer, and a great acquisition to the music talent of this town, Temuka can boast of two of the best amateur singers in New Zealand in the lady and gentleman to whom we have re-

foired above. The band, under the court uctorship of Mr Stratton, also played several selections of music in a manner that gave great satisfaction.