Lecture.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3687, 19 October 1880, Page 2

Lecture.

The Rev. J. Upton Davis gaye a lecture at the Congregational Church last evening on "Hammer and Tongs; or the use of argument and the abuse of logic." The* lecturer prefaced his subject by drawing a realistic sketch of the orthodox village smithy and its inmate, and from the processes of the blaoksmith's craft he' drew a series of ingenious analogies, as Co the way in which the weapons jof debate were forged and tempered, and the disputants brought into that attitude, of attack and defence which was expressed by the.familiar phrase, "They're at it, hammer and tonga!" The lecturer gave some excellent advice to those who are argumentative^ disposed, whether their contentions related to matters literary, political, or theological. Mathematical proof for everything he believed in heaven or on' earth 'was the blunder of a doctrinaire. They could not take things as they were, carefully sifting conflicting . ■ testimony, ■ and then* strike' the balance of evidence. Even in the courts of justice, where immense, interests and human life itself, were at stake, no other course was possible. In the friction >ef contending opinions truth would be elicited, for in the realm of mind, as of matter, the rule prevailed of "the surv viral of the fittest." Even ministers would be none the worse if their sermons were thoroughly discussed. At present, clergymen were put on a pedestal and kept< in> a;-glass case. The y had it til their own way in the' pulpit, for contra^ diction was impossible. Thus a morbid sensitiveness to public criticism was engendered, and a kick which would 1 not disturb a horse would kill:a%uud divine. He believed :'h'av(R; ; :-bei(i;er sermons in the pulpit and more attentive listeners in the pew if the parishioners would on Monday night discuss .the previous Sunday's JBermpn with the parson. . Mr Davis kept the unbroken attention of hia auditory to the close of his : thoughtful,.witty, .and , humorous lecture, and they testified their pleasure by repeated applause. ; At the conclusion of the lecture votes of • thanks were accorded to the lecturer, the committee of the Congregational Church, and to the Chairman.