Lecture on History of Alphabet at Conisborough

A very interesting lecture was given in the church Sunday school room on Thursday evening last by the Rev. C. Clementson, vicar of Crookes, Sheffield, on the history of the alphabet.

The lecture was on behalf the Church Institute, and was presided over by Mr. G. Walker, J. P., President,

Mr Walker, introducing the lecture, said the present must be considered ared letter day in the history of their Institute, they had been in existence about 18 months. Up to the present they had devoted themselves chiefly to recreation, but they were now taking another step and going in for edification by lectures, etc. Mr. Clemenston had a set of diagrams and lantern slides, whereby he illustrated the earliest known method of writing, which were represented not by words but by animals, beasts, and birds – these simply conveying ideas.

The art of writing began with the art of drawing, this point in the lecture very clearly illustrated by a drawing of the great bear, found on a stone in France, followed by a sketch of a mammoth of the elephant tribe now extinct.

The writing in these prehistoric times was quite a work of art, some being very elaborate, as on the Pyramids, the Moabite stone, Taylor’s cylinder – which records the invasion of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, etc., Almost every known bird and beast being found on these ancient documents and representing certain individuals and particular events in their histories.

The Chinese system of writing contained about 40,000 signs was a very ancient language, but the Egyptian hieroglyphics were the oldest known records of writing.

Mr. Clementson in a clear and forcible manner traced the various styles of writing through their manifold changes down to the present method. The lecture was very instructive, and was listened to with rapt attention by the good company present.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Clements done for his able lecture, proposed by mister. W. Smith, secretary, seconded by Mr. Thomas. R. Booth. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Walker, on the motion of Dr Craig, seconded by Rev. J. Crawford.

Mr. Walker, in reply said that at the time he left school he fancied that he knew all about His A.B.C., but he had the night discovered his error, and found that he had yet much to learn about it, Mr. Stock personally thanked Mr. Clemenson for so kindly coming to help them.