The New York Herald Newspaper, November 15, 1874, Page 5

NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1874.-QUADRUPLE SHEET. STAGE AND PULPIT. Both Sides on the Sunday Amuse- nt Discussion. THE ATTACK AND REPLY. Leading Divines Defining the Sanc- tity of the Sabbath. DAVENPORT'S DEFENCE Archbishop McCloskey on Sensational Shows Advertised as Sacred Concerts, and Their Evils, FIRING FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS. 4 Bold Arraignment of the Ohurch as Shown in Its Recent Moral Eruptions. That the public and the great leaders of the People’s mind and thought sre deeply interested im the question of Sunday amusements and of ‘what they shail consist, the following communica- ‘tons, interviews and correspondence will plainly ‘determine. No comment here is necessary. They ‘gpeak for themselves and markedly stow a means Yer opporttinity was but necessary to put on record e clear the general concern and feeiing on REV. GEORGE H. HEPW Te Tas Eprro op tHe HeRaLp:— _ Tam sure you will permit me to use the privilege ‘Bf persomal iriendship to aay a word on this im- portant Sunday question whicn ts agitating the pabiio mind. 1 have carefully read your vedatorial on the expediency of giving ‘concerts and dramatic representations on Sunday evenings, snd do not suppose Jor &@ Moment that you intended to commit your- self and the influence of the Haran to either side in the controversy, but rather to draw out as ful. nm expression of public opinion as possible. Iam very glad that the matter has come up {or consid- eration, and hope that your article wili bring this subject to the most caretul thought and judgment of the people, 1am tully convinced, moreover, that vour sug- gestion as to the necessity of more recreation and More amusement,1s exceedingly important. We are a hard-working people, and our national holi- Gay! ’e deplorably few. Our excitements are as Imtense a3 our energy, and when labor is done we are apt to rush headlong into excesses, The European can be happy with bis simple glass of wine; its gentle stimulus is quite satisfactory to bim. But Americans are a people who live on the edge of a precipice all the time. When they work they work with all their might, and wheo they drink they drink in the same way. Ordinary wine has no stimulus for tue common North american brain, over cere- brated as it 18; and the strongest liquors are -Ranitaally substituted, This idiosyncrasy, a ten- -fency to excess, runs through our whole moral tonstitution. We never take small doses of any- thing; all or none ‘ts our motto. If we go to sharch we go enthusiastically; if we stay away -We do so zealously, The principles of social economy, thereiore, which have given its color and complexion to Burope, if pianted in this \duantry, would not bear: the frait of the old tree, but @ iruit of an entirely diferent kina. -The Sabbath of Mgarid, for instance. con- sisting of a mass io the morning “and a boll fight tn the afternoon, if introduced imto. our country would demoralize our people an by Magic; and the Sabbath of Paris, consisting of ‘ehurch service in the morning and the opera in the evening, if transplanted to these slaves Would make our population a large bundie 01 jack- Sttaws with as many comic anu tragic peculiari- Ses as there are individuals, Not to enter upon the question of the propriety of such things any- where, nor upon the question of their historic tp. fluence on the people of the Continent, I may ven- tare to say that the genius of Americans 18 of a different sort and must be handled in a different qay. The basis and structore of society bere are 80 unlike those of other peoples that it ta imposste bie to apply to us the general principles which anderlic other commanities. The question is a fairone, and should be an- swered—What would ve the practical effect of bpening the concert rooms and theatres of New York city on Sunday? I cannot help feeling that it would be disastrous in the extreme, The moral vensitiveness of the community would be dulled. You would divide the people, not as they are now divided, into those who go to church and those ‘who know they ought to but who donot go, but into those who go to charch and rigidly set their faces against all amusement, and those who go to the theatres and cease to even @Xcuse themselves for not attending re- Ngions service. Out of this would grow @ Very peculiar condition of affairs. The religious part of the community would become less chari- table to the legitimate amusements of the pubic, because they would invade the Sabbath, while the frreligious, who are silent unier the present régwne, would fee) that @ legal license has been given to them, and the unreligious, or wavering, OF indifferent, less attracted to the church because @f this added rigidity, or bigotry, as they would Gall it, would naturally swell the ranke of the non- ehurch-goers, As @ social question, then, it is of ‘the utmost importance to take as conservative a view of the Sabbath question as possible, and to encourage religious instruction by discouraging Merely worldly employments on that day. Again, it 1s Very important, to my mind, to make ohe day in the week ag different as possible irom every other day. Ido not assert this on the basis otarevelation to that effect, though tnst is very distinct, in my judgment, but on the basis of the general good, Such a movement as that suggested Would at once break down the wall between Sun- gay and Monday and result, not in making Monday &s good as Sanday, but in making Sunday as bad wa Monday. Ifitis argued that one day is as good 98 anotner, I answer yes, and better too, Asa wedding ring 18 better than any otner ring, be- canse of the associations connected with it, so some days are better than others. We need one day when we can put on our best clothes and imdaige in our best thoughts, The American Sunday is the strength of the American Deople, because we are eminently a churcb- going people. I deprecate, therelore, any en- deavor under whatever plea made, to lower tue Popolar estimate of the day, and would encoar: Mote good thanJcan. My dear friend, you may think this a curions confession on my part, butl am willing to lay my heart bare im this matter and say plainly that I do not want any mere entertain- Ment to steal away my peopie. I am doing Peculiar work in this city. I have, perhaps, @ thousand young men in my evening congregations I am trying to make them honest, sover- minded, uprigbt and Christian men. They appear to enjoy themselves in our church, and 1 try to present religion to them tn its most attractive light, Some of these young men are firmly rooted in their faith; I think no ordinary temptation would have any effect upon them. Others come to my church through curiosity, or are brought by their companions. 1 am trying to save them from bad habits, to belp them break off | from habits already partly formed, and doing my utmost to pointout to them the dangers they must encounter and the way in which those dan- gers are to be overcome. Now, then, while the law and public opimon remain where they are, I have all Sunday evening to mysei’. There ts no untoward influence to draw them away from me, and they i$ contentea to hear all I have to say. I wiah you could see the anxiety on some of their faces: the look of determination to lead @ true life, whieh, a8 I see it, gives me all the pulpit power 1 nave. The best sermons I have ever preached have come from the sight of these dear young men, as they Lave, agit were, urged me plain speech and deep earnestness by their sad, or hopeiul, or. resolved looks. Now, do | want a theatre to set up in opposition to me? Will these young people get as much benefit trom “La Grande Duchesse” as they will from the preaching of any true minister? Will a dramatic performance Make them temperate, or repentant, or deter- mined? How can ‘I encourage any movement which will take these young lolk from my in- Buence, and subject them to the at Jeast doubtiul influence of a comedy on Sunday evening t I know you will sympathize with this view of the case, and Icount on the influence of every New York journal to conserve the sanctity of the Sabbatn, and to hedge this one day in by the magic circie ot silence, rest and a decorous atten- tion to religioas observances. lam, ae always, sincerely yours, GEORGE H, HEPWORTH, REV. J. HYATT SMITH. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— It is a difficult thing to define the boundary line of sinless pleasures for the Lord’s aay. ! can im- agine a musical service so pure and elevating in character that its tufluence shonld be good, and om: good, upon the hearer. The grand object of the Sabbath is a day of sacred rest for the soul—a day of boly communion with God. Any; service of song or sermon which meets this need of the soul vquals the requirement of Him who satd “the Sab- bata was mage for man ari not man for whe Sabbath.’ The danger is just here. A Sabbath concert of unexceptional caaracter wil be sure toopen the door to per- lormances which will destroy every holy tendency of the Lord’s day aud ultimately debase the hallowed hours to the wiserapije level ox a Parisian holiday. Letthe Church of Christ give to the worsalpper, in word and song, the {ull Gospel of its Divine founder, with ail its beavenly admoni- ton, Mstruction and consolation, and go lit the soul up to an immediate commuuion with its Maker that there will be no need ui “Sacred Con- certs,” Or opera services. The kingdum of heaven is life, peace and juy in the Holy Gnost.” 3. HYATT SMITH, Pastor of Lee avenue Baptist church, Brooklyn. DR. G. W. PORTEOUS. To THE Eprron oF THE HERALD:— You have given prominent and popular pab- Melty to the opinions of eminent clergymen on the question of opera and thesirtcal periormance for the masses of New York on Sunday evenings, 1 haa not presumed to ask you to take my view on thig matter; but your representative has called and solicited. my opinion, and 1 now promptly give it, witpout tear or hesitation. I declare my- self in tavor of operatic and theatrical perform- ances on Sunday evening for the masses, The euormous numbers of people who do not, cannoc and will not attend church demand recreation, amusement and excitement, elements to them of holiday and happiness. On the principle .of Afistotie we must choose the lesser of two evils, oud [ feel certain that the attractions and ias- | clmations of music ana the drama are the most yavorable means of helping our unchurched masses to realize that li/e18 not all “stale, Mat and un- proficabie.”’ 1 advocated while in Lonaonu tne opening of the British Museum and Crystal Falace, and cousistency and justice encourage me o gay that any effort toward giving the masses “iic amusement on Suuday micets with my eenulny val and support, On the Droader question of she use and Value of the theatre as a grand pubii¢ means of culture, [ rave in the press | now a reply to Dr. Talmage which will, I trust, be | of some service in checking the assumptions of bigotry and encouraging the progress of the @ramatic art. Notwithstanding what some of my profession | Dave said harsoly and ignoranotly of the evil of | Sunday amusements in European cities, I give a8 my @xperience that there is more real good conserved than evil doné by tne encouragement | ano existence of operatic and dramatic perform. ances 1or the masses on Sunday. There ought to be no quarrel on;tnis matter, There are people who will not attena the various pantomimes and Titualistic exuibitions tn our churches, and their demand and desire for another sort of entertain. ment is boch legitimate and natural, and ought to be respected. We were not ali made for religion in its severe sense, and may be allowed to bave a no- tion on this score not quite Puritapic. Trt that this movement ior the benefit of the masses of New York anu Brookiyn may be romptly and largely successiul, | am, your obe- ent servant, G, W. PORTEOUS, ARCHBISHOP M'CLOSKEY. With a view of ascertaining the optnion of the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey on the prevaii- ing topic of puvlic interest a representative of the HZRALD cailed upon nis reverence yesterday. “As g00n as any eecular amusement,’’ he said, in answer to a qaestion, “interferes with sacred exercises my voice will be heard through tne pulpit and not through the press. You may say that Iai opposed to whatis generally regarded aa tne Sunday eveding concert, and that while not very Puritanical or domineering, I oppose the sensational amusement which advertises itself under the name of gacred concerts, but which 18 nothing else than tne ordinary week-day show. 1 do not object to enterlainments whicd combiue within them music | of a soienin and sacred nature, but I do object to promiscuous amusements of any kind that tend \o draw peuple from the church ubd tnat have the influence of rendering Our Sabbath Parisian and European. I cannot tnaorse our sunday con- | certs as tuey ure how carried on, I believe them | to be injurious to the rising generation, hostile to the Churcu and antagonistic to the aims and ends of religious morality and spiritual progress, REV. 0. B. FROTHINGHAM. A H&RALD representative called recently upon that well known and popular gentleman and Nberal religions teacher, Rev, 0, R. Frothingham, wito the view of securing bis opinion upon the subject of the Sunday concerts and their rapid increase ,in number in this city. As this divine ts | recognized as a vigorous and advanced thinker, @ndasone who never expresses a sentiment at Fandom, his remarks will, no doubt, be of no little interest to the general reader, As s0ou #8 tue HERaLD representative had made Known the object of his visit Mr. Frothingham re- plied to him substantially as follows :— \ | \ all effort to make it atill more calm, restful, | thoughtiul and religious. People need the spur and not the curb in matters of religion. Let us ase ail possible means to empty the beer saloons on Sunday; but let us pour their contents into the ehurch and notintothe theatre. Bettera stringent law, rigidiy eniorced, to close the shutters of every «trdm @uop, than a fatal compromise which Offers the opera vouse instead of lager. I will give My Support to any movement which will emplvy & new missionary torce and make rum selling and rom drinking in New York an impossibility during the twenty-lour hours of sunday; but I would | Make no compromise whatever with this rum fiend by throwing wide open the doors of the theatre. Lastly, 1 buve @ strong personal objection to tois movement, 1 cannot conscientiously en- courage @ rival ineticution which poids its s vices at the same time that 1 do mine, ifa Lrother minister wants any of my people, and they , Want to go, 1 am pefectiy willing to snake hands Gnd part with them. Bat Lao not want a theatre Of voncers to take them, Unless is cam do them | sme poopie 1 am decidedly ta favor of Sunday concerts and have advocated their inauguration ali my ule. 1 am in favor of open iipraries, of public lectures, of any innocent and harmless recreation og the Sabbath that will amuse tue popular mina, elevate the masses socially aod aispei anxiety and care, Our present use of Sunday | velleve to be aito- gether wrong. Our churches are ‘oo Jew in num. ber, and our poor people can no more afford to attend them on Sunday than they can afford to attend the high priced opera during the week. | Besides this, the preaching in our churches js not | good, not of the ature caicniated to interest or instrucs Our Masses; Hence, Our middie classes are wont to resort to drinking saloons, simply because bo ligher form of recreation 18 available to the: Aa 1 Just Said, they cannot irequent our churcues because It Is (oo expe they mignt have tu do Cire cumMstatice that thelr general personal appearance is Such as 18 calculated to render their presence at church wopleasant and even obnoxious, The mid- die classes appreciace this iact and govern them. selves accordingiy. As it is at present, tne Clergy cannot reaca ie poorer classes, and hence the latter Gust depend upon some vther ageney tor t 8 their mental, recreation And advancement 4 | i ie waow 1 toet eanngt female Ai | home and enjoy their easy lounge, for mi on them are the residents of tenement houses and have no lounges to lie upon, Hence, on sunday, they wander along our streets, and unless some Interesting entertainment {s being given under | the influence of which they may puss away their leisure hours, they accept the conditions of the street and become victims to all the temptations | the street aqorda, I believe, in a word, that our Sunday shouid be @ day of feast and not of fast, and that our Sunday evenings should be devoted to innocent and wholesome amusement. THE PRESENT DUTY OF THE CLERGY If ministers, generally, had any regard for the public they would ail indorse our Suoday evening concerts, ‘I believe it to be the duty o1 the clergy to «do 80, for by atvending these concerts cares are forgotten, low tastes are elevated and the Sabbath regarded a3 a pleasure and not a bore. ly ideas upon this subject many may regard as peculiar abd some as exceeaingly radical, but, nevertheless 1 think the opinions expressed are correct, and that tne future will see them in- dorsed by a large majority o! our pecpse For a long time past our laboring classes have spent their leisure hours on Sunday ovenings in bar- | rooms, where they have jearned nothing, where | the and disreputable companions, where their tastes have been gradually depraved aud where they bave beyun the descent to the dreariest.avenues of vice and crime. This bemg the case { feel myself mght in welcoming any | form of amusement, such a8 the Sunday concert, that will divorce them from these unwholesome and depraving influences, and that will cause them to leave their cups and all their depra associations, bs HOW SUNDAY SHOULD BE SPENT. T have always maintained that when a man has | been to church cnce on Sunday he has been enough. But, even admitting that he uttends three times a day, the time spent ia such (requeot attendance ginounts to only a little more than jour or five hours, and bow sha)l he spena tne re- mainder of the day? The badly ventila! home, G wi itngly wends his way rt ig it best for bis it to frequent—ihe dram snop or the concert? ‘The latter, beyond ali question; and when tne poor man does tnis he wili better nis condition socially, mentally, physically, and when he does this our drinking saloons will become les» numerous and vice, immorality and crime will greatly decrease, : ABOUT SUNDAY EVENING MUSIO. In regard to the Music which our Sunday even- ing concerts should turnish my ideas are also pecuiiar, Ido not think that it should be oratono music, with its sombre measores and solemn words, but music that is pleasing and gracetul; music that will charm the mind and direct 1t irom care; muste that will find its way to the popular heart, awaken within it all its latent passions and thus expand its most delicate emotions, sentiments und sympathies; music that will arouse within the brain and soul of the Ustener, upon whose ear it falls, jancies and convictions which he never experienced before, but which, the moment they are awakened, will arouse within him new instincts irom which he may Geduce the conclusion that beyond bim there 48 @ higher order of extatence to which, even with his hmited resources and opportunities, he may, with the greatest iacilty, attain, MK. FROTHINGHAM AND THE HERALD. T congratulaie the He¥RALD upon the admirable stand it bas taken in relation to our Sunduy con- certs. The views given in its columas coincide with mine, and in proclaiming them it 1s soing more jor the elevation of the m:ddie Classes an the esthetic culture o1 the poputace than its man- agement has apy idea of. 11 has been my atm tor muny years to render our Sunday evenings plea- gant and enjoyable, and it shall be my labor dur- ing the remainder of my iife to indorse anything right and wholesome that 1s calculated to make them so, DR. J. H. RYLANCE,. Dr. Rylance, pastor of St. Marks Episcopal Churen, is known in this city for bis broed and liberal views in ail chureh matters, and more par- ticularly Jor his determined stand in the Church Congress, which Bishop Potter so strongly op- Dosed, On being questioned by the H&RALp reporter as to nis views of theatrical entertainments peing given on Sunday, the Doctor expressed some sur- prise at the interrogation, and said he was not aware that such amusement was on foot, Being tnformed that Mr. Strakogch gave opera periorm- ances on Sunday evenings, and that his example Was being followed vy some theatres, he said :— “You astonish me, but 1 was not aware that it had cume to that yet, It has been my opinion, however, for several years, thit some day the Movement would be made, thougn | was hardy Prepared for 14so soon, im the coustantly widen- ing breach between protessing und nou-proiessing Christians the respect tor what cail the Lord's Day and what ta wenerally KDown as the Subbath is growing less and less among a portion of the community, and tnie 1 regret vo see, because while £ do not velleve im too strong an eccieslasticism, and that I think the Cnarch shouid take more stepa than it does toward the people, yet the general morality of the Muxsses cannot be improved by a free and open Visitation of the theatres on Sunday evening. Idv not by any meags believe in observing the day of rest as the Jews were taugne by their Mo- gaic law, nor do IJ have any confidence 1u the stern asceticism wich which it way observed by the Puri- tan; but from ‘sols to making it a day like any otoer the step 1s too great. In some of my ser: mons! have spoken ero this question of tue ab- servance of the Lurd’s Day, and | Dave advised the Opening. of the iivraries during certain hours of the duy 80 }hat many obtain gone: tion and impocent™ tere cy) ty ke this something of the Kind 18 Rece: . Bor shere 18 B poms at Which this shoud siop, anu I think tuat anything which roos the churches of their influence upon the people at iarge 18 @something WHich suonld be deprecated by @uy sincere lover of public morality. I will Bot look at this ques- tion as a clergyman, out as @ mural phtiosopher. Wita ua here there bas been a great and sacrea signiticance in the respect and veneration which } bas been feit for the Lord’s Day even by those wno are not professing Christians. anytuing which |} lewsens tuat respect lessens the infusuce of a morat power upon the peopie. Idid know that many in the city were in the nabit of frequenting | what are calied gardens, but Isnoula not have thoaght there were enough to make an accual the- atrical Or operatic periormance a thing worth Ving; and do you think that the more respecta- Bie ‘theatres will fullow the example?” “You must know, Doctor,” said the reporter, “that there are as many 1! not more in this city who do Dot attena chureh than there are o! those who do, These wouid as soon pay their money for @ theatrical performance as they would to sit in a theatre and drink veer. And as to the respecta- bility o: the entertainment tne opera is considered ag More respectable than anything in tnat line.’ “Very true; vat | spoke more particularly of all theatres—suco ag Wailack’s, for instance—but I suppose rivairy Wiil induce them all to gradually iglow the example of the first. @m sincerely sorry tu tuink 80. O1 course it been done in Paris jor years; put then what ie the state of public morality in that city? I was astor ol an evangelical churcn there for ve years, and I remember distinetiy coming home from service ana fuding my conci playing cards with priests on tne Lord’s Day. In the evening all the theatres were open, and It was, indeed, like any ordinary week day to the peopie. 1 nave seen tue effects of the system, and | depiore its being introduced here. i supposed that tne furthest they dare go here was to give wnat are called sacred cuncerts. Buta sudden step of this Kind to a reguiur theatrical or operatic perform- | | aace in costume cannot but injure tne morals of the people. at the same time | agree that our ob- servance of Sunaay is @ matier simply of custom brougnt about vy our innate respect lor the day. I recognize that in the New Testament there 13 ab- solutely nutuing said about it, and that wnat is said 01 Che Sadbath there is Mainly to disparage it, and | know equally well taat our own observance of this One day in the week as a period o1 rest and devotion has grown out of the habit of te early Christiaus to ceiebrate one day in the week as the Lora’s Day. There 18 uo distinct command about it, nor any distinct law, aud my objections to this mnovation are mainly that the morals Of tne people will be injured, and that in the constantly growing liberalism of tne age the Ohurch is iosing ground. I do not argue jor the strict observance of the one day iu seven com- mon to the Middie Ages, and which the nistorical research o! the present age has proved to ve wrong. to see where it will all end at tne rate we are going. Such a step as the one we speak of will bave an euormous influence tn alienating masses from the praciice of Vurishanity incuicated oy we respect fur the Lord’s Day.”” “Are you opposed to theutres and theatrical Fepreseutations ao @ generai thing ?”* ‘No, Lam not, for it would be absurd for me to put Wyse in opposition theatres where 80 many persons, whose Caristi- Quity cannot be douvted, patronize and help them. A member of my church met me a iew nights | since and told me that at Wallack’s that night St. Mark’s courch was woll represented. On going over the names 1 ound that some Oo! the most de- yout and Cristian of tue lamides who attend my church had been there. 1 cannot take it upon my- bel: to Say they Were Wrong. Sut, on tne same ground, what need is there of artinciai distiue- Vous conceruing theatre-going. If it be not wrong | Jor them to go why sould it ve Wrong Jor their pastors. go to a theatre. i du not speak for mysell, because iby life 18 too busy ior theaire-going ald my taste 19 not iu that direction, They would noc iaterest } me, Une night } went to tue vpera, with Dr, Wash- barn, to Wear the ‘Last Rose of suvimer’ and 1 found the entertainment supremely dui, Yeti do hot consiaer it My province to dissuade otners irom goiag who may find heaitniul recreation there and be nowise morally damagea by listening wo good meiody.” DR. JOHN HALL, Dr, John Hall, pastor of the Futh avegue Presby- terian church, was caied upon by the HERALD reporter, Who had an interesting imierview with Dim concerning the subject of the Opening of the theatres upon Sunday. The Doctor said that Re Was not aware of tne fact that anytning of ‘hind Was prepesed, and expressed nome AstoDisn have been brought in coutact with riotoas | lowest anil | oor man, pent up in a | 1 do not even deprecate innocent amuse. | ment and: instruction on (nat day, but itis hard | to the existence of | Une has aa good a rigit as the omer to | { ment that tt should be done. To the question as — to what of the matter, he sald :— } “Lam certainly not in favor of it, and I don’t think that any minister of the Gospel can be. In Any Way you put it no benefit can be done by the ; to Weaken the influence of the Sabbath day upon the people so much | am opposed to lt, 1am ex- cessively sorry to hear that any such movement is in contemplation."”" “Do you suppose that any movement will pe made among the clergy to put a stop to the thing?” “Ido not see how that wonld affect the matter, because either the thing is legal or nos legal. If Sunday performances at the theatres in costume | can be given within the law, then no action of the clergy would stop tt, If illegal, then 1t should be | put @ stop to in any case,” { “there is some law forbidding them on the | statute books, but some legal minds hold the law 46 unconstitutional.” “Then it seems to me that settles the question, | for anything which is agains: the law 1s wrong, | whether it be opening theatres or whether it ve Stealing. No straignt-going, God-learing wap can break the law anu tuk he is doing right.” “DO you think that it will ave any effect upon attendants at courcnes, or do you think tt wiil simply a@ect the non-atvendants only?” “it May have no immediate eflect upon church | attendants and memopers, but it wall gradually work a bad induence amoung them. ‘These things do pot teil rignt away, but work siowly aud silent- ly, undermining wany wo hardly perceive, per- haps, that they are falling away trom the straight path of vViriue, the influence is so silent snd suvtic, Yeurs might pass before the influence was { perceived, but it Would tell. 1 suppose, nowever, that these places are anu would be patronized to @ iarge extent by our German citizens. These peopie are at present in tue nabdit of Irequenting saloons und drinking. Now, of the Wo, as between drinking stitnulaots which make them drank and goiug to a theatre, Ishould rainer see them go to @ Lneatre and spend their Sunday evening a8 being by !ar the most preierabie uf the two things, But to moral people there 1s the third alternative o1 tae respect and iove dne to God, which is exemplified in keeping away Irom eituer of these places, aud tlisis, to my mind, tne only Fight course o1 the three. But] consider going to @ theatre a much moro innocent pasume than drinking, To be sure Joreigners, like Germans and krench, may noc see the thing as we see it here, who are accustomed to a general respect tor she Sabbath. But to Americans and those who in their country have ulways been accustomed to seeing the Sabbath kept as a holy day tne idea of | Open theatres on this day 18 pecultarly repugnant, aud | sincerely nope it will nut become general in its practice.” “are you opposed to theatres on principle as a general thing » “Lam not able to speak about them knowingly, aa |’ was never io a theatre in wy lile, but 1 do not veheve that their influence ts for good."? “What would be your advice to members of your own church about their going to theatres ?* «4 have never taken @ stand one way or the other, and have left tne question entirely to tneir own consciences, a8 vemg the best juages of their own spiritual state. Still, I am decided on the point that with young people tne el- lect of attending tteatres ts bad, not go. much vecause of tne theatres them- selves, as because of the associations, Young who are constuntty in the habit Qh attending places Of amusement run into foreign grooves aud gradnally get weaned from ther | Christian duties. I have seen a great dealof this mysel!, ana wherever, except in very rare cases, young men unuer my charge have begun goog to theatres they have gradually fallen away and been seduced into other channels; 80 toat while | have personally nu objection to theatres, lam con- vinced their influence is rather bad than guod, ana if my advice were asked I should express Myselfas against them. As to Sunday periorm- ‘Atices | do uot see how there can ve two opinions among Coristian peopie who wish to observe tne Lora’s day as We are commanded to observe it in the Biole.’? DAVENPORT ON THE DEFENSIVE. Mr, E. L, Davenport, the eminent American tragedian, who has done so much for the advancement of the legitimate. drama in tais country, concluded a most successful en- g@agement at Mrs. Conway’s Brooklyn Thea- tre last night, betore a crowded ana cultured assembiage. It 1s needless to add tha: the bis. irtonic efforts of this scholarly and accomplished aruust were earnestly appreciated, Mr. Daven. port’s benefit occurred tne previous evening, when “St. Marc; or, the Soidier of Fortune,” was presented. At the conclusion of the periormance, Mr. Davenport, iu response to enthusiastic calls, came before the curtaim and in the course of an appropriate and well-timed address adverted tu the criticism recently passed by the Rey. DeWitt Talmage on actors and the theatrical pro- feasion generally. He passed a high euloginm on the inteiligence of the theatre-goihg citizens of Brogklyn, wou, ne said, nad already proved them- selves'so judicious, discriminating and substantial patrohs of the drama in its mghestiorm. Tney wi indeed, ciever critica, who Lad shown them- te! as buunteous in tueir approval of trae art had beeh pleased tv say about the theatrical pro- | fessional. He remembered @ speech once ae | livered by a irend of his Woerein the remark oc- curred that England migot as well attempt to stop the flow o1 the Nie with bulrusues as hiuder the progress of the drama. Especialiy waa this;noticeable in America, Where it was toa- | tered and encouraged tn all tue great cities o: the Western Hemisphere by the intelligence and ap- | preciation Of a discerning afd educated public, | dowever learned the bigot might be who endea- vored to injure its progress by unjust aspersions, he proved only nis own weakness in the attempt | to battle with and decry the punle sentiment of the country, The Rev. Mr. Talmage bad taken occasion to state that tuere was one member of the posse whose purity, virtue and renown might be pointed to with pride; but be (Mr. | Davenport) couid point out many hundreds woo | were ornaments of society and a credit to their ; Bationauty. (Loud applause.) Mr. Talmage \ strange that actor's GERDEMANN ARRESTED. Philadelphia, Arrested. Preparing to Embark for Bremen with His Bride. HIS DEFENCE. | Ele is Taken Back to the | Quaker City. Baxrimorg, Md,, Nov. 14, 1874. John W. Gerdemana, the ex-priest, charged with the embezzlement of some $45,000 while acting a8 pastor of St. Boniface’s cburch, Philadelphia, was arrested here to-day while entering a carriage to embark on the steamer Obio for Bremen. Marshal Gray received a telegram at about bail-past tea o'clock from Captain Heins, chief of the detective | force of Philadelphia, requesting that Gerdemano be arrested for embezzlement and larceny, and the detectives would be on in the train which would reach here at eight o’clock this evening. The Marsbal detailed Detective Poelps to make the arrest. Phelps repairea to the Eutaw House, where Gerdemann was stopping. Gerdemann’s wife had just entered the carriage and Gerdemanao Was about to follow, when the oMcer informed him that he was wanted at the Marshal's office. Gerdemana expressed )ittle surprise at the arrest and his wile was perfectiy caim, merely saying ‘nat she never expected to be placed insucd a sit- Uation, ‘The carriage was driven rapidly to the Marshal's office, and Gerdemann, when informed of the charge against bim, said that, inasmucn as his trip to Europe was broken up, which he was about to make to save his wile the annoyance of newapaper criticisms, he would preter returnisg to Philadelpaia to going anywnere else. LOOKING AFTER HIS PASSAGE TICKETS. He askea permission to drive to the house on A. Schumecner & Co., ag:nts of the Bremen line of steamers, Which was grantea him. The agents offered to refund the money tor his tickets, with twenty-flve per cent off, but Gerdemano, considering this an imposition, deciaed to hold them to a full accounting, asserting that io two ‘weeks’ time be would be iree, and should then proceed on his journey, He had at the time on his person bilis of exchange to the amount of $2,000, Upon his return to the Marshal’s office, where his wife was awaiting him, he was permitted to 0 where he pleased under the escort of an ofticer. erdemapn said there was no necessity for a requisition, as he was porrecsly willing to accom- pany the detective to Phuadelphia and meet ns accusers face to face. His wife, though quiet and digaified in her bearing, manifested deep atfec- | tion tor her husband, and expressed her aetermt- Nation to cling to him under any and all circum. stances. ARRIVAL OF THE PHILADELPHIA OFFICER. Detective W. Wood reacned tue city in the eight o’clock train with @ warrant lor Gerdemano’s ar- reat, which charged lum with having embezzled and stolen fuuds and other property of st, Boni- laze’s. church, Pijladelphin, and is based cn an adidavit of George Altmeir. The amount is vari- ously estimated at from $40,000 to $150,000, though Gerdemanu says he lett Phtladelptua with but $3,000 in uis pocket. Gerdemann immediately ex- pressed a desire to accumrpany OMcer Wood witb- Out lormality of @ requisitiou, and he and bis wile, with an officer, ent-red @ carriage and drove rapidly to the Philadelphia depot, trom whence they took the 10:40 P. M. train to coat city. THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE. Mr. Gerdemann is w fine-\ooking mau, well edu- cated, of course, aad, withal, possessing the mav- bers and bearing of 4 gentleman, He came to this country i 1862, trom Westphalia, in Prussia, where ne stuaied for the priestuood. He was or- dained after reaching this country, and officiated for two years in Caambersourg, Pa., but was sab- sequently transferred to Paoiladelpnia, wnere he bu.}t St. Boniface’s church, ‘The wile of Gerdeawiann isa handsome woman, very prepossessing in appearance anc ladylike in her manners. ‘ne impressions produced upon those whv came in contact with Gerdemann were Javorable to the prisoner, and the nope was heely expressed that te would be able tu extricate bim- self from his present embarruasments, PUBLISHING A DEFENCE. Gerdemann published a lengthy card in the Bal- timore Sun this morning, delending himseif against the charges recently made against bun, which in all probability Jea to his whereabouts being known and his subsequent arrest. He says:—“My character ior honesty waving been at- tacked and the malicious gander naving been spread broadcast over the land, lieetit my duty as (hey Were determined in witunolding their sup- | t0 Tigut mysell belore the public. | have eft the |, pert irotbany extivition calculated to deteriorate | Catholly Church, rejecting all tte Pecular. tenets. tue Mfaence o1 age. He ielt douby compl | 24 Wi lease 4 : Cae 1 | mented by presence of such a large and entau- jae ‘ ie cd a bag er aay - | SIABTIG AUdIENCe in View Of what Brotner Talmage | loved wile—ni 5 ead- rRaret ing, Pu.—on the 4th inst., beiore a Retormed min- ister of Jersey City, with tbe Juil consent of her arents, In the presence of the minister’s amiable y and of a brotner priest.” HIS FINANCIAL APPATRS. In regard to nis financtal speculations be says:— “| now come to the only charge I wisn to defend Myself ugainst—the charge o1 dishonesty. My Apecuiations in railroad stocks date back to the 6tn of last July, when a brother priest and I tbe bought 20 shares of Penneyivania, depusit- ng a @ margin each $300. In August we voaght 1,000 shares, On tbis investment we made jointly $753 33. This profit, 1 am sorry to say, we lost by investing in New York aod Erie and Reading shares. As to my speculation im real estate. 1 Dougnt two houses with tne full Knowledge and permission of the Bishop. In one nouse | lived with my asgistants, witnout ever charging the churcn ® cent for rent. As to my bond specala- tions, I invested $400 in the German Bank 0} Potta- vile, which | sold lately at a heavy discount, to Mr. Nagie, to order to pay @ depositor, | might, perhaps, toink (chudreo actually said their prayers both oten went tu |} pignt = and morning, ) Sunday school ana asked a blessing at the table, Such, however, was the case. Under the circamstances he oad reason to be grateful to Mr. Talmage for bis observations, since, judging by the thronged assembiages tat had crowded the theatre, they had the effect of demonstrating the | influence of mis criticism upon the stage. He | trusted the reverend gentieman would not re- | | Unquish the task he had undertaken, since ne ielt | | assured the attendances at tne theatres would be | | considerably improved. ¢Applause.) But he was | | sorry, Devertheless, that Le naa looked through @giassdurciy. Aiter all he aid not think that | such a wide line of demarkation could a be | drawn between pastors and actors; indeed, just at this time, in view of recent ; events, he might take the liberty of | saying the comparison was decidedly in tavor of | whe latter profession, (Laughter aud appiause.) He did not know vut the time might come when he (Mr. Davenport) woula be converted vy Brother | Saimage, become one of bis congregation and | Deruaps be raised to the dignity of a deacon. | (Laugoter.) He was asraic, however, that a long | | time would elapse befure that important event | | arrived. Clergymen were not slow to profit by | the exercise of the actor’s talents; bat at all | events tis reverend gentleman might well bear | | | | | | ; in mind the words of bis Master, ‘Uharity to all.’ | } eons @ppinuse.) Mr. Davenport's remarks were elivered in an easy, graceiul and good-natured | Strain, and having aguin returned tuanks for the | cordial support which bad veen evinced toward | him by the people of Brooklyn during bis engage- | j meat, he retired amid enthusiestic cheers. VERDI AND MGLYAN. To THE EviToR oF THE HERALD:— | | Tobserve in your issue of today with regretfal | astonishment an opinion trom. the Rev. Dr. McGlynn, in which, alter much that is self-contra. | dictory, that eatimabie gentieman he wished ‘vo be put Ob record as emphatically against Sun- | | day periormances, 1 have no desire to enter the | ists of discussion wita the Rev, Dr. McUlynn, but! | may be pardoned for calling the attention of tae | | PUbite to the following facta :— First~That the Kev. Dr. McGiynn at service last | Sunday morning, November 8, advertised to his | | congregation that they could hear on Sunday | Might iu gis church lor $1 and §1 50 Verdi's j | requiem for whieh they would fave to pay $4 ab , the Academy next Tuesday evening, when | pro- | Posed to produce it in its entirety; and, i Second—lhat @ version of the requiem ar- | ranged for the organ, Waereas the score demands | | @iuli orchestra, was sung iu Dr, McGiynn’s caurch | on Sunday evening last oy hired arnsts, ior woich admission fees were charged, the profits going to | St, Stepnen ia the crait im danger’ Let Diana and Dr. , McGlynn answer. Very respectiully, MAX STRAKOSCH, “GRAND SACRED CONCERTS” THIS EVENING. The Sunday evening “grand concerts” are spreading and the list of entertainments increases, We are promised this evening aa @ besutiful accom- Paniment to devotion the following dills:—Grand pers Kouse, “ii Barbiere di Sevigli stadt | fueatre, “Les Brigunds;” Germania ‘Theatre, “Preussiches Stratrecnt-Kurmarker und Picarde,'? Arrangetients are nuw deing made at many or the = ‘Maa hn ag be iu New York ay ame eVeung peresmances that tarot im Mew Ofeaay = ) Teach the suim of $3,000. | reside there but for the news) | which reached them and called “The amount | took ulong witn me did not quite I, tor my part, look upon this sum of $3,000 a8 @ rather smali reward tor more than ten years’ labor; besides, over $300 of what! took were actually perquisites, 4c. One thousand dollars of it my sister can have at any time, since tor ail her hard work for overten years she has never taken, or would take, any remuner- ation in money. Un the houses there are morte gages to the amount of $10,000, which I borrowed in order to pay claims against the church. The Interest on the one mortgage Of $3,600 | have paid out ofmy own money. ‘Ihe other of $6,400 was loaned from the Building Association, and was also my Money. I did not leave the houses to my ‘sister, but gave them distinctly and unreservedly to Bisho} ‘ood. “| publicly now repeat what 1 wrote to Bishop Wood, that I will send all my savings during hie toward payilog of the debts of the charch, not as a debt lowe tO justice bat as @ penalty due to tolly. Mr, Gerdemann further stated that stnce his de- parture from Pniladelpiia he hag travelled openly, registering in his own name. the :ady to Jersey on where he was married; thence to Chicago, Where the bride and groom remained one day at the Paimer House; thence ta ‘St. Louis, Where they took @ house, intending to r publication, for the card GOVERNOR DIX’S OLEMENOY, ALBANY, N, Y., Nov. 14, 1874, Governor Dix has granted ressoration to citi- zensbip to Owen Colgan, convicted in 1868 in Kings county of burglary; also to Wuliam Walker, convicted in 1862 of burglary in New York; also to William H, Waik York o! lorgery. 1 Governor has granted a pardon to Mortimer Snay, convicted December 26, 1960, of manslaughter and sentenced jor life to Sing Sing Prisou, whence he was transterred to Clinton Prison ; also 4 pardon to Nicholas Sullivan, convicted February 12, 1874, in New York, of grand larceny aud sentenced to sing Sing Prison for two years and six woutns. The prisoner's previous Character Was good, His heaith ts so poor that ne bae provably but a few days to live, A DBAMATIO ORITIO IN DANGER Rocumeres, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1874 Late last night Mrs, Harry Ryner, second lady in the Opera House company, accompanmed by her gon, entered the Democrat and Chronicle e'litorial rooms, and waited for the coming of the dramatic critic, Mr. EL, Adams, Wheo he came in she | asked If he wrote the criticism of her acting as , Ehzabeth, to the effect that “her queenly carriage | Was lat Irom periect, and ner intonation and ex- | pression very poor?’ He said he wrove tue ur. | licie, when she drew @ smail riding whip and struck at him. The frat blow gianved irom bis arm, and then Mr. Adams sermed the whip, and, | taking it irom her, ordered her and ber son out of the room. Tne latter threatened to use a Knife, but he was walked out by the shoulder, and | mother and sou disappeared vogetwer. Boston, Mass., Nov. 14, 1874. | | Mark Twain has developed ito « pedestrian, | Rev. Dr. Twitchell and bimeelf having endeavored | asaesige mare cn ANSE TNS { Ten aaa i fae yeeventy.two lalien by rad, MARK TWAIN'S PEDESTRIARISN, He Srst went with | convicted in 1863 in New | 8 “SPRAMBOAT COLLISION. opening of the theatres, and inasmuch as 1s tends | The Fugitive Priest of St. Boniface, The Steamer Louisiana Sonk in Chesapeake Bay. The Colliding Vessel Rescues Her Passengers. THE CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT. Last evening reports were current in this city that a steamship accident had occurred in Chesa- peake Bay. A Heratp reporter visited tne office of the Coast Wrecking Company to ascertain U they had received any detailed mews of the catas- trophe. In conversation with Captain Merritt, who was about starting for the scene of the disaster in company with Captain Young, he | satd:—“‘All I can teil you is that the screw steamer Louisiana, belonging to the Bay Line, and bound from Baltimore to Norfoik, bas collided in Chesa peake Bay with the screw steamer Falcon and sunk. There were a large number of passengers on the sunken steamer, who have been Jortunately saved by the Falcon. I received news of the cob Usion througn the President of tne Bay Line, owm ing the Louisiana, and was asked to come on and give assistaace, That is all 1 know.” Mayo’s Statement—The Chief mken Steamer Explains How the Accident Occurred=Run Into While Steaming Fourteen Kuots an Hour. Baurimony, Md., Nov. 14, 1876. The following statement fas been furnished in Tegard to the collision between the steamers Falcon and Louisiana, in. Chesapeake Bay, |ae; Bight, by Captain Mayo, of the Loatstana :— Lett Norfolk about halt-past seven o’clock last night, touched at Old Point, took ona few paseongers Snd proceedea up the bay, It was a autiiul starlignt oignt, and w strong breeze was blowiog [rom the norto. Iretired at eleven o'clock P. M. Everything was quiet until twenty-five Tmtnutes past one o'clock A. M. At thig hour I was awakened by hearing my whistle blown once.’ 1 Immewately arose, Tan into the pilot house and imstantly heard & steamer blow two whistles close aboard. Looked out of dow of the pilot house and saw ull ¢t lights of @ steamer steermg squarely for u: Gave the order “haru apors,” und was told by t! wheelsman it was already ‘hard aport.”” Then ia hopes of steering her stern cif gave order “hard astarboard,"’ but in tive seconds before this order could pe executed we were strack amtdship, the colliding steamer going into our port paddlebox and smashing a large hole in the port side, from which the Louisiana tilled up rapidly. The doakey engines Were put to Work at their full capacity, but they had no effect on the leak. Endeavored to work the main engine, Dut found it bad been so jammed that it Was impossible to get it past toe centre. We were thus rendered he); Caled crew to quarters, cleared away the gud be- gap lowering them to take off tne passengers. At this time the Louisiana had between six and seven feet of water in her hold. HAILKD THE COLLIDING STEAMER, which proved fo be the Falcon, and requested her to remain by us, The Falcon Immediately came alongsia ud all tne passengers and baggage were Cransferred to that steamer. A hawser was then passed to the Falcon that she might tow us to shoal water. Went down to examine the leak again; found the water nine rapidly. with eight to nine feet in the noid, and conciuded that ‘we could not be towed more than nal! a mile with- out sinking. . Endeavored thea to save as muca as poasibie of the {urniture vf the main saloon, which we did py oat | ali hands, Shortly atterward the hawser parted, and the Louisiana went down by the head in 112 feet of water. Atthe time of the collision the Lovimans was steaming miles per hour and the Falcon niue to ten. THE PASSENGERS SAVED. As stated ina previous despatch, all the pas sengers, mail, express matter and baggage were gaved. Among the passengers were :— Three ladies. Commodore Patterson. Commodore Crosby. Cap:ain J. B. Creighton. Captain William G. Tempie. Captain H.C, Blake. Captain A. W. Jonson. Lieutenant W. H. Emory, of the United States Navy. Captain McLane Tilton, of the United States Marine Corps. These were all oMcers of the Court Martial at Norfolk, inquiring into the grounding of the ,Steamer Brooklyn, All the passengers of the Louisiana, igelading the ladies, conducted them- selves with the.greatest coolness and self-posses sion. The Louisiana was the tavorite steamer of the | Bay Line, of 1,800 tons burden, and valued at $150,- 000, with no insurance. Her cargo, which was lost, comaisted of 200 bales of cotton, a Jarge quan. tity of tobacco, thirty tons of pig iron and other sreight. , The Falcon, with the passengers of the Louisi. ana, returned to Baltimore, arriving shortly alter _ two o'clock, No statement of the collision has been furnished by any Officers of the Falcon, The passengers ot the Louisiana corroborate the statement of Captain Mayo. AQOIDENT ON LAKE EBIB, Bourrato, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1874, John Doyle, captatn of the barge Morning Star, bound down the lake, was knocked overboard by the jibboom, two miles above Dankirk, yesterday atternoun, anda drowned. The body was recov ered to day and brought to this city. He leaves s Tamily at Kast Saginaw, Mico, THE REW DOMINION, ‘Three Peet of Snow on the Ground. CREEMORR, Nov. 14, 1876 Over three feet of snow have fallen here witni the past thirty-ax hours, Threatened Attempt to Liberate Lepine Por? Garey, Manitoba, Nov. 14, 1874 ; A Well anthenticated rumor having been circu lated that the rescue of Lepine would be at vempted, a strong guard from the garrison, on a requisition trom the civil authorities, bas bees placed over the jail. Grouna was broken yesterday for the Canada Pacific ph line in the presence of the muni- cipal and provincial officials, The contractors expect 69 complete the line to the lower fort this season, and open an office at that point, A GREAT EXAMPLE, Johneon, the Murderer, Doomed te State Pricon for Life. Naw Haven, Conn., Nov. 14, 1874, The case of Johnson, who murdered mrs. Hese in Ansonia some time ago, and who was tried for the offence and sentenced to State Prison for life, was brought before the Supreme Court of Errors, Park, Chief Justice, yester- day, on a tition for @ new tral. ‘Tne pet joints in the case were presented and reviewed Mr, Ratcliffe Hicks, bat the Court refused tw | grant a new trial. re is How nothing left ior the unlortunate man tn the direction of the courts. Hia only hope is in Executive clemency, which beiog denied, be vas bo alternative bat te pine in prison ior tne period of his natural life. THE OHORPENNING OLAIM, Congressman Dawes Believes the Claim | To Se Fraudulent. Bosron, Nov. 14, 1874, | Representative Dawes, in reply to a charge of complicity in the Chorpenniag claim made by the | Boston Herald, saya:—"So far as the Cnorpenning | clam ts concerned | never iaiied to denounce it asa gross fraud, elther in the house or before the pub- ne. it is 20W pending 10 a new form ip the House | of Representatives, and when it is reached I in- tend to oppose it with what ability | have, be cause J atill believe it to be @ gross Iraud.” THE WEATHER YBsTBRDAY. The following record will show the changes im ‘he temperature during the last twenty-;our boare in comparison with the corresponding date last ear, ee recorded at Hudoust's drug store, 219 road Way 1873, 1874, 3A. ba. 7 eb OA. M. Average temperature itt temperature t yesterday..... " for corresponding date