The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-28
new Feature OF the present Age-ImpOr-
tnnt ReIIgious IntelIIgenee.


tant Religious Intelligence.
One of the most important features of the pro-
gress OF civilization and light in this happy and
wonderful country, is the daily and weekly intellec-
tual movement, composed of a thousand different
hues, all radiant as the rainbow that embraces the
Park Fountain on a sun-shiny day-a movement of
the religious opinions, notions, creeds, and doc
trnes, throughout the breadth and width of this
etiervescent and sparkling land. Like a country
blessed with a thousand springs of clear water, all
bubbling up to-day, so is this republican Union
vcrcd from end the other, with the refre shing
springs OF rellglon-the gushing fountains of piety-
the clear rllls OF creeds of all shapes, colours and
conditions. Among the master spirits in this great
and original movement of the human mind, under
the influence of light from heaven, we may emu
mcrate Bishop Hughes Doctor Brownlee, Elder
Knapp Doctor Kirk, Mr., Mafit, Prophet Joe
Smith, Parson Miller, besides many lesser stars
in both the moral as well as in the religious world,
all OF whom are more or less efficient Tor good, and
IN the aggregate give peculiarly high, holy, eeva-
ted and intellectual character to the age. To these
we may add the name of Jabez 5. Swan an apostle
ofreligon, now in New London, an account of
whose labors and eloquence will be found in another
column, written probably by an enemy of that emf
nent m lster spirit, and an emssary of Satan in this
world below.
But what is still more wonderful, we may also
add TO this list of moral and religious reormers "a
name that will surprise many and make saints and
sinners gape-we mean the respectable name of Ed
muad simpson, of the Park Theatre, of N. York, who
hastalen step nthe moral and religious tendencies
olhe age that bold as daring las fearless as that
which marked the movements OF Luther and Cal
win in the fifteenth century, On Monday next,
Sacred Musical Drama, called the ''Israelites in
Egypt" the music composed by Rossini, is to be
brought cut at the Park Theatre. The principal
songs, or concerted pieces of this curious DRAMA
can be read in this days paper and ii will be found
that m pey, IN devotion, and IN pure religious feel
Ing ot the highest kind, they are equal to the htur
gles of the Episcopal Catholic churches-and sur
pass even many of the prayers of the Baptists, the
Prcsbyerans, and other respectable sects of Chris
tans in all that constitutes devotional poetry and
pous sentiment.
hismovement of Simpsons in theatrical affairs
is one OF the most important of the present day. and
sets him before the world as a master spirit of the
age. 1t is the beginning of startling moral and re-
hgous revolution, by which religion will be brought
back 10 the theatre, in which begun its career in
the early ages of Greece, and from which il has
been an exile for twerty-three centuries. Religion
that great eemen: of existence, will be brought
back, however, refined and purified Of It's Pagan
ISM convert TO Christianity united with art and
taste, and twin sister of the great moral move
ments of the age. In other country of the world
could such movement have been contemplated,
but in this country and in this age. The sef-same
= Sacred Drama" was attempted in London but it
was suppressed by the Bishop of London-probably
because the established church thought the pur-
hcatlon otthe theatre-and It's becoming religious
power and patronage
But here - in this land of liberty where
every hought-every dea-every feeling-every
doctrlne-every movement is as free the air of
heaven-or the eagle OF the forest peaks there is
chance that at last the house of the devil may be
reformed and turned into a house of honess-de-
voted to gious servlces-set apart for the singing
of plous songs and hymns, to the most meodious
muslc-with the finest voices of the age with the
exception of Madame Seguin, who ought to have
been associated with Madame Sutton)-and a cho-
rus OF nearly fifty persons. This certainly is new
to which to appropriate the Park Tneatre-and
will make it formidable rival to ST. Peters Church.
10 Barclay STREET.-THE st. Paul's in Broadway. or to
DR.. Springs in Beeknan street.
In other land could such mo ement be at
tempted, without causing popular commotion of
the ianatics-a revolution among the peope-a fight
between the good and evil princples-a revulson
among the clergy. But in this happy country,
IN that state of mental excitement of moral and
religious efiervescence, of unadjusted elemen Is
of all kinds, which distinguished all Europe
IN the fifteenth century, when Luther in Ger.
many-Cayin in Switzerland-Knox in Scot
land-and Rogers in England set on foot revolu-
ton which checked in mid career by the
shackles OF ieudaism and of Rome, and of which
they have not got rid to this day. In this land of
true religious liberty, the movement is again taken
up, and the present strange events and stranger
men, are only evidences that a greater day-a
brighter era-a purer and more exalted age is ap-
preaching.
We are in favor OF all reforms and reformers.
from Joe Smith to Ned Slmpson-from Bsbon
Hughes to Elder Knapp-and we will support them
with proprety and decency, in every thing proper
and decent Go ahead.