The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-13

At the present time there ID In city IN extrsord
nary excitement in regard to street preaching Snce
the arrest of Parsons for preaching In the shpysrd this
class Of rsverends have been forced into especial noto
rety and each Sabbath collect crowds around them,
outnumberng BY far the congregations that assemble TO
listen 70 the regular ministry What effect this excite
ment has the community and religion gene
rally win not pretend to say. Every man
can draw his own conclusions when he Is inform
Cd that these street gatherings are characterized
by fighting, blasphemy, sectarianism, braggadocio,
and ridicule. Take Of these Sunday crowds, ave
thousand strong and il viii be found that nnetenths Of
them have assembled to ses the fun" and not with the
desire or expectation Of hearing any religious truths
evangelical Admonitions.
A man calling himself the Angel Gabriel but whose
real name We believe Orr accompanied by assistant,
which he calls his secretary is of the main men of
these street dvines His dress IL somewhat after the
and more matted than that Of the famous lime kiln
man. This carries with him . lantern and Q
tin horn and sounds this trumpet whenever he
to speak His secretary during his discourses relieves
the monotony by q tune upon an accordion accom-
panied by vocal music, of which he Il the performer
This picture suggests the character Of this angel and all
win admit when the original presented in public It is
better calculated to excite mirth and ridicule than
the solemn thoughts and calmness OF religious
Of this fraternity has all the sectarianism. Of
the Angel Gabriel, with none of his eccentrcities
He Ii violent mis- oenunchtlOn VI INC AoP0, Scs..o
cis all pertaining thereto though not very choice
in his IDEAS elegant in his dicton He u forcioe -
gesture goes but feeble in ideas and arguments
In fact argument is something that he entirely ignores
his entire harangues being made Of and
maledictons These two instances are good
of the new order Of street preachers OF the Parsons
school, most of whom misguided men, who fancy
that the fegned approval of the mob attracted by
curiosity, is the expression Of the public and who fre
queny mistake the laugh and eer and rdicue OF their
audience for an approval OF their sayings.
Yesterday Of these meetings was held in Washing
ton parade ground at which collected together
several hundreds meeting of the same kind was held
in Seventeenth street Eighth avenue In the after
noon the usual gathering in the Park in front OF the
City Hail. The Angel and Mr. West both held forth there
one occupying end of the City Hall steps and his
partner the other end Gabries assistant played upon
his ACCORDION while the crowd hooted laughed applaud
ed, hissed cursed and made sport Mr.. West, In his
usual strain glori6ed liberty, compmented the Amer
can eagle euogzed the partcipators in the American
revolution was overlooking with enthusiasm for our
beraity and liberation Of all creeds religions and classes
and then condemned the Pope Roman Catholicism and
Foreigners The sermons always Of the nature
and he who listens of them has all the sentiments
expressed by the whole fraternity After the company
had been sufficiently amused in the Park the Angel and
his companions took wings for other streets to repeat
same scene.