The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-07

Sayings and Doings I'm Boston-Music Hall
and Theodore Parker.
Sr. NICHOLAS HorEL, !
New YORK, Sept. rs, 1861
10 JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esp
DEAR SIR herewith send you two letters, writ
cen by myself: the one, descriptive Of an essay On
"RAgion, Considered as the Art of Life" delivered
by Theodore Parker, at Music Hall, Boston, ON Sun
day, the I4th inst, and the other, descriptive Of
conversational debate or controversy, on the slave
question, at Mr.. Parker's residence, Exeter place
during the evening OF that day, in which Messrs
Garrison and Parker were the disputants, or colo
quists, on the part Of the North, and your CORES
pendent the sole champion the part Of the South
although young Alabama stood by, strong in moral
and intellectual vigor, ready and able, il requisite
to aid South Carolina in the conflict.
These letters were originally designed for the
Charleston Is. CO. Courier; but, as they have un-
expectedly expanded into dimensions rather incon-
venient for that wide and capacious sheet and
'map ofbusy life and as wish an extended and gen.
eral circulation Of my views, prefer and therefore
request the publication of my accompanying letters
in your widely dispersed and influential journal,
which Irrespective OF its political or other merits
or demerits,) may truly be said to be an "epistle
known and read of all men,.
Your compliance with my wish will be esteemed
. favor, by yours, very respectfully,
RICHARD YRADoN
ST. NrcHoLA as HOTEL,
New YORK, Sept. FL, 1885,
] remained in Boston another Sunday, beyond
my original intention, in order to hear Theodore
Parker hold forth, at Music Hall, in TRADE not
sermon-aganst the South. / accordingly attended
on his mnistration for that purpose. The spacious
hall was well filed, galleries and area,) although
not crowded, with an audience of both sexes; and
among those present I observed one female Topaz
on the ground floor, and there were several Ebonies
in the galleries William Lloyd Garrison was seated
not far from the saffron maid. On inquiry Of cour.
teous gentle nan, named William G. Ford free soil
er-next me, on my left, (who gave me much in-
formation about Mr.. Parker,) learned that Ebony
and Topaz were perfectly at liberty to attend Mr..
Parkers discourscs, in his temple of defamation
and equality; but that it was liberty seldom exer-
cised by them-Mr. Parker's form or mode Of reli
gous belief and style Of pulpit rostrum oratory,
being, suppose, little suited to the taste of those
descriptions Of human jewelry. Mr.. Parker
spoke from desk, on the spacious plat
form, whence the musicians, vocal and instrurnen.
tall discourse eloquent music during concerts or
oratoros and behind which was q noble statue of
Beethoven, "that exquisite composer Of magnii cent
symphonies" There we're numerous chairs Oh the
PLATFORM to the right and left and at the back of
the speaker, few of which were occupied. When
Mr.. Parker rose from his seat to commence the
services of the day, he stood some five feet ten
inches in his shoes being rather Of moderate stature
for one who has made such noise or clatter in the
world, ut least in the world Of Boston, as he has
done. His head bald in front and at top, and he
was duly garnished with whiskers and goatee, but
without the abominable and soup-loving moustache.
He wore gold spectaces, on q not very prominent
nose. His age l should Judge to be between forty
i've years and half century. Mr.. Garrison differs
not much in stature, but appears to be older than
Mr. Parker. He too, wears gold spectacles, is bald
bsIder than his friend and co adjutor in warfare
against the South-with but remnants of hair be-
hind, and ears standing of from hishead. However
they may differ physically and in their nodus oper
amdi they are par mobile rairui. in intense desire
and insane effort 70 subyet the cherished domestic
institution Of the South.
THE PRELIMINARY SERVICES.
A beautiful voluntary from highly musical choir
opened the exercises. Mr.. Parker then rose and
read the $3.50 Hymn, commencing " Our path lay
DER. SC, which was taneiuly sung by the choir and
the audience. After the singing Of the hymn, he
put up devout and tervent prayer to the Infinite
Author OF all good, In the course Of which
he irnplored Of heaven the early removal OF what
he termed the great and overwhelming nquity OF
the times from this land OF freedom, aud concluded
with the final passage OF the LORDS Prayer: lie
next read several passages nom the sacred volume,
such as "Ye shall know men by their fruits: do
men gather grapes OF thorns or figs OF ihsiles
Even 30 every good tree bringeth forth good fruit,
but corrupt tree bnngeth forth evil fruit. good
tree cannot bring forth EVIL truit nethe can cor.
rupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that
brngeth not forth good fruit Is hesn down and cast
into the Ere. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall
know them.r-Matthew vii, 1920. Gone unto
me all We that labor and are heavy laden, and will
rive YOU rest Matthew XII, =. Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with al
thy soul, and with al Thy might This IN the Nest
and great commandment. And the second y like
unto II: Thou shalt love thy neighbor a. myself On
these two commandments hang all the law and the
Observation-Disclosures XIII, $40. The 3l3th hymo
was then sung, commencing Onward, Chris
tiar,n &c.
m appeal TO the auditory IN behalf Of suffering and
destitute free soilers In Kansas, saying, inicr ala
.'they are fighting no, only their own battle, but
our ba,tle-for taeir freedom and our freedom =
telling them that the benevolent committee, for dis
wibuton Of donations and gifts among the destitute
i'm Kansas, were ready 70 receive the same at War
rem street Chspel' aud inviting the ladies TO meet
ut bis house. 1t three dock, the ensuing afternoon
20 aid, with purse with hands, or By begging oi
money, to carry the good work in Kansas, which
be hoped would not be forgotten.
rue DISCOURSE.
The discourse was q written one, and the text VA
taken from Proverbs, TX. v6.: Forsake the foolist
and live and 20 in the way Of understanding can
not call It sermon. but 1t beautiful and high
" elaborated and finished essay on Religion, consi
dered as the Art Of Life," delivered with . clear
sweet toned and musical voice. Mr.. Parker's styl'
may he characterized az elegant and accomplished
aud his Illustrations forcibe, beautiful and fell
citous alshosgh sometimes, and not unfrequently
novel. humorous and quaint In the beautiful Ian
guage of Scripture. His tongue Is a. the pen Of