The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-04-06

rmR Rxv. urvrv wsrn REHcHKR At BuR-ON's |
The noon prayer meeting at Burton . The.
atrc, on Saturday, was conducted by the /
Rev Henry Ward Beecher. An immence |
audience assembled many more pressing ut |
the doors Cor admission than the house could
POSSIBLY accommodate All the pit, the gallc-
Ties. the proscenium boxes, even the sky
light in the peak Of tho theatre, showed
denselyi packed mass Of heads, nil turned in
tently towards the stage, where for some
time Mr. Beeeher sat alone. Within fifteen
IL. ties from the stroke Of II, however,
those who had given up in despair the task
of effecting an entrance Mt the front OF the
building, essayed demonstration in the
rear At the stage door, on Reade street,
party Of some fifty ladies and gentlemen
hammered and shouted for admission, and
when no prospect remained for speedy
opening of fast locked door, some Of the
young gentlemen hunted up a locksmith,
who came with big bundle of keys, and
| after several attempts turned the bolt and
gave entrance to throng Of people, who
rushed in a body up the dark staircase,
tnmbled over the dusty properties behind
the ecenes and finally made their appear
ance before the curtain, where they flled
the stage from wing to wing, forming de-
:
of Mr. Beechers chair. The view Of the
house from this standpoint was very extra
ordinary Hardly square inch OF the the
atre was Inoccupied In the paimiest days
of Mr.. Burton, there was never q crowd to
compare to this The deepest interest was
maifested. Among the three thousand per-
isons collected, there was not the least con-
fusion or disorder. Moreover, a very decid-
ed disposition to stay all day became mani
4 fest as the hour for closing the ceremonies
approached Mr. Beecher was invited to
continue, but declined, on the plea that n
disbursements meeting should be punctGal.
On opening the exercises Of the day, Mr..
Beecher read long list of petitions from
fathers, mothers, husbands wives and
brothers, requesting that prayers might be
offered for unreclaimed relatives and friends.
Among these petitions was one from mo-
ther, requesting an interest in the prayers
of the congregation for her son, who had
cursed her on the previous night MIR.
Beecher, as he read these requests kept up
a running comment upon them, presenting
the salient points of each, and pointing q
moral with great effect In the course of
his remarks, delivered in the intervals Of
the exercises, he dwelt upon the value of in
Simultaneous convictions of sin. Hesitancy
in religious matters he looked upon as sin
! not to say a meanness.
Several affecting narratives were given
One elderly gentleman, declaring he was "a
happy father" told the story OF the CONVEX
sion Of his son, a young gentleman of nine
teen years. Three days ago. this son was
} converted On the following day, tho IA
ther going to his counting. room at u late
} hour in the afternoon, found the son in
r l., h,l ,i
returned from the John Street prayer meet
: ence.
The next speaker kas young man Of
! about % years of age, who attributed his
ability to raise his voice before public as
: sembIy to the joy and boldness which hi.
) experience had given him. He made ar
= earnest appeal to the young men to iorsakt
t the error of their ways.
o At this moment, there came in from tht
neighborhood of the theatre a volume o
o musical sound-the singing of hymn il
e another meeting Mr.. Beecher rose, ant
d stepped to the footlishts. Raising his hand
he stood quietly moment, fixing the atten
g ton of the audience before he spoke
u "Brethren,' said he, "do you hear that ?
g Stop moment! That's the sound Of wol
ship out of the bar.room of this theatre :
IS Let US spend two minutes in silent praye
ii and thanksgiyingT He resumed his seal
= and fer the two succeeding minutes the fall
IS ing of a pin could have been heard The
IS followed prayers for Mr.. Burton, the owne
d of the theatre. One old gentleman IN th
/ first gallery, prayed that the request of Nj
n Burton to be remembered in the petition
% offered up in this meeting, might be blesse
to his benefit. A young man in the highcs
is gallery prayed that "hc whom we had otte
9 seen before these otlishts, portraying hu
It man nature, might be brought to the feet {
t. Jesus Other incidents added to the pecu
liar interest Of the occasion
The hour Of approaching, Mr. Beeche
again came forward and closed the EXCISE
~ with Il lew remarks He was about to civ
A out the final hymn when a general shout
:. go on, go en- came from all parts of tn
house, followed by cries Of keep i. up a
10 day" Mr. Beecher reminded the peopl
:, that the time designated was expiring, tina
business men should be punctual in a
things and that the meeting should b
closed at the hour. while those who choos
might remain.
The Two Great Powers of the Future
Lord Stanley, the new English Colon ia