New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-18
THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.
BURTONS THEATER-A MIDDAY PRAYi X
MEETING

thriving cities OF Western Sew-York, an imperious
popular demand for theatrical entertainments, which
refused 10 be sssusged until il had been professionally
ministered unto by full company Of actors. There
being no theater edifce in the place, church Na'
hired for the Winter season, and was soon, by he
combined efforts of carpenters and scene-paiut
changed into neat and commodious theser II tlIen
became exceedingly desired by the religious commu-
nity that some theater should be transformed into
church a. fitting retrbutiye compensation that h
moral equilibrium of tho Empire State might be re-
stored. Time has at last accomplished this, and eter-
nal justice has set the balance level once more.
Yesterday. al l2 M. Burtons old theater IN Cham
bers street was opened for divine worship, under the
direction of the Rev. Theodore l.. Cuyler, the
Young Mems Christian Association being the
movers of the work Side by side, on the outer walls
of the building, huge posters announcing that at
Burtons Thsater, opposite Bond street, 1.-THE last
"grea successful play will be performed this evening
and acards stating tina, prayermeetins was now IN
progress in Burton Theate in Chambers street There
were several hundred persons present, the parquet,
dress circle and private boxes being all full
On the same benches. where undoubtedly many of
them in the days of their Wild Oats had been
seated with very different purpose were now grouped
Brother and Sister" MAN and Wife, " Married
and Single "Sweethearts and Wives, Old Heads
and Young Hearts, Opposite Neghbors, Parents
and Guardians "The Poor Gentleman and " The
Pstrician's Daughter" " The Old Guard and the
''Youpg Scamp, "The Wife and The Young
Widow The Scholar snd "The Fool" " The
Stranger, " The Sea Captain, "The Poor Soldier
The Critic" The Gamester' and The Drunk
ard" all gathered anxiousy together in one great
Serious Family, ,all intent ION the same Momen-
tous Question" all seeking "A Cure for the Heart
ache"
Many who had perhaps been playing The Game of
Life with utter disregard Of the future, and been
dashing headlopg down The Road TO Ruin many a
one who, spurned by his Z" Evil Genius had run
through every stage of The Rakes Progress and
more thar Six Degrees Of Crime, and who had
at last begun to think of Retributon " and " Re-
pentance offered in the Theater yesterday his earnest
prayer to be taught the better life.
The Rev. I. L. Cuyler, in company with the Rev.
r. NJ Hatfield, and Mr.. Lasar, organst OF the Thirty
first street Presbyterian Church, were seated on the
stage in front of the curtain In the dress circle of the
house were the Rev. Mr. Van Meter Of the Five Points
Mission, the Rev. Mr.. Garnett, the Rev. Mr.. Jones
OF the Mariners Church, Mr. Benjamin T. Manierre,
President of tho Young Mems Christian Association,
the Rev. Dr. Marsh, and nuubvr of othor leaders of
the present Revival movement.
The meeting was opened by the singing Of No. ls2
Of the Union Hymns," beginning
Come ye sinners. poor and needy.
West and wounded ,ck and sore;
Jesus ready stands 20 save you,
Full ofHy, love aud power
He Is willing doubt no more
The Rev. Mr.. CuYLER then read from the 18th chap
ter of Luke the story of the Prodgal Son.
in AhA
course Of which he used these words "Come into this
"pace, Lord by thy spirit, and let every one here
present feel that this house s indeed the house OF
peace, and the gate OF Heaven" lie concluded by
repeating the Lords Prayer
The Rev. Mr.. CrYLrR then addressed the meeting
in the following words:
At the request of q Committee of the Young Mems
Christian Association, have come to conduct the
service to-day A: last may congratulate tho de.
tenders Of the stage that .heaer has become school
of virtue and not school Of vce-a house OF prayer
and not haunt OF p-oianty-s spot ior tue res teais
Of penence, and not the scene of fictitious grief over
the fictitious sOrrows OF the stage. For THIS iet ue
give God the glory.
This is not the rst time that theater in Sewfork
has been used for daily prsyer-meetng. In lS1l
the old Chatham street Theater haunt OF 0Dsceniy
blasphemy and vice, was purchased by Committee
for purposes Of worship. II was during the hight OF
the great revival of 1881 that two gentlemen caed
the lessee Of the theser and proposed 70 oay ms
lease "Whst for % said he. For church.' "A
v.h.a.tW "A church" replied the gentleman. The
as.on.hed man broke into tear, and exclaimed, You
may have it, and will give q, ,OoO toward It. dhe
arrapgeu cit WAS completed. Al tie close Oh moIn-
ing rehearsal the beautiful hymn The Voice oi Free
Grace was sung and Mr.. Tappan sneounced TO the
actors that that very evening there woulo pe
on that aogel A pulpit was placed on the very spot
where dying sgonies had often been counterfeted 10
tragic uockery and in Ont OF the footngnts OF tne
RVrp
The fret prsyer.meeting in the theater lwhicn w1
chr,t. nso Chatham street Chapel was attended
by 500 persons. Among those who offered prayer were
the late Rev. Hepon Norton and the lste ZaGnc,sn S
Lewis one of the first editors Of The Ner- YORK COM
mercdL Adrertiser On the 9Th of May the house wae
cop.ecrated 10 the service OF God. Ihe rev. M.
FiDrey preached from the tex, VINO - VI tae
Lords siteW IL the evening the crowd We ~ sS"s
seventy successive nighis Mr.. Fnney preacheh there
10 in mep,e audiences. The 6dr-room was cnsnged
into yer-yVons and the rst man VINO knei, mere
poured forth these striking words ~ Lord toi-
oiva NV sins. The last time | Was here, Thou
Itnovest was a wicked actor on this stage.
lord, have mercy on me
For three years this house was used Tor revlYal
meeiipss, and Mr.. Finney continued TO preach there
until the erection Of the s lse D,ostH
Of this city many Of our most active and faithful
Christians. many os those who are now most promi-
men: in the benevoleI: movement. Of the dsy. May
the preeen. awakening De equally rutiul IN enfcnlns
Ccd. Church. and bl.ssipg sinful world
To-day for The second time 10 the history OF New.
York we get spar. disused psy for house Of
vor,hip. OH what sDuIasedes may have oeen
enacted in this very bui dog! From yonder " pi:
how nany may have gone down to the pit of ever.st.
Ipg despair, lie. our services here be as SOLEMN ~
eternity Let us invoke the pre- of God sprrt'
sud nay his former hsbaton of the Tempter be the
very hsbhstion Of God-the very gate Of Heaven 70
,ouis seeking after Jssus
probably shah offer tho united pettipn of every
Cbrieiisn here pr.seu:, when 4 cay, Come, L'rd
Js,us, come quickly."
After tie snpinv ~ the E6.h hymn several 6n-