The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-07
Theatres "Converted' into Churches
Erwin FonREsr REpENrANr.

EDWIN FOnREST kEPENTANT.
"A very large and interesting payer meeting
was held on Wednesday morning last, in Bur-
tons Theatre Chambers street, New York
During the exercises, Rev. 4. l.. Cuyler made
the following remarks pertinent to the time,
place and OCCASION;
At the request Of a committee of the Young
Mems Christian Association, have come to
conduct the service to-day. At last we may
congratulate the defenders of the stage that q
theatre has become school of virtue, and not a
school of vice-a house of prayer, and not a
haunt of profanty-a spot for the real tears of
penitence. and not the scene of fictitious grief
over the fictitious sorrows Of the stage. For
this let us give God the glory. This is not the
first time that a theatre in New York has been
used for daily prayer meeting. In 1881, the
old Chatham street theatre, haunt of obsceni-
ty, blnsphemy and vice, was purchased by a
committee for purposes Of worship. 1t was
during the height If the great revival of 1881,
that two gentlemen called on the lessee of the
theatre and pro, osed to buy his lease. 'What
for p said he. "For church" ga what"
"A church, replied the gentleman. The as
tonished man broke into tears, and exclaimed.
"Ycu may have il, and | will give $1,000 to-
wards it," The arrangement was completed.
At the close of morning rehearsal, the bpauti-
full hymn, :'The Voice of Free Grace" was
sung, and Mr., Ta' pan announced to the actors
that that very evening there would be preach
ing On that stage! A p, lpit was placed on the
very spot where dying agones had often been
counterfeted in tragic mockery. and in front of
the tnOtlights Of the stage, seats for the in
quirers were arranged. The first PRAYER meet.
ing in the tn atre (Which was christened Chat
ham street. hapel) was attended by eight humid.
red persons. Among those who offe ed prayer
were the late Rev. Heman. Norton and the late
Zachariah Lewis. one of the first editors of the
New York Commercial Advertiser. On the 6
of May, the house was consecrated to the SER
vice Of Gcd. The Rev. Mr.. Finney preached
from the text, "Who is on the Lord s side p
In the evening the crowd was such that many
were unable to get into the building. For Sc
venty successive nights Mr. Finney preached
there to immense audiences. The har.room was
who knelt there poured forth these striking
words, so Lord! forgive my sins. The last time
l was here Thou knowest was wicked actor
on this stage. o Lord, have mercy on me!'
For three years this house was used for revival
meetings, and Mr.. Finney continued to preach
there until the erection Of the late Broadway
Tabernacle. That glorions revival of 1881
brought into the churches of this city many Of
our most active and faithful Christians, many
Of those who are now most prominent in the
benevolent movements of the day. May the
pIcSeuL AWdhcHiIS We clHdlIy A.ulatuI III cH-
rching Gods church, and blessing sinful
world. To-day, for the second time in the
history of New York, we set apart disnscd
playhouse for house of worship. Oh ! what
soul tragedies may have been enacted in this
very building! From yonder spit how many
have gone down to the lit Of everlasting de-
spair! Let our services here be as solemn as
eternity Let us invoke the presence of Gods
spirit and may this former habitation of the
| tempter be the very habitation of God-the
very gate of heaven to souls seeking after Je-
sus =?
The audience then joined in singing three
verses of the 10th hymn
Come, sinner in whose guilty breast,
thousand thoughts revolvc;
Come, with your guilt aud fear opprest,
| And make this firm resolve:
I'll go to Jesus, though my sin
Doth like a mountain rise
know his course, I'll enter in,
Perhaps he'll hear my cries.
twas stated before the close of the exercises
that Edwin Forrest, the great American TRACE
| dian, had been converted, and was now pro-
fcssor Of religion. This announcement was
gladly received.
The zeal Of the revivalists in New York and
| most eastern cities in which the religious move
| ment has been commenced, continues without
abatement, and the excitement seems to be
taking deeper hold On the people.
-x,YN