Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-23
nion & utrifan


The rena1ksbls success which has attended The
religious services held in the Academy Of Music and
the NaiicnGl Theatre is one q those curious Phs-
homena of city life thst af tmss puzzle the brains
Of thinliers and exercise the pens Of writer's The
increa ng liberal feeling manifested By even church
membeFs towards tie ihssaEe seems to have ncW
culuinstsd. Il Is but o few years ago that the
eresgh3dy Of the religious community In this city
held the stage in such ayeasiOn that they Woula
ba4e almost thought themselves tain ed By entering
SIS very precincts This feeling is gradually disaP-
pearing. Il was fsand, not long SINCE that me
theatrs wss avaiablt for other Than theatrical par
noses Poli,fsiaas beghougbt themselves that the
spacious audiforsun Eould hold more than the ht'le
public halls in which they were seeustomea 70
oont and SO they hired the theatre for their mass
1setinrs Then came the ss yet unrealized projects
Of City Reform, and its necessity and pzaeteao1,y
vas discussed before the foot lights ColumotS Sei-
lege By deserving its duEty little chapel ana heilns
lis Annual Commandments, like the OniFsIssty' =
ltiblos cast halo Of academic peeiaoll3 @Dous
thai establiahment, and through Il upon teesttes
IN General On tie destruction Of the old broao~
way Tsbernsee religious aud charitable INSTITUTIONS
INVADED The theatrical edi6ees popular preacher
raised his voice ia open defence Of the stage, and
now we fnd the theatre transformed iato church.
aud the Gospel presched On Sunday nights, where
The Devil they say, boldsfOT,h every Monday Tues
day. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and safaraAy
evening
The third religious service took place al the Aea-
deny Of Music last Sunday night, aud the Wesiher
being fine the attendance was enormous. AT en-
early hour every seat IL The building was occupied
and the crowd continuing TO increase a. Wss deemed
erpedient to bar and bolt the doors on the insoe,
and 10 station policemen the steps 20 drive new
corners asAy The buildiDg has been leased ier
Sunday evening services till September Isl, al ~
niaht and it Is hoped he collections taken up will
cover the expenses similar scene took place at
the National Theatre Sunday evening. Inc au'h-
ence al this establishment was Of somewhat az
ferent character consisting to great extent O me
ueWsboys, who The principal patrons OF she IS
fabishment. At the same time number Of people
we're there Wbo would never be seen 81 the same
place on4hs weekday MORNINGS, aud this house vas
also crowded in every part. Mir Purdy, the mans'
ger has given the free use Of the house. charging
only the cost Of lighting and warming.
There seems to be gregarious tendency IN me
religion Of the present age. At London these Popu
lar religious services are also in great vogue MT
Spurgeon attracts his thousands 81 the Surrey 0sr
den Concert Rooms and even those holy fossils, th'
English Caihedrals, are infused with new NE
Westminster Abbey has been opened for SUNDAY
evening services osieusibly for the beneht OF th'
poorer classes and the Of the vast building na'
been crowded every night. AZ st. Pauls, where
the services have hitherto been held only IN the cho
which does not accommodate at the very mos
more than I've hundred people-they ere alaS pre-
pairing the nave for popular sunday evening ser
TiesF and Sir Christopher Wrcns mighty dome ls L
be illuminated go brilliantly as 10 cast Hood o
Light through the entire church We have no suct
enormous churches as these, and so threw open our
theatres.
But, so far, the plan, though successful in one
point Of view, is a failure in another and Inc mos
important. As at London, these religious seTyoe
we're intended for the poorer classes, wbo would no
attend the regular ehurehee. Yet, just as west
minister was crowded with we'll dressed people, al
most to the exclusion Of the poorer classes, SO ou
Academy Of Music and even the National Theatre
are filled with those who have their seats in cur city
churches. Indeed. according 70 some accounts, al
exception was made st the latter place in fsVor
well-dressed people while silly order was given q
one time 70 admit no boys unless accompanied oy
their parents requsition which il is very likely
some Of the news boys will never be able TO comply
with.
Il is said that gentleman present at one Of I'M
Academy of Music meetings offered to We SIO'OO'
towards The erection Of suitable edifee to be per
msnsnily used for these Sunday evening sef'ises
Perhaps the city clergy would not like to hsVe on
plan carried cut, for the crowds thst mock 10 lbs
Academy q Music include many Of their own con
gregations and while the boxes Of the opera house
and theatre are filed the churches that hold evening
services are showing beggarly account Of empty
pews.-N Z. EVsang Post, Dec. Il.