The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-11-28

A writer for the Christian Waterman Il Re
feesor, who is now travelling in England, has
been in London listening TO a sermon from Rev.
s. Sheridan Knowles, of the Church of England,
and is struck by his delivery.
The writer of these paragraphs, though ne
never heard Mr.. Knowles preach, was struck by
his delivery, at a very early day-viz: at the
fremont Theatre, Boston, in 1884, and by the
way, the fremont Theater of that day. is nov
Baptist Church. Knowles, among other charae-
tiers, during that engagement, played Master
Walter, in his own play of The Hunchback, Miss
Fanny Kemble playing Julia, and her father, MIR.
Charles Kemble playing Clifford. Helen was
played by Mrs. Geo. II. Barrett, now dead, and
Modus, the principal comic part, by j. 5. Jones,
now D.. Jones, one of the first Surgeons and
Physicians Of the city of Boston. So much for
a few of LIES changes, proving the truth of
Shakespere's Seven Ages. that:
- ali the Word> stage
Fanny kemble, since that day has married. be-
come divorced, left the stage, and has become IA
nous for Otherquatins than those histrionic, such
| as piety, benevolence, &c. The father, Charles
kemble, the brother of the great John p. and
Mrs. >i'dons, sleeps with his fathers: poor old
Finn, who took the part of Fathom, was lost on
the Lexington III January 1910. The ever char
ming and popular Miss Barrett is dead. }. ;.
Jones long since renowned the stage, and Gevo-
| ted himself to medicine. j. Sheridan Knowles.
years ago left the stage for the pulpit, and OF all
| those who were prominent in that most excellent
cast of " The Hunchback," twenty SIX years ago,
only Lord Tiusel Harry Smith, now remains
alive and upon the stage. Sheridan Knowles
was not only an actor, but successful dramatic
author. He wrote ''Virginius" early in the
present century, which was decided success,
and which still keeps the stage. as standard
tragedy.
| He wrote, or rather translated from the Ger
man, and adapted to the stage, the popular and
familiar play of 'The Stranger and he also
adapted for stage representation, the fivcrite
Tragedy of Pizarro. He wrote the thrilling ac.
ting tragedy of ''The Wife," which hardly has a
superior in stage effects, and in that peculiar
style which belongs to Knowles.
! ISMr. Knowles is finely educated scholar, and
while upon the stage, was a most gentlemanly
and exemplary man. With some msnnersm.
aud marked personal pcculiarities in delivery aud
gesture, he was nevertheless most effective &C.
tor-lccording to the religious corr espondeut
before mentioned, he is no less so as a preacher.
That writer SAYS:
He was an older person than | anticipated
seeing. | should think him well nigh three score
and ten, and was very infirm in his tread but
| his eve as bright, and his voice Us clear aud
| loud, and musical as ever His sermon was good
but lost mach Of its power because he read eve
~ word Of il; and English people do not like
written sermons The reading the HYMNS, the
Scriptures, and his prayers, | shall not soon for
get His ScriptuTe-th chapter commencing
with Comfort We, comfort We my people was
read as ! never heard it read before The con
grega;ion well nigh arose from their seats. His
| utterance filed every heart--he seemed 10 make
| il a living word. Ii was, undoubtedly, : fayorite
chapter of his, since he hardly referred 10 the
Bible during its rehearsal. After sermon he
closed with PRAYER - the Lords Praver-and
never before did hear it so effectively offered ;
such an enunciati0n, such an accentuation, such
pathos ave understandable, and as his own heart
scared heavenward. the hearts OF his congrera-
ton accompanied it,"