Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-11

pissed, and her magn;fosnOs destroyed. This caused
great uproar in the city, and the people having seized
Gaius and Aristarchus PauTs companions made gen.
eral rush into tn, Thesre Paul also approached the
place, and would hive entered Ia with the people,
but his disciples would not allow him 10 do And
certain prominent men, wao friends Of Paul sent
to him the request that he should not venture into the
Theatre, and it would appear that be hooded their
advice.
This incident does not Of course furnish any prsos-
dent for the meeting of Friday night, .. the Richmond
Theatre. Whatever applicability to that event It may
have IL any, the reader must discover for himself The
practice Of holding religious services in Theatres IL
common in European countries, and it IL well known
that during the grea. revival Of IS, the Theatres In
New York and other cities were occupied daily for
prayer meetings. But with or without precedent the
meeting at the Theatre Friday night will be justified
by all who believe that the word Of God should be
preached wherever one sinner may be converted
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE sERvIcE,-THE RUSH yoR SEATS.
Tee manager, an1ou, to do all that he could TO
m.et the wishes of Chapai Cameron and his coadju-
tors caused the elegant carp used in paror scenes to
be spread upon the front par! Of the sage. The plat
form upon which the mimic throne is generally erected
was placed mid way between the prosesnid and table
with Two Lighted candles in candelabra placsd upon be
platform Sofas aud chairs constituted the remainder
of the furniture The damask curtain not the horriS
"irop' which presents vulgar idea of ARCADIA,
made up TIE background Of the extemporizsd pulpit
Before o'clock the people began to assemble in
front of the Theatre and In half hour the sidewalks
aud streets were thronged with ladies and gentlemen
awaiting the opening of the doors. At hapast seven
tie doors were opened and in ten or fifteen minutes
every available seat was occupied. The crowd con-
tnued to press in, aud, when became impossible 10
accommodate any MORE hundreds went away unable to
get inside of the DOORS Ladies were seated in ell
parts of the building even n the "third tier" from
which the negroes we're turned out to make room for
the white people, Disrepuable women were excluded.
The audience embraced many respectable and plous
citizens and during tie entire services the most perfect
| decorum was maintained. The number ofpersons pre-
sent was nearly three thousand!
! AIS O'Clock, Dr.. Burrows, accompanied by Rev. u.
W. Hicks, Chaplain at "Caste Thunder," and Rev. W.
H. Williams, Post Chaplain in this ciy-al ministers
of the Baptist upon the stage,
entering by left hand stage door,
The services were opened with prayer BY Dr. Bur
rows after which Mr. Hicks gave out the hymn, COM
/ mencing-
"Hasten, sinner, to be WISE"
The selections for the occasion had been printed OIL
slips of paper and previously distributed among thu
audience. The hymn was sung with fine effect large
number present j,ning in, and their combined voices
swelling in grand chorus.
Dr. Burrows then read the first 20 verses OF the 2ott
chapter of Lsvicu after which the congregation uni
ted 10 singing
.'when can read my title clear" etc.
sIErcH OF THE DISCOURSE.
DIR. Burrows then advanced towards the foot lights
and said that the 2sd and Gath verses of the chapter
Of Scripture which had just been read, (26h Of Levitt
cus) would form the basis of few practical remarks
which he would address to those present, viz:
sand ye will not be reformed BY BY these things but
will walk contrary then will also walk contrary to you
| and viii punish you yet seven times for your sins"
He then proceeded to address the immense audience
in substance, as follows:
confess. my dear friends, that somewhat
startled and surprised when was invited to address
an audience in this place. Without any knowledge on
nv part that this thing contemplated, 1t was sug
efsted TO me by the Raw. Mr.. Cameron that should
address an audience here tonight. After taking time
TO consider c.me to the conclusion that 1t was my
duty as minister of the Gospel to announce and press
the messages of Jehovah upon the attention Of those
who were usually unwilling TO hear them. Ii was sug-
oested that some who never attended the ssnctuai
would be attracted here by motives OF curiosity, and
am CAD of the opportunity Of presenting TO them those
themes which reach beyond the present to eternity
am here 10 night for mimic representation but Tor
the purpose OF presenting some practical and momen-
tous truths such as it becomes all to hear aud heed
who will have to render to God an account OF the
manner in which they have lived.
We are now upon the eve of the most important
events Such msrshsling of hosts for the coming
conflict the world has never before witnessed. Our
| rulers--al Who are in posts of responsbility-are
preparations to bring this controversy to
cessfu ISSUE II right for them to make those prepa
rations- exert all of our power to secure victory
and peace This day has been set apart by them ol
the purpose of preparing those moral rfuerces which
| will be most prominent in ensuring our success.
If some patriotic genius could only invent some en-
pnery of war which would render our success certain
I'll he could gather the electricity Of Heaven and hold
is back until the favsrabls moment should arrive, and
then LEI il fall with destructive violence upon the SER
ried hos of the enemy, how glad We all would be-
how rejoiced by the certainty OF speedy peace.
have come to tell you there is method BY which We
NAV accomplish these results, as IL we could gather
the lightning s and bur their concentrated force upon
the heads OF our enenies-a method more tsre in it's
results than any combination of human ingenuity could
nossbly be- base this assurance on the authority Of
Gods word. .
II hi, nation il in that frame of mind-that cond-
ton of uprghtness OF conduct which secures the APP
prevail of Gid there is not might enough in the CON-
bned mowers of earth hell to interfere with our
nrosnerity. No doubt some will regard this as the
cant of the pulpit" the u.terance of religious en-
tbusasm bu. it is nevertheless the teaching of Gods
word thank God there ia SO little actual in6dety
among US. Though many are practically atheistcal,
yet, when speak with these who are most regardless
| Of the commandments OF God, / am met with tie
respectful admission, There is God who rules the
universe. man is deemed fool who believes that a
mere optical instrument-an eye-glass--eould have
had no maker Aud he is thrice fool who believes
that the eye of the body could make ITSELF or come H.
manufacture itfef how could the eyer But will not
present any srsument to prove there is God.
Th;s al "a evervvbere present ruling this universe