The sun., 1872-11-18
AMoga THE BowERY HEATHEH.
Barnum's Lightpius Calculator Preaching
tho Word Of God In the Old Bowery Thea
rc- Effect Of the sermon upon the Boot
blacks and Peanut Eaters.


Bsrnurs's Lightning Calculator Preaching
tho Word Of God In the Old Bowery Thea
trc-Enect Of the sermon upon the Boot-
blacks and Peanut Eaters.
The Rev. w. 8. Ii. Hutchings, better
known az Barnum's Lightning Calculator,
preached in the Old Bowery Theatre last even
ing. The available space was all occupied, and
many went away unable 20 enter. Word had
been pessed around among the bootblacks and
street samins that the Bowery was to be open,
with the addends THAI II was 10 be q free enter
tainmcnt. Tho boys besiegcd the doors an hour
before they were thrown open. On being ad-
nitted they nlled the three tiers Of galleries to
overfowng and began to clamor for the exer-
cises TO begin. In the pit were few respecta-
bic persons, full delegation Of representative
Bovcry boys, who were accompanied by their
female friends, and such
srREnr ARABS
az were unable TO crowd into the galleries. The
private boyes were occupied by elegantly
dressed ladies and gentlemen. On the platform,
were number Of members of the Young Mems
Christian Association, several pastors Of city
churches, and others. As they slowly nled past
the crtcmpore pulpit, and seated themselves on
the left the gamma In the galleries cheered
vocifcrously: As the applause was dying away,
a buster of AN end man, alnt itf" at which the
audience roared with laughter, and the occu-
pants Of the platform looked nervously at tho
three semicifcies OF Juveniles who were rtarlng
down from above. Tne boys behaved outrage
ousy, and "A
DELEGATION or MISSIONARIES
was sent to try and quiet them, They could not
They chcwcd the song programmes which had
been distributed into spltballs and threw them
at the oI the They
and intnated very plainly that they were ready
At half -past I, a nne-looking, gray haired old
gentleman stepped forward and said that n was
deemed advisable To have a fifteen minutes sea-
a voice from the gallery" Give us a tune,
old man" Laughter and cries Of song
Now / am going 20 sing verse, and want
you all TO sing after me-, said the venerable
drcd voices We viii" He then sang the irst
verse Of Weeping Soul, No Longer Mourn"
At the end the boys again shouted vociferously,
ENCORE MoREl"
Boys. you must remember" snid the venera-
ble man, that this theatre II now. for this
evening, the house Of God, lcheersl and am
sure you will preserve order and not disturb us
any more. Now, all sing; !" and the verso was
begun again.
The boys set up a terrific howl. Some sang
" Dixie" others wbistled, and the rcmalndor
laughed and shouted. The theatre was a bed
lam In less than ten scconds.
rne same request was mildly repeated, and
the boys subsidized and allowed the music tO go
After singing several hymns. all OF wnttn
were warmly appisuded. the Rev. Dr Patterson
prayed. He asked God to save the boys from
sin, al which the BOYS all laughed. He thanked
God thatrhe managers of the theatre bad con-
ssnteh to give the use of the room for religious
exercises. Then he prayed for the Lightning
Calculator, and as he said give our brother Of
Thy rich grace" voice squealod from the par
Quette, "Gvc Us a rest He closed the peti-
tl0n with an allusion to "the great drama of
life" and "the curtain Of eternity" The boys
cheered and again called Curtain"
Mr.. Patterson said he would Introduce to
fhnun shfa had hna nj tfnr
but who now exhibits himself Tor Christ "a
voice" Trot him out.'o Here the venerable
man sang another hymn, and the gamins beat
time with their feet.
rRoF. HUrcHISGs's SERMON
The Lightning Calculator stepped forward
lie thanked the managers for the use OF the
theatre, ana asked the bows II they would please
romember that the all-seetng eye Of God was
on % them. m LIE requested them hem to- to Keep t qals' %
Mr.. Patterson would tell them how he became
converted. The boys cried /" Patterson"
Mr.. Patterson told them that he found the
hts dead son; that he then and there gave his
hear To Jesus, and was now working for him
Mr.. PATTERSON said that the Lightning Calculate
lie closed by beseeching the boys To keep quist
The Lightning Calculator then resumed. lie
announced as hts text:
Mary hath chosen that good part.
"a Voice-Carry the news to Nary He said
that every one should chooee the good part
Mary sat az Jesus feet, an humble posit lon, and
| there she heard the word. We should be hum.
| bic, and should study the Word OF God.
THE BIBLE
| H. better than the whole world of yellow-eoveret
literatu ure, and its teachings will console wheI
| We die. All must die.
The speaker paused. The boys were having
social chat. Many were leaving tho galleries
and perfect hubbub prevailed. Suddenly foui
| or five policemen appeared, and tho urcbini
| shouted Cheese it. the cops y and were quiet
| The Lightning Calculator tried To tell them Nv
| all were liable To die at any moment. He sale
| that a great prize e-lghter, after he had won
hght, shook his fist at the skies and even chal
| lenged God Almighty. LChees.l While tn,
| prze-nghter was yet speaking q bee fiew dow
his hroat (the LAgh timing Gale cuiator opened hi
| mouth and showed the boys with his nnge
| where the bee WENT. and he died In a minute
| Then he told them how a beam fell from
| building and hit boy on the head, and klleC
| him, but the boys were not Interested, and re
| sumed the hubbub. The Lightning Calculate
told them he should have TO stop, as he coul,
| not be heard. He spoke n few more sentence
and retired. His sermon was about fifteen min
| utes long.
| After this the aged gentleman led In singin
| come to Jesus The boys Joined with Wi
and sang very well for time but 1nally brok
| forth with series of whOops which might hay
| shamed Souix Indian.
| After prayer and the benedictlon, the aud
| ence dispersed The boys took to the middle a
| the street, and as the reporter walked away the
we're singing at the top Of their ryoicss " Come I
| Jesus, lllrt