New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
THE WARFARE AGAINST THEATERs.

congregation OF the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage that there
was "a rumored threat, emanatng from the many sup
posed enemies he has created by his attack on the the
aters. rottenegg their pastor provided he continued
his OF denuncaon YESTERDAY there would prob
ably have been crowd at the Brooklyn Tabernacle that
would nave stretched the capacity OF that great struc
to its utmost limit. Fortunately FOR tho comfort OF
those who did 90 tho rumor had not leaked out widely
and though the house was full, notwithstanding tEe
pouring rain, there yet room for many more An
officer Of the church stated quietly to friend that 90
policemen had been distributed through the house in
preparation for any Imaginary contingency. The ser
mon was received, however without the slightest dem
onsraons otherwise than OF approval and OF laughter,
and 1t was the promised against the theaters. Be-
he gave the text, Dr. Tdmage announced that
he had received several letters from families that
desired to hear this particularly, asking him TO
postpone week account OF the weather. but he said
that he had concluded that 1t better not TO let the
rain interfere with his work, and the conclusion was
greeted with instant applause by his auditors Then he
began, and, will he seen, before he finished, threw
out direct ana spirited challenge TO his supposed enc
mes-irom whom he had received anonymous threaten
ing letters. to use 1rearms-to do their worst,
informing them that he went through Llfayette-aye
every Sunday night after the service, and adding that
they were great towards TO assault him. or course
this called round OF applause amid which he con-
tinuei his sermon. Tho text taken from Judges,
10th chapter, 25th And 1t came to pass when
ther hearts merry that they slid Call for sam
son that he may make sport for and they called for
Samson out Of the psJneOuse, aud he ma1o sport FOR
them"
There were. he began, 5000 people assembled in the
Temple Of Dlgon. They had come to make sport OF
Samson. They all ready for the entertainment.
They began impatient for the game TO BEGIN They
fetched Samson out Y0ndrr see the bind giant com
ing held by the hand OF child into the temple ami at
his first appearance there goes up shout OF laughter
Tlp IA ind o Ciau
and wants to rest himself against tho pillars OF the
Lousc; 80 he says TO the lad: "ShOw me where the
main pillars are Tie lad does Then the blind old
giant puts his right hand pillar and his LETT hand
on another pillar, and with mi Shticr push than NOR
tai ever made he thrust himself forward until the
whole house comes down crash! grinding the audience
like grapes In tho wnepress SO came to pass that
their hearts merry they said, "Cal for Sa-
that he may make sport for u" and they called for
Samson out OF the prsOn-hou5e and-sai the preacher
with significant emphasis-he male sport for them.
lLaughter.l
In othe: words. there are sports that arc destructive,
that bring down destruction AMI death the heads OF
those practice them While they laugh and cheer
they die. The 500 that persed that day ut DLGoa are
as nothing compared with the tens Of thousands that
have been destroyed. body. mind, and soul. by the
average American tneatel, of which | have spoken
twice already, and ~ which this morning |
shall speak the third time. There lay two frgate3
off the and alonEsid, each other, and they
quiet for long tlme-the American church and the
there had been no lnIc toh f0r some tlMe that they
belonged 10 hostile Heels. Indeed, there were small
boats crossing from one to the other, and people
to conclusion that there had bacI treaty formed
between them; but three weeks ago shot went out OF
this port-hOle, which has turned the opposing craft
around. aud opened brOadslde or wrath denunciaon,
and caricd' which has filed the air with smoke ana up
1t that all the theaters have wheeled into line
Play actors who never matted sanzt OF poetry IN al
their life have undertaken to invoke tue muses. cards
have been printed aud letters written and even the
ightnngs OF heaven have been invoked for assistance
Distinguished tragcdicnncs and comedians. after the
that after all they still alive CnestEutst. and the
old Bowcry heard from. lLaughterl Ny secre
might tnat never get any disagrceable le
ters for my secretary has Instructions by the year
pleasant q SAY this aid economy tho part per-
who like to save paper ana postage stamps laugh
tcrlsays that there nave been during tne past two
weeks good many letters crtlclslng the position
have taken. Some OF those lc ters are marvellous with
their bad spelling and smell OF whisky. fLIuglter.1
One OF tem have been told, told me 10 go to the
pany Of the last being III AL the universe that want TO
There has been great excitement az far as have
plaIn minister sabbath morning attempted to
the question OF some young converts OF Ms cOngre
geuon 10 whether they OIght to p1trOnize the Amer
can theaer as 1t now Is. am very thankful that
have been persuaded by the providence of God.
thlnB, undertake this subject From the amount OF
pns and corruption thit hIs our, avn IC was
time 10 thrust III the lancet, ana shall proceed this
morning 10 answer, rs well as can, some objections
that have been made to my position.
First oGjection " You have made wholesale denuncia
was never reported IL ought to have been. and
would like IL TO have been, but suppose that the pres
sure the columns OF the paper. prevented certain
from coming Into prlut Iboso VINO were not pres
Ont at the delivery Of tha sermon and the editors who
have criticized my position will Do surprised tins
Ing hear for the rSL time thht they have assllled
mo for wholesale dennneiations l have never
made. Here DR.. Tdnagc read extracts
from q shorthand report OF that sermon,
showing tnat ho admitted that soms OF
the finest painting and poetry music and eloquence
had beeu marshIied into the service OF tho tuea.
tbat some of the purest pens had catered to the
tstr, of the uaOn baI some of the noblest
All
had belonged to tie theater who had never been nurt