The New York herald., 1874-11-14
Nh. rockingham, in a Minority Of One,
Fayors Popular Entertainment.
BETTER ENJOY MUSIC THAN DO WORSE.
The Majority Speak for Sunday Sanctity
and the Closing Of Theatres.
NEED OF A DAY OF REST.

! general movement in certain circles, and wide
ones too, to radically change the traditional
| method OF keeping or spending Sunday and Sun
! day evening In this city. Within q short time
/ quite number OF our large buildings usually
devoted to amusements, have been opened ON Sun.
day afternoon and evening with popular entertain
ments. instrumental music, singing, and, In some
| cases, the representation OF plays That these
concerts and thearrcals have drawn in some
instances large attendance shows that they to q
| greater or less extent coincide with popular
! wish or necessity. That the general adoption OF
this new Sunday custom would more or less shock
the religious feelings OF large classes OF good cit
zens Is obvious. To give the public infor-
nation OF the views ON this subject Of
| prominent clergymen OF various churches and OF
| widely divergent general religious opinions, the
! HERALD has sent Its representative among the
recognized religious teachers. Below will be found
| the first instalment OF the answers from several
well known clerical gentlemen to the queries of
the HERALD reporters. They will be read with
interest," and the subject promises soon to assume
such practical shape ana dimensions as to insure
the most earnest action from men who hold opin-
ions Numerically opposed to each other on broad
questions OF individual rights and religious duty.
DIR. Henry G. Potter's Views.
Dr. Henry c. Potter, rector Of Grace church.
was called upon by HERALD reporter and re.
! mens question. Like other clcrgymen he was
against the opening Of theatres on Sundays, but
put his arguments on mainly practical grounds
He said, In answer to question on the subject
! should regret the opening or places OF amuse-
ment on sunday-la) AS an Injustice to those who
! Titled to one unbroxea day Q: rest as any other
class Of persons IN the community; lb) as az IN
turbed by them and who have right
70 such WORSHIP without distraction or nterrup.
day Of the week Which separates s it. or WHICH
sn0mld s separaTe pr It. oy Tue broadeit possible ne
view entirely any especially sacred religious
conception Of the day, 1T will not be denied that 1t
IS an immense advantage both to body and mind
intervals, from the track OF wontcd occunations.
But to do this, the occnpations, the duties the
/ amuSements OF sunday should not be those OF the
week. And II it be said that the opening
OF places OF amusement on sundays would simply
place them within the reach OF those to whom
such means OF recreation are not wanted nor
available during the week, then should venture
then to afirm that It simply demonstrated the
some week nights free; or OF some half holiday in
the middle Of the week which should make the
OF periodic rest Unless ali history ana ali expert
beast. tSrives without stated pauses between
stretches Of effort But to Ill up Q part OF day
| divert or amuse cannot be healthiul and will not
prove ennEbllng. We AMERICANS sadly sadly, want
so0sat and action But Is dsas see
which many men and women can be said to own
| themselves. to what taxes the attention. ana
to be q means Of providing them with repose or
! with the leisure IN which such temper may best
OF course there arc higher and more sacred
reasons for respecting and preserving the sanctty
n
the injunctions OF the Christian rengion.
! What the Rev. j. Hyatt Smith Says.
| The popular pastor OF the Lee avenue Baptist
church, Williamsburg, expressed his opinion on
| ne Sunday amusement question 10 q reporter OF
the HERALD yesterday.
Mr.. Smith said that he thought that the Church
had not been liberal enough on the question OF
| Sunday rest and recreation. The grand thing was
TO mud out where q man could get
| nearest to God, and II ho could COM
| mune with his Maker In Prospect Park better
than at westinghouse, why, BY all means
let him 60. There were many meetinghOuses
where tired mechanic could obtain no exhllara-
ton, either mental Or spiritual, and In such case
| Prospect Park would be far the better means OF
grace TO such man. In this respect he thought
the Church mai much to learn. There was plenty
tapping Tor ali men to Obtain iuiness Of joy. Re-
liaion should be made more attractive and Joyous
san s was sas %s's rs y s very ssnfss ss a sas
OF lawful enjoyment that the Church never
mze and ngecng ns Il either aSSs sSs
them unnatural when they did get into the church:
AS to the opera on sunday evenings that In mi itself M
presentation OF the face Of saint with the hoof Of
the devil. II opera were to be allowed because It
| had features In IL that were very commendable,
not be opened, and that would include variety
Long Branch bathing scene at Robinson
Hall, from all he nad heard % ;, be sup,
ht sunday evening recrcations. He, however,
could see no reason why these theatres should be
tendance % @ on tn the CHURCHES was concerned iio did
not think that sunday evening am usements would
n any y or e
are not the people who attend churchos. They are
those wh9 either now stay at home or go to qnes
this innovation could only be met by the presen-
tauon of Christian truth By the ministers ana the
so attractive manner as to constrain men to the
conviction that In the keeping OF the Command.
ments there was wel-spring Of JOY that never
faileth.
What Mr.. Talmage Says.
Mr. Talmage was found by reporter Of the
HERALD yesterday at his house In Adelphi street,
Brooklyn. In reply to An inquiry AZ to what he
thought or the giving or opera on Sunday evening
in New York, he said that he thought that 1t was
Objectionable on several grounds-not probably,
In ITSELF but 1t was certain that God had given us
six days N which we might have good time,
and the seventh ths Creator asked for HIMSELF
Now he thought 1t was mean OF US to try
| to rob GOD OF that. Sunday was q day for this
| worship and to be devoted to religious uses. by
divertlng 1t to other uses men, In effect. say that
| they want all the time that God has given them
| foi their own selfish and material ends. As to
whether this innovation would affect the attend
ance on the churches Mr. Talmuge was Of on
| opinion that 1t would not lie dId not believe that
/ those who went TO churches now would cease TO