, 1876-01-30
THE CENTRAL CHURCH.
pRrsr<r asprcr op THE MOVEMENT.


FREsENT ASPECT or TIE MOVEMENT.
70 the Editor Of Tic Chien9o TRIBUNE:
CHICAGO, Jan. 28.-The success OF the Central
Church movement has been 30 conspicuous, al
though conducted under the disadvantage OF
occupying for it's Sunday meetings theatro,
and Tor its weekday meetings hail, neither Of
which is very we'll adapted TO the purpose, that
the early construction Of great church edifce,
with every modern convenience for all legiti-
koate purposes, soems to bo perfectly assured
From Sunday to Sunday the great auditorium
Of the theatre is packed from orchestra to gal-
lery with attentive listeners. composed largely
Of tho most intelligent aud thoughtful OF our
c.tizens, and strangers sojourning at our great
hotels who a1e drawn to the Central Church by
the fame Of the preacher and the known Liberal
ity and freedom in religious thought which that
church represents.
The Wednesday evening meeting has also
BEEN largely attended, It Lower Farxeu hall,
and conducted in mauue1 calculated to make
1t e1ninentlv pleasant and useful The exercises
arc conducted by Prof. SWING 10 an informal
vay, the usual devotional hymns being euug
prayor being offered, and I brief and pertinent
zddless, which usually conslsts in comment
on some passage OF Scripture, OF the discussion
Of Il particular theme, delivered BY the leader !;
af,ur which the ueetipg is open to prayer and
remarks.
Tho meeting, however, differs very much in it's
method from those usually held in that place, u
the facs that Prof. Swing a1ranges beforehand
With some gentlemen who are known to possess
the eoualues-intel1ectu8t aud zpi1tual-which
are rocossaEy to giro interest and inspiration to
the meetings.; thus avoiding the nuisance Of
being compelled to Listen to tho 1Dcohcrencles
and e1tr11Agancles Of the traditional religious
zeAiota, uho manage to occupy largo portion
Of the tinao Of the usual fr6e yef-meet1ng,
greatly to tho annoyance sad disappointment Of
he thoughtful people Of the audience.
This more sensible aud conservative method
kleo tends to prevent the religions hack, Who
inc whether he has suytbing to say or not tnat is
worthy Of bang said, from monopoli-ing time
that should be accorded TO others who could
Bpeak to edidcation, and who 1avr something
It often happens that dozen Intelligent c1e--
gyuen Of tbs different churches. and as many
Intelligent laymen of un4uestionsd piesy znd
abinrv to speak words Of wiedom and encourage
1aent, are compelled to sit IN silence during one
of the u3ondav meetings., to give the opgor-
tupiry Of speech or prayer to some igpursnus OF
enthusiast who can spring to his feet mora
quickly and start on under higher pressure
nostls Of gaa, howeycr-than the preacher, who
is 300 prospecting to struggle with the zealot
While on this point We might as well say
Christian tha nacosstv innosnd unorh1n In the
F.Te1LHali rrayer meetines. rs usually con-
dnrted t. spr;ne to his feef ike tjc.r Iaanin7
mo-. h;s nrey- or m athlete strurefIu1 for A.
eandency in the a<epa. is wholly subyarsiye OF
ri eeff- respect, and destructive Of al religious
scntnoent md connected thought. The ad
va1t.re exined by the usa Of absolute freedom
IT snsech ia too often bartered avay by the
abuse Of it, which ignorance aud fanaticis1n ex-
hint in their MONOPOLY OF 60 great portion of
the time.
There 1nay be no vay Of reforming the noon-
DIV nrarer-neetinrs1 IN this regard, and the hack
aeyed speakora, who have long sinco exhausted
their maata resources. il they ever had any.
Eli prnbablv cont1nue 4.to hear themseIyes
taik = but il ia At lesst e. cousolation to know
that there IL one 1neetinc held At Farxe,1 Han
Conducted un1er mnra sensibIe and aIifyino
ree;ros Vnere man .re axnacted Ia talk hecanse
thsx h.xa somath;no to ssv and not hacsnss
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