The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-11
SERMONS ON THE DISASTER.
A Universaiist Preacher Making n strikins
Use Of tue Fire.

The Rev. George ii. Hepworth, Congre-
Rationalist, said in his sermon yesterday that
tho disaster ought to teach the public TO be-
come Christian. lie described the FIRE with
rhetorical vipor, and represented some OF the
victims as dying with curses on their lips, while
Others prayed.
The Rov. l.. @. Barrett, Baptist, used the sub
ject TO enforce the text, Prepare to meet thy
God" lie said that he did not believe In tho
aires for protesting Christians. nor would he
like, as a child Of God, TO die In a theatre.
The Rev. c. p. Mccarthy. Independent Uni
versalist, said: ~ 20 to the theatre, and
would not 20 II could not tell my people OF II.
| do not mean that approve a degraded, un-
worthy stnge. any more than ! would approve
the abuses Of the pulpit. l SPEAK OF II as an in
strument OF good when under proper control.
and the drama that was on that night exhibited
was of exceptional purity. have wept over the
mimic troubles OF those two orphans, because
their troubles put before me the woes which
are forced upon life In It's lower grades.
We value dollars more than lie. IL seems TO be
n DrOvidentia chance that every theatre ~ not
burned In the came manner. before we can
have proper theatres we must have buildings
differently constructed. But what IL
the burning Of 80 ersons for few minutes, to
the burning OF millions of persons for yenrs, and
years, and forever IL were a believer in hell
1re, this calamity would be Of small estimation
Tue reigning SORROW, the excitement, are de-
monstratious that the sects don't believe their
Cteeds. Deep down in their souls, thev don't
beneve in AN etarnai bonfire OF human beings
whore very power aud quality to burn Is oom-
municateu by their Creator. Few years ago,
endless torment was not too much with which
to punish man VINO would stcp into theatre"
Ihe Rev. ". Y. HATFIELD. Methodist, said that
God must have been very partial II tue calamity
was one Of His judgments on actors, actresses.
and theatres. lie thought It would be well to
discriminate between divine Judgments ana
human Violations Of natural Jaws. he respon-
siDle persons we're those WHO erected the build
ing, ireess OF 1rchiteci ural principles and neg
lectful of apparatus with which all places Of
pubic assemOlage ought To be provided.
The Rev Father Du1y, Catholic, said that
sucn calamities were simply the punishmeDts
that sin brings down on sinners.
The Rev. DR.. Bellows. Unitarian, said that the
architecture OF our theatres was disgrace to
our civilization. Ihey were little better than
traps, aud their narrow, winding staircases
seemed purposely constructed IN way to com.
pel the uniurtun tee, whom danger found
within the walls, to rdmplc and crush each
other to death.
The Rev. II. H. Nye, UniverJalist. said :"when
we think of the terrible scene III that theatre
last luesday night, do we imavire tl 4 scene To
tie continued Ia another world2 Is there man,
that God will permit those victims to burn for.
ever as they burned there2 God does permit
evil Uut as the exception not the rule. and the
time will come when neither III this world nor
the next viii sin or Suffering exist"
The Rev. Fred Bell talked and sang in
the Iirooklyn Academy OF Music about the
calamity. HIS text WAS Acts, chapter 10, verse
~: i" hey rushed with one accord into the the
atre." After speaking awhile, lie began to slug
in a low voice
Go bury thy sorrow the world hath its sharei
Go bury II deeply. go hde Il " tn care.
60 ,hnk OF II calmly. when curtained by night
Go tell it to Jesus and AL vii he rSht
Gradually, as lie sang In tremuous voice, the
organ began to sound softly, aud the song was
taken up slowly 10y the choir, but with an in-
creAsing volume of sound, until the music swell.
ed into strong chorus. After the song was
finished the preacher resumed his discourse
aud went on RAPIDLY, until, III speaAins VI he.yer
aud the comfort that sOrrowlng hearts might
receive there, ue broke out IN song:
There' be no more sorroS there,
Therein be 10 more sorrow there;
In Heaven above.
Where all II love-
Tnere'l 0e more sorrow there.
Again the organs tones slowly sweied the
volume OF the sound, and the song. begun b,
one voice. was finished by many. And agar
handkerchiefs were pressed TO tear-wet eyes
l. ter In the sermon the preacher said. g he
livve II your hearts are right you won want L
20 10 the theatre.