Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-03-22

who did all he could for him during his
| illness. His remains were inferred in the
cemetery of that place, on Sunday morn
INC, after which regular funeral services
were held in the Lutheran Church, of
which Rev y. NJ. Lamottc, is the pastor.
The words upon which the minister based
his remarks were taken from the Gath
Psalm, II am IL stranger with thee, and Il
sojourncr" The church was filled With
attentive hearers, and though there were
no friends to shed tears, yet the occasion
was one of deep solemnity. A collection
was taken up to defray the funeral expen-
scs, and the people of the community re-
sponded literally. The cause of his death
was Pneumonia, which, no dolbt, was
brought about from exposure before he
found the comfortable home in Woods
boro'.
STRAW RICK BURNED.-On Saturday
night last, about eight O'Clock, large
straw rick belonging to Mr.. SIMON Best,
located on the farm of Mr.. A. Pricur, lying
East of this city, on the Frederick and
Monocacy turnpike, was set on fire by
some inccndary. The stack was il the
barn yard, and its proximity to the barn,
placed the building in great danger Of de-
struction, and it was very fortunate that
the wind was blowing from an opposite
| direction.
DEATH OF WILLIAM DAvIs.-Wc re-
grct to announce the death Of this gentle
man, which took place at his residence, on
East Patrick street, in this city, on Thurs
day evening last, aftcra brief illness of
pneumonia, aged about GS years. The de-
ceased for number of years was in the
employ OF the B. G. o. r. H. at the Monoc-
acy junction, but more lately engaged in
carrying the Z. S Mail between the post
office and b. & o. II r. depot,in this city.
Communicated.
MECHANlCTTowN,M MD.
| MIR. EDITOR - Although it may be I'M
timely and not justified by the weight of
circumstances, ! desire to have the privi-
lcgc of your columns to speak word in
| defence of those of our citizens, who have
twice appeared before you, in the charac
ter of actors. refer to those Of our young
folks, who have been engaged in what has
been deemed by them, to be II simple, hon
est cndtavor to entertain you and charge
therefor \ moderate sum, the proceeds to
form the nucleus of IA fund to be applied
to the formation Of Il Brass Band | may
more properly ask, to say a word in eX-
tcnualion rather than defense, for defense
presupposcs an attack, and can not wit
| tinmlv commit myself to such an assertion,
| knowing as do, that rs yet nothing has
| been spoken 10y unbiased minds, that could
be construed into an attack and that the
earnings and criticisms Of inconsistent
malcontcnts should not he adiudgcd suili-
cicnt grounds to require rcuta,. But be-
side the ill-titing chickering's Of Mrs. Chick
| land we believe al communities have
their Mrs. Chicks there is evidently u
doubt in the minds Of some of our more
liberal and enlightened citizens. regarding
the propricty of Church Members cnga-
ring in these entertainments, and it is to
the latter class only, that | wish to adj
dress myself ] desire to speak plainly,
and in good faith, with no wis, or ntcn,
ton to impcach the sanctity of the Church
or belittle any of its memberships bv obi.
Gus comparisons, hoping that possess
that which all good citizens must have, Il
sincere respect for the Church. In the first
place, that our object is not immoral, |
presume will remain unqucsioncl. A
Brass Band has no logical connection with
anti Christ. The harm, if any, must needs
be, then in tie means adopted to attain
that object. Analyzc ti' s. means and we
lave, Il hall. with benches, n stage, u cur.
tain, some old and some good clothes and
twenty young folks. Nothing lnnntely
wicked in any, except possibly the latter
The wickcdncSS must spring from the in.
tcrmingling of these, or in what is said ol
done. Why should any one say or do
things before the twenty, and an audience
that they would bush 10 say or do alone
or ut home. Has the hall with benches
the stage, the curtain and some old and
some good clothcs,a hidden pow er to force
uttcranccS and compel deeds? Are we sub
irCt even to the same influence. that the
person W NJ holi'! ma ~ we StiIt HIS pro
trssion, feels in the city? DO we meet
prohigatc strangers, and are we subject t.
all the evils OF the Green Room? Does tn,
assumption of evil characters make us evil
costly garments make us rich, or high.
$, unding titles make lis vain 10 all
SAY, no. But possibly it may be urged that
il is the example it scts Of boldncss, on the
part Of the genler sex, in thus appearing
before the public ga2c to speak and act
and dress in unnatural style and costume
that constitutes the sin. Yet, dare not
believe that this can be serious objection
ON the part of churchmen from the fact
than can readily recall the Cantata, The
i Old Folks Concert Tie Oratorio and mum
hcrlcss Sabbath ScnooI Entertainments in
all of which the assumption of dress and
highly dramatic style were INDUCED, and
ali directly for the benefit Of the churches
and to q certain extent, always performed
by the pillars" of the churches.
Failing to find in the example set, q
source Of wickcdness, nor yet in the OBJ
jcct nor in the hall with benches, stage etc
nor in the assumption of character, nor in
anything, with which the MeChanicstowr
Dramatic Association has connection, diff:
frr(nt from the various entertainments
held under the direct control and tol tho
direct benefit of the churches, must needs
look outside the Association and It's acts
for the sin There find it and of two
widely different kinds. | find them, as
might most naturally be expected, in the