Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-24
Letter from Boston.
BosToN, Jan. IA, 1873.


THE OLD BAY STATE COURSE
closed last Thursday with a reading by
Prof. J. W. Churchill, the popular reader
and 1t proved to be one OF the finest enter
tainments OF the season. The large audi
ence listened with breathless attention as
he. in his matchless manner read selections
from the different authors, and occasional
ly would burst into uncomfortable laugh.
ter at his marvellous delineation of certain
characters, which was never exaggerated,
but always the perfection of art, for It GER
talnly seems that there Is little else in his
profession for him to learn. He il, with
out exception. the finest reader iu this
country at the .prese Mt time. The course
has been very fine one throughout, but
the concerts and readings have been by far
the most literally patronized. for, strange
to say, although two thousand season
tickets were sold for this series of enter
tainments, on the lecture nights, not more
than six hundred persons have been pres
ent, which proves coBclusively that lectur-
ers are on the wane; but 1t is hardly to be
considered a matter of wonderment, as
every subject upon which 8 lecturer can
speak is ably discussed in all the Journals
Of the day, consequently we do not, as for
merry. look upon lyceum orator as pub
lie Instructor because there Is nothing new
for him to talk about.
THE NEW ENGLAND CHURCH
OF which Rev. w. ii. ii. Murray Is pastor,
is not In so prosperous a condition as it
was during the first two years OF its exis.
tence, although he still speaks to a congre-
CATION OF three thousand people each Sab
bath In Music Hall, but il is composed
principally of transient attendants, as they
have not let over 1000 sittings Tor the pres
ent year, about one-halt the number that
was let last season. This IL not due to anv
fault OF the sermons, for they are as brill
liant, strong and logical as ever, perhaps
even Lhore SO. but that there is growing
dissatisfaction among Mr.. Murray's strong
IS. supporters Is evident from the fact that
many have withdrawn from the New Eng
land Church and returned again to Park
St, and those who remain do not endorse
as formerly, every whim OF his, for that he
j. whimsical is an undeniable fact. He has
his Friday Evening Talks not regularly,
for when he sees at TO turn il into a CON
cert, ard charge fifty ceuts admission. he
does so. and next Friday evening there is
To be a Pastors Sociable." instead. One
week ago Friday severe storm prevailed
so only about twenty assembled for the
usual services. but evidently he Il not In
sympathy with that passage OF Scripture
which assures us. snd is 50 comforting to
msny Christians, that Where only few
are gathered together In my name" &c j..
for he dismissed his small audience, and
the few who had brayed the storm TO hear
him went home despondent. They have
the finest music In any church In the
country. at "a cost OF over five Thousand
dollars for the year, aud vet their Monday
Evening Prayer Meetings have been aban
doned for lack OF funds to pay for hal,
lights, etc. Week after week has passed
this season and they have had no service
OF any kind except the usual sermon on
Sunday morning and the Sunday School
which follows Immediately after. The
Church has had'but one communion ser
vice since last July, and this, with many
other short comings Of Mr.. Murray's (fpr
it is all under his management, and Is in
the most correct sense, Murray,
Church, makes the people wish that
things were different; but when they hear
him preach one of his powerful sermons,
they forget all his faults and admire him
more ardently than ever; and then during
the week that will follow, some mIsman-
sgement will again trouble them, and
again will they attend church, only to be
cured Of doubts concerning him.
BgIEr NOTES.
This week We shall have concerts here
by Theo. Thomas Orchestra and the IT,
ma Abbott Concert Company. wh.cn will
close the Course.-Altred j. knight will
make his hrst appearance here as 4 public
reader and impersonator, next Monday
night. 1.-THE great National Cat-Show to
begin in Music Hall, Jan. 2lst, bids fair
TO be gres, success, as no less than LIS
cats have already been entered, and the
list OF silver premiums, which are both
ton. Marie Roze will make
her first appearance in Boston at Mr.
Peck's benefit April lst, at which concert
Theo. Thomas. Annie Louise Cary. Mad
also appear. +.