The New York herald., 1879-01-02
MISSIONARY WORK In NEWARK.
CLOSE OF THE HELLER MISUNDERSTANDING
TIoN SCENES IN A THEArRE-AN Ex-coNvICTs

CLOSE OF THE HELLER MEETINGS
TIoN SCENES IN THEArRE-AN Ex-coNvIcTs
DRAMATIC CONVERSION.
The "Heiler Gospel meetings" series of mission
ary meetings which have been held nightly and thrice
on Sundays in the Adclph Theatre. Newark. for the
past three months. have been brought to a close.
and next week the walls which have resounded
so long with notes of fcrvid prayer and praise will
witness a revival of the variety show business.
Apropos of this change from grave to gay there are
associated with the late Gospel meetings many inter-
estng facts.
THEATRE.
The Adclphi Theatre was built about two years ago
and opened as a variety show place. 1t bankrupted
several small managers and was finally run in
manner so violatve of morals that tine authorities
put further blight on it by refusing the manager
license The site OF the thcatre--Mulberry street,
near the corner Markct-used to belong to the old
Crane homestead. but the owners sold out and
moved to Morrstown. Que day ono of the young
Cranes told his granCm other the uses TO which the
old place had been put and quite horrfcd the ven
cradle dame said-"rurned into playhouse. oh?
A low play house? 1t cant succeed. There have
been too many prayers said on that spot for play
house to flourish there. God won't allow it. know
He won't" The venerable dame died, but not before
her heart reioiced to learn that 1.-THE playhouse
had been turned into house of God.
TnE CHANGE CAME ABOUT.
After the license had been refused the theatre lay
idle for long time. Last fall agcnleman named H. B
Heller, of moderate means. but possessed with
the belief that lie had mission to pcrtorm--that of
selfappointcd missionary and rcvvalist-hircd the
place ut moderate rent the time to extend till Tues
day night In connection with his wife, very devou
LADY, and others he began series of gospel meetings
with view to attracting those who had not
been in the habit of going to any church.
but who felt themselves tho outcas,s OF society
Every nip Int in the week and three times on Sunday
these meetings have been held. Mr. Heller being tho
chief conductor. He assisted by Rev. W. H.
I'm nd Dy ". n. res u
the clergy kept aloof from him and not few persons
slurrcd Mr.. Heller as fanatca zcalot. But he won't
with his mission aud now declares himself richly
paid for his expenditures and his labors Large
crowds have attended the meetings. MANY came TO
scoN doubtless" said Rev. Mr.. Smith yesterday to
q HERALD reporter, "but still many remained
to pray. and ON the whole the meetings have been
fruitful of success. | know of quito number of
young and women who, under the influence of
MIR llollcr's work. have abandoned lives of inimo oral.
ity and are bearing themselves n pcnitential
sinners and likely to become useful members of So
ciety.'
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
One Sunday night, month or ago, highly
dramatic and most affecting enacted in
the theatre, the chief actor being excouvict who
had served term of seven years IN the New Jersey
state Prison for killing q man on the canal
bridge, Newark, in u drunken row. Toward the close
of the meeting the cx-conyict arose, and. ia voice
trcmulous with emotion and his whole manner in.
dcative OF deep contron related the principal facts
In his history. He depicted himself In tie darkest