Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-29

AN ENORMOUS LECTURE AUDIENCE
Has never, 1 am told, been assembled be-
fore in the metropolis. 1t was of highly
intelligent character, and fully half of it
was composed of cultured and refined
women-a very expressive fact, because
women, in all countries and all ages, have
| been. from their natural conservatism, be-
levers in and upholders of theology. All
churches depend mainly on them for sus-
tainment without them, the cause of or
thodoxy would languish far more than it
does now. Even when women have become
skeptics, they hesitate to avow their skeptl-
cism, exceptto few intimates, because they
are continually taught self-suppression, and
because they are afraid of wounding some
body's sensibllity. Ineersoll, in his lecture
entitled "What Must We Do to be
Saved ?" treated orthodoxy in the main
from humorous point of view-it was
funny, but it was also fiippant-and would
have shocked the most liberal minds had
they retained vestige of respect for the
old belief. But he obviously did not shock
or disturb any part of his vast audience.
They all laughed and cheered and we'll
nigh roared with approval as he proceeded
in his telling arraignment of what is COM
monty accepted as Christianity. All this
shows what hold rationalism has taken
of thoughtful people that the monstrous
doctrines put forward in the name of re-
ligion have produced an inevitable revolt,
and that all respect for such doctrines and
their propagation has been lost. The ex-
traordinary Grafton of Ingersoll in the cap
ital of the Republic, when he ridicules and
denounces in theater on Sunday, for
two hours and quarter, what the
general public has been instructed
to accept as the sacred truths of Christian
ity, is certainly very significant, and one
of the signs of the times which deserves
chronicling 1t would seem to denote that
the knell of orthodoxy is sounding through
out the land that the more intelligent
citizens have rejected the old, repulsive su-
perstitions of wrathful God, hideous
cruelty in the name of divine justice, and
the morally inconceivable idea of eternal
damnation. Ingersoll said, at the outset,
that he wished to
REMOVE SUPERSTITION
From the minds of his hearers. That it
needs to be removed from many minds
hereabouts is proved by the circumstance
that, on the same Sunday, prayers were
offered up for the sending of rain in the
churches of Bricksburg and other New
Jersey towns. Is this $780, or is it 1880
Presuming that there were personal
God, would he not know enough
to send rain, If it were necessary
would not send it, would he be
worthy of trust, much less of love
The same Sunday, also, Rev. Myron
Adams, pastor OF Congregational Church
at Rochester, boldly denounced the doc
trine of hell declared his opinion that the
churches are declining; that skepticism is
crushing them, and simply because they
preach false tenets about the future of the
human race. He created profound sensa'
ton; but it is not thought that he will re-
sign, or be asked to, since the principal
members of his congregation agree with his
liberal sentiments. Such mutterings Of
clerical thunder are constantly heard IL
different cities and towns OF the republic,
and betoken the tremendous storm how
brewing and destined to sweep away the
remnants of an odious, savage and entirely
unnatural creed.
HENRY 5. FooTE.
The report that Ex-Governor Henry S.
Foote, once resident OF California, is dying
of cancer at Nashville, Tenn, brings to
mind communication which he wrote last
year to the Times in reply to very kindly
sketch of him published in that newspa-
per. The communication was a perfect
illustration of the peculiar character OF
Foote, who is, you know, fire eating
Southerner of the old pro-slavery days,
full of temper, rant, vanity and fustian,
though well enough disposed when not
crossed. The Times writer had given
divers well-known facts of his life that
he was born in 1900; that he had fought
several duels, and is wretched marks
man; that he is very choleric; that he is
Jefferson Davis enemy, and opposed most
of his measures in the Richmond Congress
of which he was member, and was usual
" on the adverse side of most ques
lions through his towering egotism
Foote'S response began with denying
that he was so old as had beer
represented - the date had undoubtedly
been furnished to the biographer by him
self denying that he was choleric-he ad
mitted that he was not always amiable
!
demonstrated this by speaking of the au
thor as hireling, a miscreant, bast
slanderer, ETC.; denying that he was a too
of jefferson Davis, although he did moi
like him had no faith in his executive
power, and believed he bad
RUINED THE SOUTHERN CAUSE;
Denying that he was contrary or perverse
&c ,,oo,Io ,,ouIJ I;stan fo reason and no
try to thwart him continually, and that h
had no more egotism This communication
was saturated with egotism) than any self
respecting person must have. He &C
knowledged by every phrase the complet'
truth of the article; and yet hi
had no conception that he had moi
triumphantly refuted it. His MS
was published for it's comicality
albeit he saw not scintilla of fun in it
Foote. like most of the Southerners, ha.
never had any more sense OF humor thar
an owl. One of the anecdotes related by
the journalist was that Sergeant S. Prem
tiss. who had once fought with Foote nea
Vicksburg, had called out, after the frs
fire. to boy in distant tree, Look out
my son, you may get hurt my frient
Senator Foote is shooting very wildly to
day." The story, which is strictly true
evinced Prentiss' fondness for jest, ever
under circumstances thought to be grave
But Foote pronounced it false, and addeC
that Mr.. Prentiss was "too much OF
gentleman to make such blackguard re
mark" 1t was and is impossible for Foot
! to see the point of joke, however con
spicuous. He is literal and solemn to TN
core.
THE NEW COMIC OPERA
By Feranz Won Suppe, of "Boecaeelo,
was given here for the first time Monda,
evening by II. B. Mains company at tn
Union Square, before largo, discriminat
ing and well-pleased audience. The worl
is well mounted, beautifully dressed, ant
ON the whole, finely sung and acted. Jean
ME Winston as BOccacoio, and Alice Hos
mer az Fiametta, his mistress, were par
ticularly well done. The music OF tn
piece is so very lively, often sparkling
, and so generally fresh. that it cannot fal
to become popular. Several of the airs ar
delightful, and the choruses are exceed
ingly good, noticeably the coopers' chorus
It is much superior to g Fatinitza, by th
same author, and divers members of tn
new opera are so taking and melodious tha